Can I benefit from laboratory automation? A decision aid for the successful introduction of laboratory automation.

The large volumes of samples to be analysed every day would be impossible to manage without laboratory automation. As laboratory procedures have progressed, so have the tasks of laboratory personnel. With this feature article, we would like to provide (bio)chemical practitioners with little or no knowledge of laboratory automation with a guide to help them decide whether to implement laboratory automation and find a suitable system. Especially in small- and medium-sized laboratories, operating a laboratory system means having bioanalytical knowledge, but also being familiar with the technical aspects. However, time, budget and personnel limitations allow little opportunity for personnel to get into the depths of laboratory automation. This includes not only the operation, but also the decision to purchase an automation system. Hasty investments do not only result in slow or non-existent cost recovery, but also occupy valuable laboratory space. We have structured the article as a decision tree, so readers can selectively read chapters that apply to their individual situation. This flexible approach allows each reader to create a personal reading flow tailored to their specific needs. We tried to address a variety of perspectives on the topic, including people who are either supportive or sceptical of laboratory automation, personnel who want or need to automate specific processes, those who are unsure whether to automate and those who are interested in automation but do not know which areas to prioritize. We also help to make a decision whether to reactivate or discard already existing and unused laboratory equipment.

Blood culture quality and turnaround time of clinical microbiology laboratories in Chinese Teaching Hospitals: A multicenter study.

PURPOSE: Blood culture (BC) remains the gold standard for the diagnosis of bloodstream infections. Improving the quality of clinical BC samples, optimizing BC performance, and accelerating antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) results are essential for the early detection of bloodstream infections and specific treatments. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective multicenter study using 450,845 BC specimens from clinical laboratories obtained from 19 teaching hospitals between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021. We evaluated key performance indicators (KPIs), turnaround times (TATs), and frequency distributions of processing in BC specimens. We also evaluated the AST results of clinically significant isolates for four different laboratory workflow styles. RESULTS: Across the 10 common bacterial isolates (n = 16,865) and yeast isolates (n = 1011), the overall median (interquartile range) TATs of AST results were 2.67 (2.05-3.31) and 3.73 (2.98-4.64) days, respectively. The specimen collections mainly occurred between 06:00 and 24:00, and specimen reception and loadings mainly between 08:00 and 24:00. Based on the laboratory workflows of the BCs, 16 of the 19 hospitals were divided into four groups. Time to results (TTRs) from specimen collection to the AST reports were 2.35 (1.95-3.06), 2.61 (1.98-3.32), 2.99 (2.60-3.87), and 3.25 (2.80-3.98) days for groups I, II, III, and IV, respectively. CONCLUSION: This study shows the related BC KPIs and workflows in different Chinese hospitals, suggesting that laboratory workflow optimization can play important roles in shortening time to AST reports and initiation of appropriate timely treatment.

Laboratory handling practice for faecal microbiota transplantation.

AIMS: Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) consists of the infusion of faeces from a healthy donor to the gastrointestinal tract of a recipient patient to treat disease associated with alterations in gut microbiota. The objective of this article was to describe laboratory workflow of an FMT laboratory to provide tips for preparing the faecal suspensions to be infused. METHODS AND RESULTS: Twenty-stool solutions obtained from ten donors were prepared using two different protocols: magnet plate emulsion (MPE) and Seward StomacherTM Emulsion (SSE). We evaluated parameters such as preparation time, handiness, and aerobic and anaerobic microbial count. For three donors, we monitored bacterial counts after defrosting at different time-points. MPE requires more time than SSE. In terms of microbial load, both methods showed similar values, with small and statistically differences (P ≤ 0·05) regarding anaerobes in favour of SSE. Frozen aliquots showed the same bacterial load values after defrosting. CONCLUSION: Although both methods allow an easy and available preparation of a stool suspension, SSE seems more suitable, particularly for stool banking. Aerobic and anaerobic species are preserved with both protocols; and safety for laboratory operators is guaranteed. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: In recent years, FMT has become a fascinating and interesting subject. Nevertheless, there are no real guidelines describing laboratory facilities and procedures. This paper aims to be a useful and simple guide to increase the number FMT centres as much possible.

Blood Culture Turnaround Time in U.S. Acute Care Hospitals and Implications for Laboratory Process Optimization.

The rapid identification of blood culture isolates and antimicrobial susceptibility test (AST) results play critical roles for the optimal treatment of patients with bloodstream infections. Whereas others have looked at the time to detection in automated culture systems, we examined the overall time from specimen collection to actionable test results. We examined four points of time, namely, blood specimen collection, Gram stain, organism identification (ID), and AST reports, from electronic data from 13 U.S. hospitals for the 11 most common, clinically significant organisms in septic patients. We compared the differences in turnaround times and the times from when specimens were collected and the results were reported in the 24-h spectrum. From January 2015 to June 2016, 165,593 blood specimens were collected, of which, 9.5% gave positive cultures. No matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) mass spectrometry was used during the study period. Across the 10 common bacterial isolates (n = 6,412), the overall median (interquartile range) turnaround times were 0.80 (0.64 to 1.08), 1.81 (1.34 to 2.46), and 2.71 (2.46 to 2.99) days for Gram stain, organism ID, and AST, respectively. For all positive cultures, approximately 25% of the specimens were collected between 6:00 a.m. and 11:59 a.m. In contrast, more of the laboratory reporting times were concentrated between 6:00 a.m. and 11:59 a.m. for Gram stain (43%), organism ID (78%), and AST (82%), respectively (P < 0.001). The overall average turnaround times from specimen collection for Gram stain, organism ID, and AST were approximately 1, 2, and 3 days, respectively. The laboratory results were reported predominantly in the morning hours. Laboratory automation and work flow optimization may play important roles in reducing the microbiology result turnaround time.

How small modifications in laboratory workflow of blood cultures can have a significant impact on time to results.

Rapid identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing of micro-organisms causing bloodstream infections is crucial in the management of septic patients. In this study, we compared a period of twice-daily and a period of thrice-daily reading of subculture agar plates. In 2016, 10,644 positive blood cultures bottles (bioMérieux) from 2608 patients were analyzed at UZ Leuven. Identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing were performed by MALDI-TOF MS (Bruker Daltonics) and Vitek 2 (bioMérieux) respectively. In period 1 (January to June), subculture plates were read at 8:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. during the weekdays. In period 2 (August until December), reading was performed at 8:30 a.m., 2:00 p.m., and 5:00 p.m. Time to identification and time to AST results after positivity were compared. In period 1, median time to identification of all organisms was 22.8 h compared to 20.2 h in period 2 (p < 0.01). Moreover, micro-organisms were identified before 12 h in 9% of samples in period 2, a significant increase compared to 2% in period 1 (p < 0.01). In period 2, AST results were known within 36 h in 39% of samples, compared to 31% in period 1 (p < 0.01). Optimization of the reading frequency of subcultures of blood cultures significantly decreases time to results. Further optimization can be done by introducing lab automation. We will use the data of this study as a baseline to analyze the impact of introducing WASPLab (Copan Diagnostics) automation on time to results.

Laboratory Workflow Analysis of Culture of Periprosthetic Tissues in Blood Culture Bottles.

Culture of periprosthetic tissue specimens in blood culture bottles is more sensitive than conventional techniques, but the impact on laboratory workflow has yet to be addressed. Herein, we examined the impact of culture of periprosthetic tissues in blood culture bottles on laboratory workflow and cost. The workflow was process mapped, decision tree models were constructed using probabilities of positive and negative cultures drawn from our published study (T. N. Peel, B. L. Dylla, J. G. Hughes, D. T. Lynch, K. E. Greenwood-Quaintance, A. C. Cheng, J. N. Mandrekar, and R. Patel, mBio 7:e01776-15, 2016, https://doi.org/10.1128/mBio.01776-15), and the processing times and resource costs from the laboratory staff time viewpoint were used to compare periprosthetic tissues culture processes using conventional techniques with culture in blood culture bottles. Sensitivity analysis was performed using various rates of positive cultures. Annualized labor savings were estimated based on salary costs from the U.S. Labor Bureau for Laboratory staff. The model demonstrated a 60.1% reduction in mean total staff time with the adoption of tissue inoculation into blood culture bottles compared to conventional techniques (mean ± standard deviation, 30.7 ± 27.6 versus 77.0 ± 35.3 h per month, respectively; P < 0.001). The estimated annualized labor cost savings of culture using blood culture bottles was $10,876.83 (±$337.16). Sensitivity analysis was performed using various rates of culture positivity (5 to 50%). Culture in blood culture bottles was cost-effective, based on the estimated labor cost savings of $2,132.71 for each percent increase in test accuracy. In conclusion, culture of periprosthetic tissue in blood culture bottles is not only more accurate than but is also cost-saving compared to conventional culture methods.

Supernatant fluid from endobronchial ultrasound-guided transbronchial needle aspiration for rapid next-generation sequencing.

INTRODUCTION: There is an increasing demand to optimize the workflow and maximize tissue available for next-generation sequencing (NGS) for non-small cell carcinoma. We looked at transbronchial needle endobronchial ultrasound-guided bronchoscopy with transbronchial needle aspiration samples and evaluated the performance of supernatant (SN) fluid processed from a dedicated aspirate collected for NGS testing. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Nineteen samples were collected and processed using a new workflow. Five aspirates were collected in formalin. One additional dedicated pass was collected fresh and centrifuged. The resulting cell pellet was added to formalin for cell block (CB) processing. DNA and RNA were extracted from concentrated SN for targeted testing using the Oncomine Precision Assay (Thermo Scientific, Waltham, MA). NGS results from the corresponding CB samples were used as "controls" for comparison. RESULTS: Thirty-one mutations were detected in SN (Table 1). The most frequently mutated genes were TP53 (35%), EGFR (23%), KRAS (13%), CTNNB1 (6%), and ERBB2 (6%). There was 100% concordance between the mutations detected in SN and corresponding CBs with comparable variant allele frequencies. Turnaround time of NGS results was 1 day for SN compared to 4-10 days for CB. CONCLUSIONS: We were able to demonstrate the usefulness of SN for reliable rapid molecular results. We successfully incorporated the workflow for tissue handling and processing among our clinical, cytopathology, and molecular teams. Molecular results were available at the same time as the cytologic diagnosis, allowing for timely reporting of a comprehensive diagnosis. This approach is particularly useful in patients with advanced disease requiring urgent management.

MALDI-TOF MS: A Reliable Tool in the Real Life of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory.

Matrix-Assisted Desorption/Ionization-Time of Flight Mass Spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) in the last decade has revealed itself as a valid support in the workflow in the clinical microbiology laboratory for the identification of bacteria and fungi, demonstrating high reliability and effectiveness in this application. Its use has reduced, by 24 h, the time to obtain a microbiological diagnosis compared to conventional biochemical automatic systems. MALDI-TOF MS application to the detection of pathogens directly in clinical samples was proposed but requires a deeper investigation, whereas its application to positive blood cultures for the identification of microorganisms and the detection of antimicrobial resistance are now the most useful applications. Thanks to its rapidity, accuracy, and low price in reagents and consumables, MALDI-TOF MS has also been applied to different fields of clinical microbiology, such as the detection of antibiotic susceptibility/resistance biomarkers, the identification of aminoacidic sequences and the chemical structure of protein terminal groups, and as an emerging method in microbial typing. Some of these applications are waiting for an extensive evaluation before confirming a transfer to the routine. MALDI-TOF MS has not yet been used for the routine identification of parasites; nevertheless, studies have been reported in the last few years on its use in the identification of intestinal protozoa, Plasmodium falciparum, or ectoparasites. Innovative applications of MALDI-TOF MS to viruses' identification were also reported, seeking further studies before adapting this tool to the virus's diagnostic. This mini-review is focused on the MALDI-TOF MS application in the real life of the diagnostic microbiology laboratory.

The Milan system atypia of undetermined significance: 5-year performance data.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic performance of the category atypia of undetermined significance (AUS) at the authors' institution based on the Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology. METHODS: All AUS cases diagnosed at Fimlab Laboratories between January 1, 2018, and December 31, 2022, were included. Histologic verifications were checked until May 31, 2023. The upper-bound and lower-bound risk of malignancy and risk of neoplasm were calculated. The timelines between the pathology laboratory workflow and patient management were also calculated. RESULTS: From 1157 fine-needle aspirations (FNAs), 162 (14.0%) AUS cases were diagnosed in 146 patients, with an average ± standard deviation age of 66.1 ± 14.9 years. There was variation in the AUS percentages, with higher values during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic years (15% and 17.5% in 2020 and 2021, respectively). Seventy-five cases (46.3%) had histologic follow-up: 16 were malignant neoplasms, and 36 were benign neoplasms. The upper and the lower bounds of the-risk of malignancy and risk of neoplasm were 21.3% and 69.3% and 9.9% and 32.1%, respectively. The average time from the first FNA with an AUS diagnosis to surgical resection ranged from 6 to 682 days, and the time to the first repeat FNA ranged from 10 to 691 days. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated higher percentages of AUS cases compared with the reference value, which may be attributed to the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The risk of malignancy calculated in this study was closer to the reference value from the first edition of the Milan System for Reporting Salivary Gland Cytopathology compared with the second edition.

Laboratory automation, informatics, and artificial intelligence: current and future perspectives in clinical microbiology.

Clinical diagnostic laboratories produce one product-information-and for this to be valuable, the information must be clinically relevant, accurate, and timely. Although diagnostic information can clearly improve patient outcomes and decrease healthcare costs, technological challenges and laboratory workflow practices affect the timeliness and clinical value of diagnostics. This article will examine how prioritizing laboratory practices in a patient-oriented approach can be used to optimize technology advances for improved patient care.

Customized middleware experience in a tertiary care hospital hematology laboratory.

Background: In the clinical laboratory, middleware is a software application that sits between the analyzer and the laboratory information system (LIS). One of the more common uses of middleware is to perform more efficient result autoverification than can be achieved by the LIS or analyzer alone. In addition to autoverification, middleware can support highly customized rules to handle samples and results from specific patient locations. The objective of this study was to review the impact of customized middleware rules that were designed and implemented in the hematology laboratory of a 1000-bed tertiary care adult academic center hospital. Methods: Three novel initiatives using middleware rules to achieve workflow efficiencies were retrospectively reviewed over different audit periods: preliminary neutrophil resulting for oncology patients, microcytosis interpretive comments, and 1 white blood cell differential (WBCD) reported per day. In addition, autoverification rates for complete blood count and differential (CBCD) and coagulation tests were calculated. Results: A preliminary neutrophil count was released from middleware on average 64 min before the final CBCD for Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant (L/BMT) outpatients, and on average 59 min earlier for oncology patients. Reflexing interpretive comments for select instances of microcytosis removed on average 500 slides per month from technologist review with an estimated cost savings of approximately $3383.33 CAD per month. The 1 WBCD per day rule resulted in a 5.1% cancelation rate, resulting in an estimated monthly cost savings of $943.46 CAD in reagents and technologist time. Finally, middleware rules achieved very high autoverification rates of 97.2% and 88.3% for CBC and CBCD results, respectively. Conclusions: Implementation of customized middleware hematology rules in our institution resulted in multiple positive impacts on workflow, achieving high autoverification rates, reduced slide reviews, cost savings, and improved standardization.

Pipette Show: An Open Source Web Application to Support Pipetting into Microplates.

Despite increasing automation, manual pipetting remains a daily important task in life science laboratories. However, the creation of an efficient work plan is often time-consuming, and its completion is error-prone. Here, we present Pipette Show, a free Vue.js based application that optimizes the generation of an efficient work plan for pipetting into microplates and supports its reliable execution by visual guidance. The basis forms a graphical web interface with a module for building workflows as well as a module displaying the information for each pipetting step by illuminating wells of microplates placed on a tablet.

A New Laboratory Workflow Integrating the Free Light Chains Kappa Quotient into Routine CSF Analysis.

We performed this cohort study to test whether further analysis of intrathecal inflammation can be omitted if the free light chain kappa (FLCκ) quotient is within the reference range in the corresponding quotient diagram. FLCκ concentrations were measured in serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples. The intrathecal fraction (IF) of FLCκ was calculated in relation to the hyperbolic reference range. 679 patient samples were used as a discovery cohort (DC). The sensitivity and negative predictive value (NPV) of the FLCκ-IF for the detection of an intrathecal humoral immune response (CSF-specific OCB and/or IF IgG/A/M > 0%) was determined. Based on these data, a diagnostic algorithm was developed and prospectively validated in an independent validation cohort (VC, n = 278). The sensitivity of the FLCκ-IF was 98% in the DC and 97% in the VC with a corresponding NPV of 99%. The use of the FLCκ-IF as a first line analysis would have reduced the Ig and OCB analysis by 62% in the DC and 74% in the VC. The absence of a FLCκ-IF predicts the absence of a humoral intrathecal immune response with a very high NPV of 99%. Thus, integration of our proposed algorithm into routine CSF laboratory analysis could help to reduce analytical efforts.

Aerosol formation during processing of potentially infectious samples on Roche immunochemistry analyzers (cobas e analyzers) and in an end-to-end laboratory workflow to model SARS-CoV-2 infection risk for laboratory operators.

Objectives: To assess aerosol formation during processing of model samples in a simulated real-world laboratory setting, then apply these findings to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) to assess the risk of infection to laboratory operators. Design: This study assessed aerosol formation when using cobas e analyzers only and in an end-to-end laboratory workflow. Recombinant hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) was used as a surrogate marker for infectious SARS-CoV-2 viral particles. Using the HBsAg model, air sampling was performed at different positions around the cobas e analyzers and in four scenarios reflecting critical handling and/or transport locations in an end-to-end laboratory workflow. Aerosol formation of HBsAg was quantified using the Elecsys® HBsAg II quant II immunoassay. The model was then applied to SARS-CoV-2. Results: Following application to SARS-CoV-2, mean HBsAg uptake/hour was 1.9 viral particles across the cobas e analyzers and 0.87 viral particles across all tested scenarios in an end-to-end laboratory workflow, corresponding to a maximum inhalation rate of <16 viral particles during an 8-hour shift. Conclusion: Low production of marker-containing aerosol when using cobas e analyzers and in an end-to-end laboratory workflow is consistent with a remote risk of laboratory-acquired SARS-CoV-2 infection for laboratory operators.

Types and frequency of whole slide imaging scan failures in a clinical high throughput digital pathology scanning laboratory.

Digital workflow transformation continues to sweep throughout a diversity of pathology departments spanning the globe following catalyzation of whole slide imaging (WSI) adoption by the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic. The utility of WSI for a litany of use cases including primary diagnosis has been emphasized during this period, with WSI scanning devices gaining the approval of healthcare regulatory bodies and practitioners alike for clinical applications following extensive validatory efforts. As successful validation for WSI is predicated upon pathologist diagnostic interpretability of digital images with high glass slide concordance, departmental adoption of WSI is tantamount to the reliability of such images often predicated upon quality assessment notwithstanding image interpretability but extending to quality of practice following WSI adoption. Metrics of importance within this context include failure rates inclusive of different scanning errors that result in poor image quality and the potential such errors may incur upon departmental turnaround time (TAT). We sought to evaluate the impact of WSI implementation through retrospective evaluation of scan failure frequency in archival versus newly prepared slides, types of scanning error, and impact upon TAT following commencement of live WSI operation in May 2017 until the present period within a fully digitized high-volume academic institution. A 1.19% scan failure incidence rate was recorded during this period, with re-scanning requested and successfully executed for 1.19% of cases during the reported period of January 2019 until present. No significant impact upon TAT was deduced, suggesting an outcome which may be encouraging for departments considering digital workflow adoption.

An integrated system for forensic DNA testing of sexual assault cases in the Philippines.

In the Philippines, more than 7000 cases of sexual assault are reported annually. DNA technology is a powerful tool in identifying assailants. However, it is not routinely used in sexual assault investigations due to insufficient government support to cover the high cost of DNA testing and the absence of a national system for sample collection, handling, storage, and DNA testing of biological evidence. In itself, the nature of sexual assault samples containing DNA mixtures presents challenges to laboratory methods and interpretation of results. The sample recovered from the victim may only contain trace amounts of the assailant's DNA, may have degraded due to prolonged storage in ambient conditions which is warm and humid in the tropics, or contaminated with inhibitors, such as in anal swabs. Hence, a closer evaluation of the processes of evidence collection and DNA testing is needed to increase the likelihood of success in generating conclusive results. In this paper, we propose an integrated system for DNA testing of biological samples collected from sexual assault victims considering the limitations of resources and the prevailing warm climate. Recommendations in this work should provide basis for formulating national guidelines for DNA analysis in aid of criminal investigations. The proposed scheme can be adopted by forensic DNA laboratories in the Philippines and in other countries facing similar challenges.

Fully digital pathology laboratory routine and remote reporting of oral and maxillofacial diagnosis during the COVID-19 pandemic: a validation study.

The role of digital pathology in remote reporting has seen an increase during the COVID-19 pandemic. Recently, recommendations had been made regarding the urgent need of reorganizing head and neck cancer diagnostic services to provide a safe work environment for the staff. A total of 162 glass slides from 109 patients over a period of 5 weeks were included in this validation and were assessed by all pathologists in both analyses (digital and conventional) to allow intraobserver comparison. The intraobserver agreement between the digital method (DM) and conventional method (CM) was considered almost perfect (κ ranged from 0.85 to 0.98, with 95% CI, ranging from 0.81 to 1). The most significant and frequent disagreements within trainees encompassed epithelial dysplasia grading and differentiation among severe dysplasia (carcinoma in situ) and oral squamous cell carcinoma. The most frequent pitfall from DM was lag in screen mirroring. The lack of details of inflammatory cells and the need for a higher magnification to assess dysplasia were pointed in one case each. The COVID-19 crisis has accelerated and consolidated the use of online meeting tools, which would be a valuable resource even in the post-pandemic scenario. Adaptation in laboratory workflow, the advent of digital pathology and remote reporting can mitigate the impact of similar future disruptions to the oral and maxillofacial pathology laboratory workflow avoiding delays in diagnosis and report, to facilitate timely management of head and neck cancer patients. Graphical abstract.

Criticality of In-House Preparation of Viral Transport Medium in Times of Shortage During COVID-19 Pandemic.

OBJECTIVE: With the COVID-19 pandemic, there have been supply challenges necessitating that laboratories must prepare their own viral transport medium (VTM), which provides stability for clinical specimens for diagnostic viral testing. METHODS: Within a veteran affairs medical center clinical laboratory, VTM was prepared with a Hanks Balanced Salt Solution (HBSS) 500 mL bottle with phenol red, sterile heat-inactivated fetal bovine serum (FBS), gentamicin sulfate (50 mg/mL), and amphotericin B (250 µg/mL). An antimicrobial mixture was made of 50 mL each of amphotericin B and gentamicin sulfate. Ten mL of FBS and 2 mL of the antimicrobial mixture were mixed into the HBSS bottle, from which 3 mL aliquots were made. Sterility and efficacy check were assessed. These preparations were conducted at our VAMC's clinical laboratory to assure adequate VTM supply during the COVID-19 shortage. RESULTS: The VTM was successfully prepared in-house, supporting uninterrupted testing for the facility and other affiliated medical facilities/centers and community living centers. CONCLUSION: This quality assurance/improvement report represents the first published manuscript on feasible VTM preparation exclusively within a clinical microbiology laboratory during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Compliance of clinical microbiology laboratories with recommendations for the diagnosis of bloodstream infections: Data from a nationwide survey in Italy.

In 2014, the Italian Working Group for Infections in Critically Ill Patient of the Italian Association of Clinical Microbiologists updated the recommendations for the diagnostic workflow for bloodstream infections (BSI). Two years after publication, a nationwide survey was conducted to assess the compliance with the updated recommendations by clinical microbiology laboratories. A total of 168 microbiologists from 168 laboratories, serving 204 acute care hospitals and postacute care facilities, were interviewed during the period January-October 2016 using a questionnaire consisting of nineteen questions which assessed the level of adherence to various recommendations. The most critical issues were as follows: (a) The number of sets of blood cultures (BC) per 1,000 hospitalization days was acceptable in only 11% of laboratories; (b) the minority of laboratories (42%) was able to monitor whether BCs were over or under-inoculated; (c) among the laboratories monitoring BC contamination (80%), the rate of contaminated samples was acceptable in only 12% of cases;(d) the Gram-staining results were reported within 1 hr since BC positivity in less than 50% of laboratories. By contrast, most laboratories received vials within 2-4 hr from withdrawal (65%) and incubated vials as soon as they were received in the laboratory (95%). The study revealed that compliance with the recommendations is still partial. Further surveys will be needed to monitor the situation in the future.