Does Pneumatic Tube System Transport Contribute to Hemolysis in ED Blood Samples?
Introduction: Our goal was to determine if the hemolysis among blood samples obtained in an emergency department and then sent to the laboratory in a pneumatic tube system was different from those in samples that were hand-carried. Methods: The hemolysis index is measured on all samples submitted f...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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eScholarship Publishing, University of California
2016-09-01
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| Series: | Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://escholarship.org/uc/item/2n49d7rp |
| _version_ | 1818343045161025536 |
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| author | Fredric M. Hustey Seth R. Podolsky Stephen Meldon Janelle Chamberlin Edmunds Z. Reineks Gary W. Procop Jacob P. Berriochoa Jesse D. Schold |
| author_facet | Fredric M. Hustey Seth R. Podolsky Stephen Meldon Janelle Chamberlin Edmunds Z. Reineks Gary W. Procop Jacob P. Berriochoa Jesse D. Schold |
| author_sort | Fredric M. Hustey |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Introduction: Our goal was to determine if the hemolysis among blood samples obtained in an emergency department and then sent to the laboratory in a pneumatic tube system was different from those in samples that were hand-carried.
Methods: The hemolysis index is measured on all samples submitted for potassium analysis. We queried our hospital laboratory database system (SunQuest®) for potassium results for specimens obtained between January 2014 and July 2014. From facility maintenance records, we identified periods of system downtime, during which specimens were hand-carried to the laboratory.
Results: During the study period, 15,851 blood specimens were transported via our pneumatic tube system and 92 samples were hand delivered. The proportions of hemolyzed specimens in the two groups were not significantly different (13.6% vs. 13.1% [p=0.90]). Results were consistent when the criterion was limited to gross (3.3% vs 3.3% [p=0.99]) or mild (10.3% vs 9.8% [p=0.88]) hemolysis. The hemolysis rate showed minimal variation during the study period (12.6%–14.6%).
Conclusion: We found no statistical difference in the percentages of hemolyzed specimens transported by a pneumatic tube system or hand delivered to the laboratory. Certain features of pneumatic tube systems might contribute to hemolysis (e.g., speed, distance, packing material). Since each system is unique in design, we encourage medical facilities to consider whether their method of transport might contribute to hemolysis in samples obtained in the emergency department. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-13T16:24:20Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-f289515e6865482cbc0de2e9e79887eb |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1936-900X 1936-9018 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-13T16:24:20Z |
| publishDate | 2016-09-01 |
| publisher | eScholarship Publishing, University of California |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Western Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| spelling | doaj.art-f289515e6865482cbc0de2e9e79887eb2022-12-21T23:38:38ZengeScholarship Publishing, University of CaliforniaWestern Journal of Emergency Medicine1936-900X1936-90182016-09-0117555756010.5811/westjem.2016.6.29948Does Pneumatic Tube System Transport Contribute to Hemolysis in ED Blood Samples?Fredric M. Hustey0Seth R. Podolsky1Stephen Meldon2Janelle Chamberlin3Edmunds Z. Reineks4Gary W. Procop5Jacob P. Berriochoa6Jesse D. Schold7Cleveland Clinic Health Systems, Emergency Services Institute, Cleveland, OhioCleveland Clinic Health Systems, Emergency Services Institute, Cleveland, OhioCleveland Clinic Health Systems, Emergency Services Institute, Cleveland, OhioCleveland Clinic Health Systems, Emergency Services Institute, Cleveland, OhioCleveland Clinic Health Systems, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland, OhioCleveland Clinic Health Systems, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Institute, Cleveland, OhioMetroHealth Medical Center, Emergency Medicine/Emergency Department, Cleveland, OhioCleveland Clinic Health Systems, Quantitative Health Sciences, Cleveland, OhioIntroduction: Our goal was to determine if the hemolysis among blood samples obtained in an emergency department and then sent to the laboratory in a pneumatic tube system was different from those in samples that were hand-carried. Methods: The hemolysis index is measured on all samples submitted for potassium analysis. We queried our hospital laboratory database system (SunQuest®) for potassium results for specimens obtained between January 2014 and July 2014. From facility maintenance records, we identified periods of system downtime, during which specimens were hand-carried to the laboratory. Results: During the study period, 15,851 blood specimens were transported via our pneumatic tube system and 92 samples were hand delivered. The proportions of hemolyzed specimens in the two groups were not significantly different (13.6% vs. 13.1% [p=0.90]). Results were consistent when the criterion was limited to gross (3.3% vs 3.3% [p=0.99]) or mild (10.3% vs 9.8% [p=0.88]) hemolysis. The hemolysis rate showed minimal variation during the study period (12.6%–14.6%). Conclusion: We found no statistical difference in the percentages of hemolyzed specimens transported by a pneumatic tube system or hand delivered to the laboratory. Certain features of pneumatic tube systems might contribute to hemolysis (e.g., speed, distance, packing material). Since each system is unique in design, we encourage medical facilities to consider whether their method of transport might contribute to hemolysis in samples obtained in the emergency department.http://escholarship.org/uc/item/2n49d7rppneumatic tubehemolysis |
| spellingShingle | Fredric M. Hustey Seth R. Podolsky Stephen Meldon Janelle Chamberlin Edmunds Z. Reineks Gary W. Procop Jacob P. Berriochoa Jesse D. Schold Does Pneumatic Tube System Transport Contribute to Hemolysis in ED Blood Samples? Western Journal of Emergency Medicine pneumatic tube hemolysis |
| title | Does Pneumatic Tube System Transport Contribute to Hemolysis in ED Blood Samples? |
| title_full | Does Pneumatic Tube System Transport Contribute to Hemolysis in ED Blood Samples? |
| title_fullStr | Does Pneumatic Tube System Transport Contribute to Hemolysis in ED Blood Samples? |
| title_full_unstemmed | Does Pneumatic Tube System Transport Contribute to Hemolysis in ED Blood Samples? |
| title_short | Does Pneumatic Tube System Transport Contribute to Hemolysis in ED Blood Samples? |
| title_sort | does pneumatic tube system transport contribute to hemolysis in ed blood samples |
| topic | pneumatic tube hemolysis |
| url | http://escholarship.org/uc/item/2n49d7rp |
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