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Autovalidation is a computerised postanalytical tool that uses a sequence of procedures to verify laboratory test results without manual intervention. The Working Group for Post-analytics of the Croatian Society for Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine has prepared procedures for the implementation of autovalidation in routine laboratory work, which complement the existing national recommendations and aim to clarify the procedures of autovalidation. Before implementation, it is necessary to determine the need for the introduction of autovalidation in routine laboratory work, and then appoint the autovalidation team, whose task is to decide in which area of laboratory work autovalidation should be introduced, create the algorithm and supervise the verification of autovalidation. Standard rules included in the algorithm are patient data, messages from the analyzer, values of interference indices, autovalidation range and delta check. All criteria defined in the autovalidation algorithm have to be documented and approved by the laboratory manager. This autovalidation procedure shows the basic rules of autovalidation that can be used by any laboratory in the initial phase. The justification for using autovalidation will depend on the number and complexity of laboratory tests, the size of the laboratory personnel, and the available financial and material resources. Autovalidation avoids the subjective evaluation of laboratory test results as it is based on the same rules and is standardised to a certain extent, which further increases the quality of laboratory test results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Interpretation of laboratory test results is a complex post-analytical activity that requires not only understanding of the clinical significance of laboratory results but also the analytical phase of laboratory work. The aims of this study were to determine: 1) the general opinion of Croatian medical biochemistry laboratories (MBLs) about the importance of interpretative comments on laboratory test reports, and 2) to find out whether harmonization of interpretative comments is needed. Materials and methods: This retrospective study was designed as a survey by the Working Group for Post-analytics as part of national External Quality Assessment (EQA) program. All 195 MBLs participating in the national EQA scheme, were invited to participate in the survey. Results are reported as percentages of the total number of survey participants. Results: Out of 195 MBLs, 162 participated in the survey (83%). Among them 59% MBLs implemented test result comments in routine according to national recommendations. The majority of laboratories (92%) state that interpretative comments added value to the laboratory reports, and a substantial part (72%) does not have feedback from physicians on their significance. Although physicians and patients ask for expert opinion, participants stated that the lack of interest of physicians (64%) as well as the inability to access patient's medical record (62%) affects the quality of expert opinion. Conclusion: Although most participants state that they use interpretative comments and provide expert opinions regarding test results, results of the present study indicate that harmonization for interpretative comments is needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Autovalidation (AV) is an algorithm based on predefined rules designed, among others, to automate and standardize the postanalytical phase of laboratory work. The aim of this study was to examine the overall opinion of Croatian medical biochemistry laboratories regarding various aspects of AV. Material and methods: This retrospective study is an analysis of the responses of a survey about AV comprised of 18 questions, as part of Module 10 ("Postanalytical phase of laboratory testing") of national External Quality Assessment program, administered by the Croatian Centre for Quality Assessment in Laboratory Medicine. Results were reported as percentages of total number of participants in survey or as proportions of observed data if the overall number of data was <100. Results: 121 laboratories responded to the survey, of which 76% do not use AV, while 11% of laboratories use AV in routine laboratory work. 16/29 laboratories implemented semi-automated AV for general biochemistry (7/29), haematology (5/29), and coagulation (4/29) tests. Analytical measurement ranges, critical values, flags from analysers, interference indices and delta check were the most commonly used rules in the algorithm. 12/29 laboratories performed validation of AV with less than 500 samples (8/29). 7/13 laboratories report the percentage of AV being 20-50%, while 10/13 answered that introduction of AV significantly reduced turnaround time (TAT) (for 20 - 25%), especially for biochemistry tests. Conclusions: Despite of its numerous benefits (i.e. shorter TAT, less manual validation, standardization of the postanalytical phase), only a small number of Croatian laboratories use AV. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The post-analytical phase is the final phase of the total testing process and involves evaluation of laboratory test results; release of test results in a timely manner to appropriate individuals, particularly critical results; and modification, annotation or revocation of results as necessary to support clinical decision-making. Here we present a series of recommendations for post-analytical best practices, tailored to medical biochemistry laboratories in Croatia, which are intended to ensure alignment with national and international norms and guidelines. Implementation of the national recommendations is illustrated through several examples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]