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Graphical abstract Highlights • Adding a mandatory accompanying information in the Vitamin D ordering process led to a significant reduction overall orders • Given that about one third of mandatory information was incorrect, we assume that the sheer obstacle is sufficient to reduce test numbers, regardless of its type or content • We estimated potential cost savings ranging from € 101,292 to € 516,704 for a four-year period

AIM: Blood Sampling Guidelines have been developed to target European emergency medicine-related professionals involved in the blood sampling process (e.g. physicians, nurses, phlebotomists working in the ED), as well as laboratory physicians and other related professionals. The guidelines population focus on adult patients. The development of these blood sampling guidelines for the ED setting is based on the collaboration of three European scientific societies that have a role to play in the preanalytical phase process: EuSEN, EFLM, and EUSEM. The elaboration of the questions was done using the PICO procedure, literature search and appraisal was based on the GRADE methodology. The final recommendations were reviewed by an international multidisciplinary external review group. RESULTS: The document includes the elaborated recommendations for the selected sixteen questions. Three in pre-sampling, eight regarding sampling, three post-sampling, and two focus on quality assurance. In general, the quality of the evidence is very low, and the strength of the recommendation in all the questions has been rated as weak. The working group in four questions elaborate the recommendations, based mainly on group experience, rating as good practice. CONCLUSIONS: The multidisciplinary working group was considered one of the major contributors to this guideline. The lack of quality information highlights the need for research in this area of the patient care process. The peculiarities of the emergency medical areas need specific considerations to minimise the possibility of errors in the preanalytical phase.

During a dual-center study on obese and normal weight children and adolescents, focusing on glucose metabolism, we observed a marked difference in glucose results (N = 16,840) between the two sites, Salzburg, Austria and Uppsala, Sweden (P < 0.001). After excluding differences in patient characteristics between the two populations as cause of this finding, we investigated other preanalytic influences. Finally, only the tubes used for blood collection at the two sites were left to evaluate. While the Vacuette FC-Mix tube (Greiner Bio-One, Kremsmünster, Austria) was used in Uppsala, in Salzburg blood collections were performed with a lithium heparin tube (LH-Monovette, Sarstedt, Germany). To prove our hypothesis, we collected two blood samples in either of these tubes from 51 children (Salzburg N = 27, Uppsala N = 24) and compared the measured glucose results. Indeed, we found the suspected bias and calculated a correction formula, which significantly diminished the differences of glucose results between the two sites (P = 0.023). Our finding is in line with those of other studies and although this issue should be widely known, we feel that it is widely neglected, especially when comparing glucose concentrations across Europe, using large databases without any information on preanalytic sample handling.

Objectives: Legal regulations and guidelines such as the Guidelines of the German Medical Association for the Quality Assurance of Laboratory Medical Examinations (Rili-BAEK) and ISO 15189 apply to electronic laboratory reports. However, many laboratories struggle with practical implementation of these regulations and guidelines. Methods: Laboratory and legal experts analyse the relevant guidelines and provide checklists and practical recommendations for implementation. Results: Laboratories have less control over the display of electronic laboratory reports than over paper documents. However, an electronic report alone is legally sufficient and need not be accompanied by a paper copy. Rili-BAEK and ISO 15189 stipulate a set of minimum information in every report. The laboratory must verify that reports are transmitted and displayed correctly. To help laboratories do so, agreements between laboratories and the report recipients can clarify responsibilities. Conclusions: Electronic laboratory reports can improve patient care, but laboratories need to verify their quality. Towards this end, Rili-BAEK and ISO 15189 set out helpful provisions.

Für die Gewinnung von Blut für die Diagnostik ist die periphere venöse Blutentnahme das häufigste Vorgehen. Eine fehlerhafte Blutentnahme ist eine relevante Quelle fehlerhafter Befunde. Aus diesem Grund werden als Anleitung für die Abnehmenden die wichtigen Schritte praxisnah detailliert beschrieben. Zu den dargestellten Schritten zählen Verantwortlichkeiten, klinische Fragestellung und Testauswahl, Vorbereitung und Identifikation des Patienten, Durchführung der Entnahme und Probentransport.

Background: Pharmacological treatment options for adolescents with obesity are very limited. Glucagon-like-peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor-agonist could be a treatment option for adolescent obesity. Objective: To investigate the effect of exenatide extended-release on body-mass-index (BMI)- SDS as primary outcome, and glucose-metabolism, cardiometabolic risk factors liver steatosis, and other BMI metrics as secondary outcomes, and its safety and tolerability in adolescents with obesity. Methods: Six-months, randomized, double-blinded, parallel, placebo-controlled clinical trial in patients (n=44, 10-18 years, females n=22) with BMI-SDS>2.0 or age-adapted-BMI>30 kg/m² according to WHO were included. Patients received lifestyle intervention and were randomized to exenatide extended-release 2 mg (n=22) or placebo (n=22) sub-cutaneousinjections given once weekly. Oral-glucose-tolerance-tests (OGTT) were conducted at the beginning and end of the intervention. Results: Exenatide reduced (p<0.05) BMI-SDS (-0.09; -0.18, 0.00), % BMI 95th percentile (- 2.9%; -5.4, -0.3), weight (-3 kg; -5.8, -0.1), waist circumference (-3.2 cm; -5.8, -0.7), subcutaneous adipose tissue (-552 cm3; -989, -114), 2-hour-glucose during OGTT (-15.3 mg/dL; -27.5, -3.1), total cholesterol (11.6 mg/dL; -21.7, -1.5) and BMI (-0.83 kg/m²; -1.68, 0.01) without significant change in liver fat content (-1.36; -3.12, 0.4; p=0.06) in comparison to placebo. Safety and tolerability profiles were comparable to placebo with the exception of mild adverse events being more frequent in exenatide-treated patients. Conclusions: Treatment of adolescents with severe obesity with extended-release exenatide is generally well tolerated and leads to a modest reduction in BMI metrics and improvement in glucose tolerance and cholesterol. The study indicates that the treatment provides additional beneficial effects beyond BMI-reduction for the patient group.

Objective: To delineate mechanisms for fasting hyperglucagonemia in childhood obesity bystudying the associations between fasting plasma glucagon concentrations and plasmalipid parameters and fat compartments. Methods: Cross-sectional study of children and adolescents with obesity (n=147) and leancontrols (n=43). Differences in free fatty acids (FFA), triglycerides, insulin and fatcompartments (quantified by magnetic resonance imaging) across quartiles of fastingplasma glucagon concentration were analysed. Differences in OGTT glucagonresponse was tested in high vs low FFAs, triglycerides and insulin. Human islets ofLangerhans were cultured at 5.5 mmol/l glucose and in the absence or presence of aFFA mixture with total FFA concentration of 0.5 mmol/l and glucagon secretionquantified. Results: In children with obesity, the quartile with the highest fasting glucagon had higherinsulin (201±174 vs 83±39 pmol/l, p<0.01), FFAs (383±52 vs 338±109 μmol/l,p=0.02), triglycerides (1.5±0.9 vs 1.0±0.7 mmol/l, p<0.01), visceral adipose tissuevolume (1.9±0.8 vs 1.2±0.3 dm3, p<0.001) and a higher prevalence of impairedglucose tolerance (41% vs 8%, p=0.01) than the lowest quartile. During OGTT,children with obesity and high insulin had a worse suppression of glucagon during thefirst 10 minutes after glucose intake. Glucagon secretion was 2.6-fold higher in isletstreated with FFAs than in those not treated with FFAs.4 Conclusion: Hyperglucagonemia in childhood obesity is associated with hyperinsulinemia, highplasma FFAs, high plasma triglycerides, visceral adiposity and impaired glucosetolerance. The glucagonotropic effect of FFAs on isolated human islets provides apotential mechanism linking high fasting plasma FFAs and glucagon levels.

Introduction: No guideline currently exists on how to detect or document haemolysis, icterus or lipemia (HIL) in blood samples, nor on subsequent use of this information. The EFLM WG-PRE has performed a survey for assessing current practices of European laboratories in HIL monitoring. This second part of two coherent articles is focused on HIL. Materials and methods: An online survey, containing 39 questions on preanalytical issues, was disseminated among EFLM member countries. Seventeen questions exclusively focused on assessment, management and follow-up actions of HIL in routine blood samples. Results: Overall, 1405 valid responses from 37 countries were received. A total of 1160 (86%) of all responders stating to analyse blood samples - monitored HIL. HIL was mostly checked in clinical chemistry samples and less frequently in those received for coagulation, therapeutic drug monitoring and serology/infectious disease testing. HIL detection by automatic HIL indices or visual inspection, along with haemolysis cut-offs definition, varied widely among responders. A quarter of responders performing automated HIL checks used internal quality controls. In haemolytic/icteric/lipemic samples, most responders (70%) only rejected HIL-sensitive parameters, whilst about 20% released all test results with general comments. Other responders did not analysed but rejected the entire sample, while some released all tests, without comments. Overall, 26% responders who monitored HIL were using this information for monitoring phlebotomy or sample transport quality. Conclusion: Strategies for monitoring and treating haemolytic, icteric or lipemic samples are quite heterogeneous in Europe. The WG-PRE will use these insights for developing and providing recommendations aimed at harmonizing strategies across Europe.

Introduction: Compared to other activities of the testing process, the preanalytical phase is plagued by a lower degree of standardization, which makes it more vulnerable to errors. With the aim of providing guidelines and recommendations, the EFLM WG-PRE issued a survey across European medical laboratories, to gather information on local preanalytical practices. This is part one of two coherent articles, which covers all practices on monitoring preanalytical quality except haemolysis, icterus and lipemia (HIL). Materials and methods: An online survey, containing 39 questions dealing with a broad spectrum of preanalytical issues, was disseminated to EFLM member countries. The survey included questions on willingness of laboratories to engage in preanalytical issues. Results: Overall, 1405 valid responses were received from 37 countries. 1265 (94%) responders declared to monitor preanalytical errors. Assessment, documentation and further use of this information varied widely among respondents and partially among countries. Many responders were interested in a preanalytical online platform, holding information on various aspects of the preanalytical phase (N = 1177; 87%), in a guideline for measurement and evaluation of preanalytical variables (N = 1235; 92%), and in preanalytical e-learning programs or webinars (N = 1125; 84%). Fewer responders were interested in, or already participating in, preanalytical EQA programs (N = 951; 71%). Conclusion: Although substantial heterogeneity was found across European laboratories on preanalytical phase monitoring, the interest in preanalytical issues was high. A large majority of participants indicated an interest in new guidelines regarding preanalytical variables and learning activities. This important data will be used by the WG-PRE for providing recommendations on the most critical issues.

Transportation of blood samples is a major part of the preanalytical pathway and can be crucial in delaying laboratory results to the clinicians. A variety of aspects however makes sample transportation a complex, challenging and often overlooked task that needs thorough planning and dedicated resources. The purpose of this review is to outline the options available for this task and to emphasize the preanalytical aspects that need consideration in this process, e.g. performance specifications for sample transportation as stated in ISO standards 15189 and 20658, quality control of automated transportation systems, monitoring of sample integrity parameters and temperature surveillance in general and for external samplers in particular. All these are tasks that the laboratory must assure on a daily basis in terms of continuous quality control, and simultaneously the laboratory must remain alert to alterations in clinical demands (sample frequency, turn-around-times) and new regulations within this area (e.g. the recent General Data Protection Regulation from the EU).

Background: Hemolytic specimens are among the most challenging preanalytical issues in laboratory diagnostics. The type of blood collection tube in use is claimed to influence in vitro hemolysis. We aimed to examine this hypothesis and estimate the respective financial impact, evaluating routine blood samples from the past 4 years. Methods: A total of 47,820 hemolysis index (HI) values from five different time intervals (IV1-IV5) were compared against each other, representing the following tubes: IV1-Sarstedt Monovette; IV2-8 mL/16×100 mm Greiner BioOne (GBO) Vacuette; IV3/IV4-5 mL/16×100 mm GBO Vacuette; IV5-4.5 mL/13×75 mm GBO Vacuette. For estimation of the economic impact, material, personnel and analytical costs were calculated. Results: HI mean values in time interval IV2 were significantly higher than in all other intervals, while mean values amongst all other intervals were comparable. The number of moderately and severely hemolyzed samples increased with incrementing vacuum. Overall comparable costs between intervals IV1 and IV5 were €11,370, €14,045, €12,710, €11,213 and €8138 per 10,000 samples, respectively. Conclusions: Aspiration tubes and low vacuum tubes show comparable hemolysis rates. Increasing vacuum levels are associated with higher hemolysis rates. By decreasing in vitro hemolysis, financial savings up to €5907 per 10,000 samples could be gained.

This document provides a joint recommendation for venous blood sampling of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) Working Group for Preanalytical Phase (WG-PRE) and Latin American Working Group for Preanalytical Phase (WG-PRE-LATAM) of the Latin America Confederation of Clinical Biochemistry (COLABIOCLI). It offers guidance on the requirements for ensuring that blood collection is a safe and patient-centered procedure and provides practical guidance on how to successfully overcome potential barriers and obstacles to its widespread implementation. The target audience for this recommendation are healthcare staff members directly involved in blood collection. This recommendation applies to the use of a closed blood collection system and does not provide guidance for the blood collection with an open needle and syringe and catheter collections. Moreover, this document neither addresses patient consent, test ordering, sample handling and transport nor collection from children and unconscious patients. The recommended procedure is based on the best available evidence. Each step was graded using a system that scores the quality of the evidence and the strength of the recommendation. The process of grading was done at several face-to-face meetings involving the same mixture of stakeholders stated previously. The main parts of this recommendation are: 1) Pre-sampling procedures, 2) Sampling procedure, 3) Post-sampling procedures and 4) Implementation. A first draft of the recommendation was circulated to EFLM members for public consultation. WG-PRE-LATAM was also invited to comment the document. A revised version has been sent for voting on to all EFLM and COLABIOCLI members and has been officially endorsed by 33/40 EFLM and 21/21 COLABIOCLI members. We encourage professionals throughout Europe and Latin America to adopt and implement this recommendation to improve the quality of blood collection practices and increase patient and worker

It is now undeniable that laboratory testing is vital for the diagnosis, prognostication and therapeutic monitoring of human disease. Despite the many advances made for achieving a high degree of quality and safety in the analytical part of diagnostic testing, many hurdles in the total testing process remain, especially in the preanalytical phase ranging from test ordering to obtaining and managing the biological specimens. The Working Group for the Preanalytical Phase (WG-PRE) of the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM) has planned many activities aimed at mitigating the vulnerability of the preanalytical phase, including the organization of three European meetings in the past 7 years. Hence, this collective article follows the previous three opinion papers that were published by the EFLM WGPRE on the same topic, and brings together the summaries of the presentations that will be given at the 4th EFLM-BD meeting “Improving quality in the preanalytical phase through innovation” in Amsterdam, 24–25 March, 2017.

This document provides a recommendation for peripheral venous blood sampling by the working group Extraanalytical Quality of the German, Austrian and Swiss Society for Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (DGKL, OGLMKC and SGKC/SSCC). It provides guidance on the requirements for ensuring that blood collection is a safe and patient-centered procedure for healthcare staff members in German-speaking countries.