Conducts clinical analyses and lab tests to support patient diagnosis and treatment. Includes the management of blood banks for transfusions. It is included in the clinical support processes.
High level description #
Subprocesses #
Laboratory Processes #
This process encompasses a series of activities and procedures carried out in a clinical laboratory to perform analyses and tests that support the diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of diseases and medical conditions in patients.
This process covers a wide range of areas, from general laboratory tests to specialized analyses in various disciplines.
Activities and estimated duration #
Sample Reception
Receive biological samples, verify their integrity, and record them in the tracking system. Approximately 15-30 minutes per batch of samples.
Sample Processing
Prepare and process samples according to established procedures for analysis. From instantaneous to approximately 30-60 minutes per sample, depending on the type of test.
General Clinical Analyses
Perform standard laboratory tests, such as complete blood count, lipid profile, liver and kidney function tests, and blood cell counts, to assess the patient’s overall health. Approximately 1 to 4 hours.
Special tests needed? (Decision Point)
Determine if additional specialized tests are needed based on the results of general clinical tests. Approximately 15 to 30 minutes.
Specialized Testing
Conduct specialized analyses in areas such as microbiology, hematology, clinical chemistry, serology, molecular genetics, and immunology to provide additional diagnostic information. Approximately 1 to 2 days.
Interpretation of Results
Interpret test results and determine the need for additional tests or consultation with specialists, and make necessary adjustments to quality control procedures. Approximately 1 to 2 hours.
Reporting of Results
Generate detailed reports describing test results for the requesting physician. Approximately 30 minutes to 1 hour.
Blood Banking Processes #
This process manages the donation, processing, storage, and distribution of blood and its components for use in medical transfusions. This process is essential to ensure the availability of safe and compatible blood for patients requiring transfusions due to surgeries, traumas, chronic illnesses, or other medical conditions.
Activities and estimated duration #
Donor Screening and Collection
To conduct medical assessment of blood donors to ensure their eligibility and safety for donation, and to collect blood properly. Approximately 30 to 60 minutes per donor.
Processing and Component Separation
To process donated blood to separate it into its primary components (red blood cells, platelets, plasma) for subsequent storage and distribution. Approximately 1 to 4 hours.
Testing and Screening
To perform laboratory tests to detect transfusion-transmissible diseases such as HIV, hepatitis B and C, and syphilis in processed blood units. Approximately 1 to 2 days.
Storage and Inventory Management
To store separated blood components under controlled conditions to maintain their viability and ensure availability when needed. Approximately 1 to 2 hours.
Crossmatching and Compatibility Testing
To perform compatibility tests between donated blood units and the intended recipient to ensure transfusion safety. Approximately 1 to 2 hours.
Distribution and Transfusion
To distribute compatible blood components to hospitals and medical centers based on transfusion requests and coordinate safe blood administration to the patient. Approximately 1 to 4 hours.
Quality Control and Regulatory Compliance
To conduct regular quality controls to ensure safety and quality of blood products, and to comply with regulatory and normative requirements. Approximately 1 to 2 hours.
Safety measures #
This process ensures the safety of personnel and patients involved in clinical analyses, lab tests, and blood banking activities.
This involves identifying and mitigating hazards, implementing infection control practices, establishing safety protocols for blood banking processes, providing training to staff, and continuously monitoring safety performance.
The goal is to create a safe environment for conducting these critical healthcare activities and minimizing risks to everyone involved.
Activities and estimated duration #
Identify Hazards
To identify potential hazards and risks within the laboratory and blood services environment. Approximately from a few days to a week for comprehensive hazard identification.
Implement Controls
To implement engineering controls, administrative controls, and personal protective measures to mitigate identified hazards. Approximately from a few days to several weeks for implementation.
Train Personnel
To provide comprehensive training programs for laboratory and blood services personnel on safety protocols and procedures. Approximately hours to a few days.
Monitor Compliance
To monitor adherence to safety protocols and procedures and ensure ongoing compliance with regulatory requirements. Approximately a few hours each week.
Continuous Improvement
To identify opportunities for enhancing safety measures and implementing corrective actions to address deficiencies. Approximately a few hours each month.
Compliance and documentation #
This process ensures adherence to regulatory standards and accurate record-keeping within laboratory and blood services operations.
It involves reviewing regulations, developing compliance policies, training staff, conducting audits, maintaining documentation, and continuously improving processes to meet regulatory requirements and ensure patient safety.
Activities and estimated duration #
Review Regulatory Requirements
Review and understand relevant regulatory requirements, standards, and guidelines. Approximately a few days to a week for comprehensive review.
Develop Compliance Policies and Procedures
Develop comprehensive policies and procedures to ensure compliance. Approximately a few weeks to several months for development and implementation.
Training on Compliance Protocols
Provide training on compliance protocols, policies, and procedures. Approximately a few hours to days, followed by periodic refresher training.
Audit and Monitoring
Conduct regular audits and monitoring activities to assess compliance. Approximately 3 to 5 days.
Documentation and Recordkeeping
Maintain accurate documentation and records of compliance activities. Approximately a few hours each week for recordkeeping.
Improvement
Identify opportunities for enhancing compliance processes. Approximately a few hours each month.
Atributtes #
Staff #
- Pathologists and clinical laboratory specialists.
- Laboratory technicians.
- Nursing staff specialized in blood banking.
- Administrative personnel for documentation and regulatory compliance.
- Support staff for logistical and management tasks.
Material #
- Laboratory equipment for clinical analysis (e.g., hematology analyzers, spectrophotometers, microscopes).
- Specialized equipment for blood bank processes (e.g., centrifuges, blood storage refrigerators, equipment for blood component separation).
- Medical supplies and consumables (e.g., reagents, test tubes, needles, personal protective equipment).
- Software for recording clinical analysis results and managing blood banks.
Method #
- Standardized protocols for the collection, processing, and analysis of biological samples.
- Standard operating procedures (SOPs) for blood bank management (e.g., donor selection, compatibility testing, storage of blood components).
- Safety protocols and infection control measures.
- Documentation and recording procedures for regulatory compliance and tracking of test results.
Machine #
- Advanced clinical analysis technology (e.g., automated systems for clinical chemistry, hematology, microbiology, molecular biology testing).
- Specialized equipment for processing and safe storage of blood and blood components (e.g., blood refrigerators, plasma freezers).
- Laboratory information systems (LIS) and blood bank management systems (BBMS) for documentation and traceability of samples and blood products.
Usual Loops #
Downloads #
BPMN graphs #
Download the collapsed BPMN diagram.
Download the expanded BPMN diagram.
Use Case #
In the Laboratory processes, there may be errors associated with the sample processing activity or even its omission. Mistakes in the analysis of the sample can also necessitate the repetition of the activities “Processing,” “General Clinical Analysis,” and “Specialized Testing.” On rare occasions, the sample may not be processed due to time constraints.
Additionally, once the analysis is performed, the results may not be viable, leading to the repetition of part of the process (“Processing-Analysis-Interpretation of Results”) before reporting the results to the physician. In some instances, the interpretation of results does not occur.
All these eventualities are particularly dependent on the number of clinical laboratory specialists and laboratory technicians.
In the Blood banking processes , the donor may not meet the conditions required for donation or may have a disease that renders them unsuitable as a donor. If the latter is the case, the sample will not be stored and will be discarded. If the donor is suitable, there may be instances where a suitable recipient cannot be found, and thus the sample will be returned to storage until a match is located.
In some cases, samples may spend excessive time in storage or between activities, rendering them unsuitable for transfer to a recipient.
The recommended software is the Inverbis Healthcare platform.
Scientific source
You can contribute by filling this form:
Leave a Reply