Objective: To determine the preanalytical errors in specimens sent from the emergency department to the laboratory and to evaluate the causes and the consequences.

Material and Methods: All the specimens sent from the emergency department were monitored during day-time working hours and specimen errors were recorded for four months. Laboratory errors were classified by test groups, specimen types and causes of specimen rejection. Error percentages in different steps of the preanalytical phase, error correction ratio and delay times were calculated. During the same time period, the effects of rotation shift time of intörns and shift changing time on error quantity were explored.

Results: For 264 erronous specimens, errors occured 4 ± 2 (mean ± SD) times in a day. The frequent causes were; improper blood level in coagulation tests, hemolysis in biochemical tests and cardiac markers, clotting in blood gas and complete blood count tests and specimen sent without orders. As for the calculated error percentages; 26% of th errors occuredin test ordering step, 73% in specimen collection step and 1% in specimen transport step. 74% of errors were corrected by verbal communication with the emergency department; however 26% were remained unresolved. The number of errors increased during rotation shift time of intšrns, which was between 6th and 7th weeks and between 14th and 15th weeks, however number of errors decreased during shift changing time, which was between 08:30 and 09:30 and between 16:30 and 17:30 hours.

Conclusion: Blood collection by a syringe instead of using vacuated tubes, caused improper blood level and hemolysis. Also, clot formation due to the insufficient mixing of specimens with anticoagulants was common error In order to improve test order step regulations in laboratory information system and for improving specimen collection step modifications in training program of intšrns were planned.