ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To measure the effects of awareness campaign on the frequency of EDTA contamination. STUDY DESIGN: A cohort study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The study was carried out in Combined Military Hospital, Peshawar, from October to December 2008. METHODOLOGY: A cohort of 200 doctors, nurses and paramedical staff involved in sample collection for laboratory investigations were selected for this three phased study. In all samples with plasma potassium level > 6.0 mmol/L, plasma Ca++ was measured for one month before, during and after a campaign of correct filling order of sample tubes for two weeks. Renal function test and LDH were also measured to rule out chronic renal failure and in-vitro haemolysis, respectively. Fisher's exact test was used for comparison of frequency of hyperhalemia. RESULTS: There was a significant decrease (75%, p < 0.01) in the cases of spurious hyperkalaemia and hypocalcaemia. CONCLUSION: EDTA contamination is a common and important source of pre-analytical error which can be prevented to some extent by education of medical and nursing staff.
Subject(s)
Anticoagulants , Drug Contamination/prevention & control , Edetic Acid , Blood Specimen Collection/standards , Health Education , Humans , Hyperkalemia/diagnosis , Hypocalcemia/diagnosis , Laboratories, Hospital , Medical Staff, Hospital , Nursing Staff, Hospital , Reference ValuesABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To compare FNAC with histopathology as an alternate method of diagnosing cutaneous leishmaniasis. DESIGN: Comparative study. PLACE AND DURATION OF STUDY: The duration of the study was from August 2003 to April 2004 at CMH, Peshawar. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 40 patients were included in this study. They were referred from various areas of North-West Frontier Province. FNAC and skin biopsy was performed on every patient. Haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) stain was used for both procedures. RESULTS: The study group included 39 males and one female, their age ranging from 8-60 years with a mean age of 31.97 years. Detection of LT bodies was considered as a single criterion of the positive result. Histopathological examination was able to diagnose 14 out of 40 patients (positive yield of 35%), while FNAC picked up 11 out of 40 patients (positive yield of 27.5%). CONCLUSION: FNAC is easier, less painful and more cost-effective than the conventional skin biopsy. The high sensitivity and specificity eliminate the need for other time-consuming and invasive procedures. However, if LT bodies are not detected then any further comment cannot be made regarding the diagnosis and it is necessary to perform skin biopsy.
