EDTA contamination in laboratory specimens-effect of an awareness campaign.

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.

Fine needle aspiration cytology versus histopathology in the diagnosis of cutaneous leishmaniasis in Pakistan.

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.