IFCC - Education and Management Division Working Group: Laboratory Errors and Patient Safety

9.3.8. Laboratory Errors and Patient Safety (WG-LEPS) Terms of references The Education and Management Division (EMD) of the International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (IFCC)  has recently established a new Working Group on “Laboratory errors and patient safety” (WG-LEPS 9.3.8). The WG mission is to stimulate studies on the topic or errors in laboratory medicine, to collect available data on this topic and to recommend strategies and procedures to improve patient safety. According to the Chair of the World Alliance for Patient Safety, Sir Liam Donaldson, established by the WHO in 2004, “a focus on addressing errors in laboratory medicine is an important element of the international agenda on patient safety. Timely and accurate laboratory test results are a cornerstone of effective diagnosis and treatment of patients” (Clin Chem Lab Med 2007; 45(6): 697-9). In the last few years a body of evidence has been collected to demonstrate that many of the errors in laboratory medicine occur in the pre- and post-analytical phases of laboratory testing. Therefore, improving the safety of laboratory testing requires a detailed understanding of the steps involved in the total testing process to identify the hierarchy of risks and challenges to be addressed. Patient safety is increasingly recognised as a serious problem that requires a globally led approach and the IFCC WG-LEPS should be a tool to improve the knowledge in the field at an international level, and to recommend the development and application of standardised operating protocols. Current Projects Improving awareness of laboratory professionals regarding the topic of errors and patient safety. Implementing pilot studies to evaluate laboratory errors frequency and types. Implementing projects for error reduction through the design of safer procedures and processes. Organizing meetings and scientific sessions on the topic of laboratory errors and patient safety. Supporting the publications of papers on the topic of laboratory errors and patient safety in scientific journals and monographies.