In-Process Quality Control

Ordening Tests
The Keynova catalogue and our intelligent order management systems help to optimize the use of tests and rationalize the analytical demands of our clients.

Patient Preparation
Many factors can influence an analytical determination (hours of fasting, diet, special hygiene measures, drug treatment that the patient is receiving or time since discontinuing drugs, position of the patient when the sample was collected, etc). Keynova provides information on patient preparation in our catalogue, by telephone, and online.

Specimen Collection
The type of specimen to be analyzed, necessary collection material, shipment container, preservative or anticoagulant used, and instructions for conservation and shipment are specified for each analytical variable. Keynova has all the material necessary for properly collecting any type of specimen. Each area delegate stocks all the necessary material for specimen collection and will supply it to clients on request.

Specimen Transport
Specimens are transported from each extraction point by an agent responsible for specimen shipment to the laboratory. This agent is under the supervision of the area delegate. The shipping agent is also responsible for resolving any problem that the shipping process entails. Materials are available (insulated coolers, dry ice, thermal pouches, ice packs, liquid nitrogen gas cylinders, and others) for shipping specimens that require special conservation conditions during transport. Samples are transported to the central laboratory near Barcelona by a prime package delivery service with overnight delivery. Specimens are delivered at 8:00 a.m. the next day.

Specimen Handling
When the specimen reaches the laboratory, specimen transport conditions (state of boxes, temperature logger of insulated coolers, etc.) and specimen suitability are checked. A clerk checks specimen acceptability. If the specimen is either defective or unacceptable, a new specimen will be requested from the client by established communication channels. Specimens are registered and identified with a bar code. The specimen is accompanied by the order form at all times before bar-code labeling. Demographic information and the tests requested are entered in our computer system. The work list for each laboratory section is issued and a work number is generated for each specimen. The specimen then is transferred to the laboratory for processing, where it will be checked again to rule out any previously undetected deficiency.

All automatic analyzers in the laboratory work with the primary tube. Specimens are identified with bar code labels. All automatic analyzers are linked two-way to the computer network. Use of the primary tube avoids specimen identification errors that may occur when aliquots are prepared. The use of bar code labels allows easy and secure transfer of information between test stations and the computer network, thus eliminating transcription errors.

Specimen Conservation
Recommendations exist for the conservation of each type of specimen depending on the parameter to be analyzed in the specimen. When analysis is complete, specimens are conserved frozen for a period of time sufficient to allow new test orders to be processed or to confirm analytical results.

Process Log
We are aware of how many problems originate from lost or delayed orders, specimens or reports. Our computer network has an automated process log to accurately trace (worker name, time, date) specimen handling.