From error to uncertainty: A search for variabilities in the laboratory reports

error to uncertainty

Abstract

With the advancement of science and technology the diagnostic modality has been gradually getting integrated with the health care, thereby evolving into a new discipline of lab medicine. Therefore, the role of lab is no more limited to analytical phase only but expanded to clinical decision making and management planning. This demanded better quality assurance in lab reporting. The advent of sophisticated technology in clinical biochemistry lab, the error in analytical phase is drastically reduced, However, the preanalytical including biological variations has emerged as the major source of variations in the lab report. Therefore, definite need has been felt to think beyond the total error paradigm of lab quality control, resulting into the concept of uncertainty which can accommodate all possible components of the lab medicine as a probable source of uncertainty in the lab result. The knowledge and implication of the measurement of uncertainty seems to be challenging for the lab professional as well as the clinicians due to apparent complexity of the statistical methods involved and also for the lack of accessibility and orientation regarding the requisite computer applications. The regulatory guidelines are endorsing uncertainty measurement. Hence, it might be imperative to embrace this system in near future.