Assessment of Types and Frequency of Errors in Diagnostic Laboratories Among Selected Hospitals in East Wollega Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Background: Laboratory diagnostic service is an integral part of modern health care service. Quality of laboratory result helps for proper patient care. However, occurrences of clinical laboratory errors impair clinical decision-making process. Such errors are supposed to high in resource-poor countries like Ethiopia. Laboratory errors in any level of the process have an influence on total patient care, which might include misdiagnosis and mismanagement. Objective: To determine types and frequency of errors in diagnostic laboratories among selected hospitals in East Wollega Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. Methods: Hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted at diagnostic laboratories of selected hospitals in Wollega, West Ethiopia, from November 2020 to February 2021; to assess errors in laboratory procedures. Nekemte Specialized Referral Hospital, Wollega University Referral Hospital, Arjo Hospital, and Shambu Hospital have been chosen. All the required data were collected using established check list. Results: The frequency and types of errors in the pre-analytical, analytical, and post-analytical phases were assessed in this study. Overall, 1124 (58.5%) laboratory errors were detected, of which 807 (71.8%) were pre-analytical, 85 (7.6%) analytical, 232 (20.6%) post-analytical errors. Conclusion: Based on our findings pre-analytical and post-analytical errors occurred more frequently as compared to analytical errors and most of them are preventable errors and the increased pre-analytical errors indicates contribution of other health professionals. In general our study suggests the need for provision of trainings and supervisions for the staffs involved and coordinated activities to deliver quality services that meets the customer needs.