JHSM
Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine

Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine (JHSM) is an unbiased, peer-reviewed, and open access international medical journal. The Journal publishes interesting clinical and experimental research conducted in all fields of medicine, interesting case reports, and clinical images, invited reviews, editorials, letters, comments, and related knowledge.

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Original Article
Preanalytical sample rejection patterns and quality indicators in the central laboratory of a tertiary university hospital: a retrospective analysis according to clinical department and patient subgroups
Abstract
Aims: Preanalytical errors remain the leading source of laboratory testing errors and may compromise analytical reliability, delay clinical decision-making, increase healthcare costs, and adversely affect patient safety. Continuous monitoring of sample rejection patterns is essential for identifying institution-specific weaknesses and improving laboratory quality management systems. This study aimed to evaluate the causes of preanalytical sample rejection in a tertiary university hospital laboratory and to investigate rejection patterns according to clinical department category, patient admission status, and patient age group. Methods: This retrospective study included all rejected samples recorded in the Laboratory Information System between January 1 and June 30, 2025. Rejected specimens were classified according to rejection reason, sample tube type, clinical department category, patient admission status (inpatient/outpatient), and patient age group (adult/pediatric). Major rejection causes were grouped into five categories: insufficient sample volume, clotted sample, unanalyzable coagulation sample, hemolyzed sample, and other causes. Categorical variables were compared using the Chi-square test, with statistical significance defined as p

Keywords : Preanalytical errors, sample rejection, quality management, laboratory information system, phlebotomy, clinical laboratory

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Article available in :
Volume 9, Issue 4, 2026
Page : 1090-1096
https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1932008
Article Information
Received : 16 Nis 2026
Accepted : 28 Haz 2026
Published : 20 Tem 2026
Corresponding Author :

Aysun Ekinci: Department of Medical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Dicle University, Diyarbakır, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Ekinci A. Preanalytical sample rejection patterns and quality indicators in the central laboratory of a tertiary university hospital: a retrospective analysis according to clinical department and patient subgroups. J Health Sci Med. 2026;9(4):1090-1096. doi:10.32322/jhsm.1932008

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