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Review
. 2024 Feb 1;16(2):e53393.
doi: 10.7759/cureus.53393. eCollection 2024 Feb.

Root Cause Analysis: Unraveling Common Laboratory Challenges

Dharini Srinivasaragavan  1 , Karthikeyan Ramalingam  1 , Pratibha Ramani  1
Affiliations
Review

Root Cause Analysis: Unraveling Common Laboratory Challenges

Dharini Srinivasaragavan et al. Cureus. .

Abstract

Diverse errors occur in a pathology laboratory and manual mistakes are the most common. There are various advancements to replace manual procedures with digitized automation techniques. Guidelines and protocols are available to run a standard pathology laboratory. But, even with such attempts to reinforce and strengthen the protocols, the complete elimination of errors is yet not possible. Root cause analysis (RCA) is the best way forward to develop an error-free laboratory, In this review, the importance of RCA, common errors taking place in laboratories, methods to carry out RCA, and its effectiveness are discussed in detail. The review also highlights the potential of RCA to provide long-term quality improvement and efficient laboratory management.

Keywords: errors; fishbone; laboratory; laboratory error; oral pathology laboratory; outcome analysis; pathology; quality improvement; root cause; root cause analysis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1. Representation
Diagrammatic representation of root cause analysis (Image credit - Dharini Srinivasaragavan, Karthikeyan Ramalingam)
Figure 2
Figure 2. Methods
Methodologies reported in the literature to carry out root cause analysis (Image credit - Dharini Srinivasaragavan, Karthikeyan Ramalingam)
Figure 3
Figure 3. Common challenges
Pictorial representation of commonly encountered challenges in pathology laboratory (Image credit - Dharini Srinivasaragavan, Karthikeyan Ramalingam)
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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