<b>Nursing in newborn screening</b> - DOI: 10.4025/actascihealthsci.v25i2.2226

Abstract

This paper deals with a study undertaken at Paraná Newborn Screening Reference Service (Fepe). Its aim was to identify the level of inadequate blood samples received by Fepe laboratory for testing from January to December 2002. A study was made from Fepe Laboratory internal medical records and 222,366 tests were examined, in which we identified 2,787 as needing to be repeated due to mistakes made during sample collection. The criteria used for classification were as follows: blood transfusion, insufficient, haemolysed, old, excess, contaminated and dried blood. Based on obtained and analysed data, we were able to determine that the greatest amount of errors relates to insufficient and old blood, indicating difficulties in carrying out the collection technique, which may be concerned to: lack of technical and scientific knowledge and undervaluing of the test importance, replacement of trained staff by untrained staff and the significant delay in sending blood samples to the laboratory, emphasising a lack of awareness as to the tests relevance.