National recommendations of the Working Group for Postanalytics of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine: Quality indicators of the postanalytical phase.

Considering the concept of quality as a degree of excellence, the term quality of laboratory work tells us how excellent our results are in all areas of laboratory work. Therefore, quality indicators have been introduced with the aim of monitoring and measuring quality. Quality indicators describe the efficiency of the laboratory process in the form of a numerical value, providing objective evidence of the conformity of the specified laboratory process with respect to predefined criteria. The Working Group for Postanalytics of the Croatian Society of Medical Biochemistry and Laboratory Medicine has decided to describe the necessary steps in designing and monitoring quality indicators, with an emphasis on the quality of the postanalytical and post-postanalytical phase. The main purpose of these recommendations is to facilitate the incorporation of quality indicators into laboratories' daily routines. Laboratories in the Republic of Croatia are recommended to monitor three quality indicators in the postanalytical phase of laboratory work: turnaround time, withdrawn or retracted laboratory test reports, and notification of critical results. Additionally, two indicators are recommended in the post-postanalytical phase: monitoring issuance of laboratory test reports and monitoring user satisfaction. Harmonising acceptable performance limits and monitoring of the most commonly used quality indicators opens up the possibility of comparisons between laboratories and a uniform quality of laboratory services throughout the healthcare system.