Author(s)

Chabo Byaene Alain^1*, Mabela Makengo Matendo Rostin², Konde Nkiama Numbi Joël³, Muhindo Mavoko Hypolite⁴, Kayembe Nzongola-Nkasu Donatien¹, Tanon Aristophane Koffi⁵, Muwonga Masidi Jérémie¹, Situakibanza Nani-Tuma Hippolyte^4,6

¹Department of Medical Biology, University Hospital of Kinshasa, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
²Department of Mathematics and Informatics, Faculty of Sciences, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
³Department of Health and Environment, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
⁴Department of Tropical Medicine, University Hospital of Kinshasa, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).
⁵Department of Dermatology and Infectiology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Félix Houphouët Boigny University, Abidjan-Cocody, Côte d’Ivoire.
⁶Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Kinshasa, Faculty of Medicine, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

The delay in the delivery of laboratory results can be fatal and can even lead to the death of patients. This study was conducted at the clinical laboratory of the University Hospital of Kinshasa (UHK) from October 2020 to April 2021, aimed to evaluate the laboratory tests’ turnaround time (TAT) and to identify reasons for delay. TAT was quantified using a time and motion analysis approach. The evaluation of TAT consisted of comparing the overall intra-lab TAT with the suggested TAT using student t-test at 95% confidence intervals. Brainstorming was the root cause analysis tool used for identifying reasons for delay. In this study, the laboratory tests’ TATs were significantly higher (p < 0.001) comparing to international guidelines (60 minutes) and customers’ suggested TAT (120 minutes). Only 0.98% of the samples were reported within 60 minutes of patient reception and 1.47% within 120 minutes, i.e. an outlier rate of 98.5%. Root causes of delay related to Machinery, Management, Manpower, Materials, Method and Milieu. Because of many reasons, the laboratory is not meeting the established TAT. Preventive and curative measures must be undertaken to reduce the delay and improve the TAT.

Time-Motion Analysis, Turnaround Time, Clinical Laboratory, Quality Assurance, Value Stream Mapping, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Alain, C. , Rostin, M. , Joël, K. , Hypolite, M. , Donatien, K. , Koffi, T. , Jérémie, M. and Hippolyte, S. (2021) Evaluation of Clinical Laboratory Tests’ Turnaround Time in a Tertiary Hospital in Democratic Republic of the Congo. Journal of Biosciences and Medicines, 9, 96-111. doi: 10.4236/jbm.2021.97011.