OBJECTIVETo investigate the factors related to delay in pathology reporting and to improve the quality of pathology service.

METHODSA total of 24 months pathology reports (total number = 21,038) issued by Department of Pathology, Dongyang People's Hospital (randomly selected during the period from 1999 to 2006) were analyzed. The timeliness of these reports was studied with respect to the types of specimens (biopsy versus surgical versus frozen section). The causes for delay in reporting were statistically analyzed.

RESULTSAmong all the cases studied, 19,579 reports were timely issued (timeliness rate = 93.06%), whereas 1459 reports were delayed (delay rate = 6.94%). Of the 1459 delayed reports, routine biopsy specimens accounted for 6.02% (665/11,052), surgical specimens for 7.26% (643/8858) and frozen section specimens for 13.39% (151/1128). The main causes for delay in reporting were technical (1158 cases or 79.37%), including requests of immunohistochemical staining, intradepartmental or external consultation, patient contact and discussion with requesting clinicians. Factors related to responsibility, such as inadequate clinical information in the pathology request forms, were identified in 301 cases (20.63%). The delay in reporting was mainly due to factors occurring within the pathology department (which accounted for 1048 cases or 71.83% (P < 0.05) and most were technical (1017 cases or 97.04%). Extradepartmental factors, mainly related to responsibility, were noted in 270 cases (65.69%, chi2 = 709.59, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONFactors related to delay in pathology reporting can be categorized into technical and responsibility. The former can be rectified by improvement of laboratory procedures, while the latter needs education of the personnel concerned.