Standards › Standard 33 › Standard operating procedures (SOPs)
Standard operating procedure (SOP) · LBT-SOP-005 · Version 1.0 · Approved by the ASF Expert Committee
Supports: 33.9
At a glance
- STAT specimens are identified on receipt and placed first in the workflow.
- Turnaround is measured for each test against its target (LBT-REG-006).
- A missed target is reviewed and acted on.
- STAT results are phoned to the requester as set out in LBT-SOP-007.
- Stop and get help straight away if: a STAT specimen waits in the routine queue.
1. Purpose
To make sure urgent specimens are handled first and that turnaround is known and kept (33.9).
2. Scope
| Applies to | Clinical and support staff in the hospital |
| Locations | All wards, clinics and departments of the facility |
| When | Whenever the activity described is carried out |
| Does not apply to | Activities covered by another document listed in section 15 |
3. Definitions
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Clinical lead | The doctor or nurse in charge of the area at the time |
4. Background
An urgent (STAT) specimen that waits in the queue can delay treatment for a critical patient. A written procedure to flag, handle and track urgent specimens gets them to the front.
5. Responsibilities
| Role | Responsibility | Competence |
|---|---|---|
| Senior scientist | Sets the STAT workflow and the targets | Laboratory director |
| Laboratory technician | Identifies and prioritises STAT specimens | Senior scientist |
6. Materials and equipment
| Item | Requirement | Condition |
|---|---|---|
| Records and forms named in this document | Current version | Checked before use |
7. Safety
- Stop and call for help if a patient is at immediate risk. Do not delay urgent care to complete paperwork.
8. Before you start
- Confirm the forms and equipment named in this document are available and current.
9. Procedure
Step 1. Identify.
- Mark the specimen STAT on receipt and move it to the front of the queue.
Key point: Identified.
Step 2. Measure.
- Record receipt, start and result times against the target (LBT-REG-006).
Key point: Measured.
Step 3. Review misses.
- Review each missed target and act on the cause.
Key point: Reviewed.
10. Decision points
- No decision points in this procedure.
11. Special situations
| Situation | Action |
|---|---|
| Out of hours | Follow the same steps. Use the on-call contact on the wall of the area. |
12. Escalation
- Any serious problem goes to the duty clinical lead at once and to the clinical director the same day.
13. Monitoring
| Measure | Target | Frequency | Owner | If not met |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| STAT tests reported within target | 95% | Monthly | Senior scientist | Escalate to the laboratory director |
14. Records
| Record | Kept in | Retention |
|---|---|---|
| Record named in this document | Patient record or the area file | the period set by the facility’s records policy years |
15. Training
- Staff are trained in this document at induction and refreshed each year, with a recorded competency check.
16. Related documents
| ID | Title | Use |
|---|---|---|
| LBT-REG-006 | Turnaround time monitoring log | Register |
17. Evidence
| Reference | Note |
|---|---|
| E-009 | Based on ISO 15189:2022 Medical laboratories: requirements for quality and competence, ISO 9001:2015 for supplier control, and the Global Patient Safety Action Plan 2021–2030 for critical results. |
| E-006 | ASF Policy Framework v1.2. Adapted. |
| E-009 | ASF Expert Committee consensus. |
18. Change history
| Version | Date | What changed | Approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | the date of approval | First version | set Expert Committee approval |
E-learning for this document
- Equipment, Reagents & Traceability (LAB-04)
References
- Accréditation Sans Frontières (2026). ASF Policy Framework v1.2. (E-006)
- Accréditation Sans Frontières (2026). ASF Expert Committee consensus on Standard 1. (E-009)