PRE-ANALYTICAL PHASE: A CONTINUOUS CHALLENGE IN THE CLINICAL LABORATORY

Abstract

The pre-analytical phase represents one of the most critical stages of the clinical laboratory process, concentrating the highest number of errors that can compromise diagnostic accuracy and patient safety. This study aimed to analyze, based on scientific literature, the main errors occurring in the pre-analytical phase of laboratory testing, as well as to identify effective prevention and control strategies. It is an integrative literature review conducted in the SciELO, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases, covering publications from 2021 to 2024. Twenty articles that met the inclusion criteria were selected, allowing for a critical analysis of the main risk factors, causes, and corrective measures related to this stage. The results showed that the most frequent errors involve hemolysis, insufficient samples, incorrect identification, and inadequate storage, directly affecting the reliability of laboratory results. It was found that protocol standardization, continuous staff training, the use of computerized systems, and periodic auditing are fundamental strategies for reducing pre-analytical failures. It is concluded that strengthening quality control and communication between staff and patients is essential to ensure safer results, reduce operational costs, and achieve excellence in diagnostic services.