Turnaround times for reports on uncomplicated biopsies in five major anatomical pathology laboratories in NSW, Australia

This paper reports on the findings of a 1997 survey of the turnaround times (TATs) of small, uncomplicated biopsies performed in five major anatomical pathology (AP) departments in NSW over a period of four weeks. A comparati ve analysis of the performance of the departments shows that in the majorit y of cases the standard of two working days between specimen receipt and av ailability for dispatch after verification (as proposed by the College of A merican Pathologists) is met. This is within the two working days of the Cl inical Indicator of the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards. Notwith standing the apparent adequacy of this result, there is an emerging-althoug h still a minority-view in which it is suggested that the TAT between speci men accession and verification of reports for uncomplicated cases should be one day. This more stringent benchmark is readily achievable, as is demons trated in the results obtained, in this study a one day TAT was obtained in 73.4% of cases.