Onus of ensuring accuracy in test reports is on laboratories. File pic.
When 31-year-old Shweta, who is expecting her first child in the month of June 2015, went on a routine visit to her doctor, she was asked to undergo the usual tests recommended during pregnancy.
When the hemoglobin count in the Complete Blood Count (CBC) test turned out to be lower than normal, the doctor advised her to take the three other tests — B12 test, Ferritin test and hemoglobin electrophoresis test, in order to be able to pinpoint the exact cause for the low hemoglobin count.
As suggested by her doctor, Shweta got the all the tests done at a reputed maternity hospital on Old Airport Road near Total Mall in Bengaluru. When the results of all the three tests were deemed normal in the reports from the laboratory of the hospital, the couple, knowing how vital this was for the future of their child, decided to double-check.
What is Thalassemia trait?
Thalassemia is a genetically inherited blood disorder where the gene that controls production of hemoglobin – the protein in the red blood cells which carries oxygen from lungs to all other organs – has a defect. This can lead to anemia. In severe cases, it can cause bone deformities in face, yellow skin (jaundice), growth failure and even early death.
Thalassemia Trait, or Thalassemia minor as it is medically termed, is not the disease however. It is rather a genetic trait which can be passed on to future generations, and has the potential to cause the disease, Thalassemia major, in the offspring.
They gave their blood sample to another laboratory to verify. In the report they received five days after the report from the first hospital, Shweta was tested positive for Thalassemia trait.
While Shweta’s test result from the hospital reported her Hemoglobin A2 fraction, which hints about Thalassemia trait, as 0.2%, the subsequent test at the other laboratory reported that Hemoglobin A2 as 4.7%, which is over the 3.5% threshold. While the first test at the hospital indicated normalcy, the second report indicated that she has Thalassemia trait.
“I was shocked. We decided on taking the right treatment because we verified the test reports at another lab. Had we believed in the hospital’s report, we would not have taken the required measures at all,” he says.
If the father too has Thalassemia trait, the probability of the offspring developing Thalassemia could be as high as 25%. On learning this, Shweta’s husband, Rajesh, gave his blood sample for test as well, which was found to be negative.
No responsibility taken by the hospital
On referring to old medical test reports, the couple realised she was reported to have Thalassemia trait in another test that had been done five years ago. When Rajesh, convinced that the hospital had misguided them with an incorrect report, approached the customer care department of the hospital, he was asked to mail the reports and was assured that action will be taken. After he e-mailed about the issue to the Managing Director of the hospital, the MD wrote to the CEO of the hospital, asking him to investigate the matter, says Rajesh.
Finally, Rajesh says he received a mail from the CEO of the hospital, in which the CEO contended that there was no mistake on the part of the hospital and that it is possible to get wrong reports in medical science. There was no answer given to Rajesh’s query on the huge difference of values in two reports.
“I do accept that the percentage of abnormal/normal Hb will differ in different tests, but how on earth can an error of 2350% be accounted for?” asks Rajesh.
Expert reaction
Results of a test need to be put in context of the given medical condition. For example, a shoulder MRI may show several findings that may be irrelevant if the patient does not have any complaints. Similarly, all over the world, test results are simply numbers. Sometimes, it may be prudent to have the test repeated if the result is not consistent with the clinical findings. Of course, in the Indian setting, this directly increases the cost of care and the burden falls on the patient. In my practice, I always ask the patient to bring the images and the raw data. I tend to repeat tests at our institution if there is going to be a major change in management based on the findings.
– Dr Govind Nandakumar, Assistant Attending Surgeon at NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital.
Error due to inherent shortcomings of the test
Citizen Matters asked the hospital whether the hospital has investigated what went wrong, and if yes, what was the cause of error and what corrective measures, if any, have been taken to ensure such errors do not repeat.
This was what the hospital’s CEO replied: “We have conducted a thorough investigation and there is nothing that has gone wrong which needs to be corrected. This happens due to inherent shortcomings of these tests.”;
Onus of wrong reports is on lab
Dr. Jayaram, a pathologist working in a private laboratory, says that it is impossible for any laboratory in the world to assure 100% accuracy. “Some variation in the values is inevitable between reports of tests conducted using two different methods, or between tests conducted using two different machines or at two different labs. But the upper limit of acceptable error, in case of Hb electrophoresis, is 10%. Hence, 2350% is quite a dramatic error.”
Jayaram says that as per ISO accreditation standards (ISO 15189:2012) the laboratory is responsible for its reports. When there is a query, complaint or a nonconformity, the laboratory management should conduct a detailed analysis to identify the root cause of error and bring in the necessary corrective actions.
“In case the error was identified based on customer complaint, the complainant should be informed about the outcome of the investigation. Though the ISO standard applies to the laboratories that go for accreditation, the contents reflect general requirements for any medical diagnostic laboratory,” he adds.
What precautions can a patient take?
Unfortunately, there are no concrete precautions a patient can take to avoid being misguided by an incorrect laboratory report. Only if the patient has some medical knowledge on which symptoms correlate to which deficiencies or abnormalities, he or she can be in a position to doubt the accuracy of a report and go in for a second test to verify, says Dr. Ranju, a doctor practising in Columbia Asia hospital, Whitefield.
Keep in mind the following while getting lab reports done:
- Before any test, be very clear on why the test is required, What preparations need to be in place, what will the procedure look like, when will you get the results, and what role does the test have to play in your treatment.
- Take care to provide samples to labs in the closed containers or cases meant for you, with your name or patient number on it.
- Make sure the lab personnel are using sterilised equipment for drawing blood sample and other procedures.
- Follow the instructions given by the laboratory personnel for tests, and be prepared as required, ie, empty stomach, abstaining from stimulants, having no physical activity and so on, as applicable.
- Provide the samples of bodily fluids and solids within stipulated time. Delay might cause aberrations in the result.
- Make sure that the name, age, blood group and other details in the report are yours. There have been cases where reports have been exchanged because of negligence in labs.
- Check for consistency or difference, in case you are getting tests done twice, and expecting it to be either same or different, as the case may be.
Legal options available for patients
According to N B Vishwanath, a High Court lawyer, the patient can, under the circumstances, write to the Directorate of Health and Family Welfare, and the relevant authorities there will investigate the matter and take actions as they see fit.
The patient can also write to Karnataka Medical Council or Medical Council of India, and request action against the pathologist for violating Indian Medical Council (Professional conduct, Etiquette and Ethics) Regulations, 2002, chapter 7.7 of which states:
“Any registered practitioner who is shown to have signed or given under his name and authority any such certificate, notification, report or document of a similar character which is untrue, misleading or improper, is liable to have his name deleted from the Register.”
Also, compensation can be demanded by writing to Karnataka State Consumer Dispute Commission, complaining about deficiency in service under Consumer Protection Act.
However, getting either of the medical councils or Karnataka State Consumer Dispute Commission to act is a tedious procedure. It is highly likely that the hospital will escape from any legal action,” says Dr. Rajni, the District Health officer of Bangalore Urban district.
“The best option, if the patient desires compensation, is to file a case for negligence under section 304 (a) in the consumer court. If the patient rather wants action to be taken against the hospital and the pathologist, then an FIR can be filed at a police station for negligence under 304(a), and the matter will then proceed to criminal court,” she adds.
Related Articles
Here’s how you can manage Swine flu in Bengaluru
Chikungunya and dengue: prevention and treatment
This is an important subject that needs addressing. I think, it would be a good idea for Citizen Matters to invite subject experts when addressing such topics incl. the H1N1 (Swine) Flu etc which are specialized subjects.
I urge Citizen Matters to expose the “Cut” business that is rampant all over India where the Diagnostic Labs and the Clinicians are almost desecrating the Nobility of Helathcare (Here I am not suggesting that the quality is compromised, but the conversion of Health Sector into a Health Business/Industry).
Oh my God, How can any hospital give such a wrong report,as per the article it says it’s a reputed maternity hospital on Old Airport Road near Total Mall , Is the hospital involved is Cloudnine Old airport road ?
Yes Jiya, it’s Cloudnine Old airport Road, it has happened to us and like you even we were surprised to get such a shocker from such a reputed hospital and more than that the way management has reacted was an eye opener, their MD never accepted the fault, in the beginning he assumed it to be a false allegation and later when i gave him supporting documents then they just said ” in medical science it is possible to get wrong reports” and top of that they still don’t answer the reason for such a huge variation in both the reports, they also engaged in worrisome activities. Someone called me to discourage me from pursuing the matter.The cell number is the same as that of the lab director and I have the call recording. Only good thing which has happened to us is that we did a double check with other labs and by grace of god we are on right track of treatment.
[Editor: The comment has been edited to conform to our standards.]
Shocking that the Cloud Nine hospital refuses to own up. These are supposedly reputed hospitals behaving like cowboys. And what’s with Citizen’s Matters not naming the hospital. They are just reporting a factual story with both sides having their say! Are they feeling intimidated?
I wish the victims of this incompetence the best of luck.
Sriram, Thanks for best wishes, Like you I also asked citizen matters the reason for not naming cloudnine but then we have to do everything in legal framework, I am rather pretty satisfied with citizens matter, they have done so much of investigation and research. As we are the victim so we are more anguished by Cloudnine irresponsible behavior, before this incidence we had so much of trust on cloudnine and even after this episode i though the management will accept and apologies for the kind of trouble it has caused to us. Now for others I would just say that read this incident and take some lessons so that proper medical care is not deprived just because someone gave you false report…..
[Editor: The comment has been edited to conform to our standards.]
I have tested my wife for sugar on 26th May, 2017. in one of the pathology near white field Bangalore.
Fasting was 431 and pp was 694. Shocked and once again tested on 27th May 2017. the result was Fasting – 167 and pp was 271. Hope their can’t be somuch of varirion. When contacted the earlier pathology they are reluctant to accepte the mistake. what is the remidie.
Hi I am Deepak from Mumbai I was operated lypoma on my back after surgery tumor sent at Metropolis lab Mumbai kurla they have mentioned lipocycroma cancer however as per doctor advice we have done pet scan cost Rs 23000 and rechecked with Raheja hospital mahim under Dr Anita Borges report came everything is negative no cancer at all. however my entire family suffer 10 days. even almost we have spend 40000 Rs because of Metropolis mistek. Please seeking advice what action can we take.