Reviews
Year : 2026 Month : July Volume : 15 Issue : 3 Page : BR01 - BR05 Full Version

A Review on Liability of Redundant Tests in Clinical Biochemistry Laboratory: A Threat to Quality Maintenance
Hasit Kumar D Lad, M Tejomani, N Chandrika
1. Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, SMIMER Medical College, Surat, Gujarat, India. 2. Associate Professor, Department of Biochemistry, ESICMC, PGIMSR and Model Hospital, Bengaluru, Karnataka, India. 3. Professor and Head, Department of Biochemistry, Chitradurga Medical College and Research Institute, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India.
 
Correspondence Address :
N Chandrika,
Chitradurga Medical College and Research Institute, Jnanagangothri Campus,
GR Halli, Chitradurga-577501, Karnataka, India.
E-mail: dr.chandrikar@gmail.com
 
ABSTRACT
: Clinical biochemistry laboratories support various aspects of healthcare, including routine blood tests, specialised investigations, and blood analysis for critical care monitoring. From each of these units, various tests are ordered with no consequence in diagnosis or decision-making. The proportion of repeat and redundant tests appears to be increasing in routine laboratory practice, compromising the quality and standards of laboratory work. Greater awareness among clinicians is needed regarding the time, effort, and resources wasted on unnecessary testing. The present review aimed to give an account of the impact of redundant tests on laboratory quality management. The articles available on PubMed and Google Scholar in the last ten years, that is, from 2014 onwards, on the impact of redundant laboratory tests were included in the present study. Strict inclusion and exclusion criteria were followed to induct the research material appropriate for the review. Care was taken to include quality research papers. A detailed analysis and comparative assessment of biochemical tests and their redundancy has been reported. Findings from various studies highlight that minimising repeat test requests can conserve laboratory and financial resources; however, repeat investigations are not always insignificant, particularly for critical values. Modern clinical laboratories offer a wide range of tests, enabling clinicians to select appropriate investigations at suitable intervals for patient care. Establishing standardised laboratory protocols in collaboration with clinicians can promote good laboratory practices within institutions.
Keywords : Cost of quality, Quality management, Repeat test, Routine blood test
DOI and Others : DOI: 10.7860/NJLM/2026/87404.2973 Date of Submission: Jan 12, 2026 Date of Peer Review: Feb 01, 2026 Date of Acceptance: Mar 21, 2026 Date of Publishing: Jul 01, 2026 AUTHOR DECLARATION: • Financial or Other Competing Interests: None • Was Ethics Committee Approval Obtained for this study? No • Was informed consent obtained from the subjects involved in the study? No • For any images presented appropriate consent has been obtained from the subjects. No PLAGIARISM CHECKING METHODS: • Plagiarism X-checker: Jan 17, 2026 • Manual Googling: Mar 16, 2026 • iThenticate Software: Mar 20, 2026 (8%) ETYMOLOGY: Author Origin EMENDATIONS: 6
 
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