Appropriateness of Histopathology Specimen Containers and Completeness of Laboratory Request Forms in Uganda: A Case of Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital, South Western Uganda

Abstract

Introduction: Laboratory request forms (LRFs) are pivotal to histopathologists as they are the only medium through which pathologists communicate with patients and clinicians. On many occasions, the LRFs are incompletely filled and do not paint the right picture of the patient. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study that audited 586 LRFs and specimen containers sent to the Mbarara University of Science and Technology (MUST) histopathology laboratory between July 2024 and September 2024 for their completeness and appropriateness. The main parameters considered were biodata, clinical history, clinician details, and hospital details. Results: Overall, only 3.6% (21/586) of LRFs were appropriately filled. Of the 4 main parameters, biodata was the most filled at 54.1%, hospital details at 18.1%, and clinical details at 7.5%, and the least completed was clinician details at 5.6%. Conclusion: The completion rate of the LRFs is unacceptably poor, and the used specimen containers are unbefitting. Patient age and name are the most completed parameters, while requesting the physician’s signature was the least completed variable. Clinicians need to be constantly reminded of their role in histopathology diagnosis through continuous medical education and the introduction of laboratory standard operating procedures (SOPs) on the wards and operating theaters.