Objectives: To evaluate errors of specimens sending from in-patient department and emergency room, Songklanagarind Hospital after adopting online requests and barcode system.

Materials and methods: Data on errors which were recorded and classified into 5 categories were retrieved from Specimen Reception Center of the Pathology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University during January 2005 to December 2007. Frequency and trends of errors were analysed.

Results: There were 336,208 specimens during the study period and a total of 5,097 errors (1.52%) were found. The rates were gradually declined from 1.82% to 1.55% and 1.27% from 2005-2007. For type of errors, missing barcode data and inappropriate specimen quality were equally at 0.48% whereas the rate of mismatch barcode and patient name label was 0.22% incorrect specimen was 0.18% and incomplete specimens received was 0.16%. Considering the place where the specimens were collected, the emergency room had the lowest error rate (1.26%). Analysis of yearly trends revealed overall error rates, the rate of missing barcode data, incomplete specimens and inappropriate specimen quality were significantly declined.

Conclusion: Errors still exist after using electronic requests and barcode labeling. However, the errors rates were gradually decreased. This would be, to some extent, the result of strategies during the period, in particular the cooperation between laboratory and nurses.