Glossary
Turnaround time
The time it takes a lab to deliver a result, measured between two agreed points such as collection and report.
What is lab turnaround time (TAT)?
Turnaround time, or TAT, is how long it takes a lab to deliver a result. It is one of the most watched measures of lab service, because clinicians and patients are waiting on it.
There is no single definition. A lab has to choose its start and end points, for example from order to report, from collection to report, or from receipt in the lab to result verified. Being clear about the points makes the numbers comparable over time.
Where time goes
- Before testing: collection, transport, labeling and data entry.
- During testing: analyzer run time, repeats and quality checks.
- After testing: review, release and delivery to the clinician and patient.
Urgent (STAT) tests usually have much shorter targets than routine tests. Much of the delay in small labs happens before and after testing, in manual entry and in getting the report to the right person.
How Lab Desk handles it
Lab Desk tracks each order through ordered, collected, in progress, ready for review, released and shared. Results can arrive straight from connected analyzers, and released results go out by secure link with no printing or faxing.
Related terms
- Requisition (lab order): The request, on paper or electronic, that tells a lab which tests to perform for a patient.
- Specimen ID (accession number): A unique number given to a specimen or order so it can be tracked and matched to the right patient.
- Patient portal: A secure website or app where patients can view their health information, such as lab results.
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