Know Error Blog: DNA Confirmation of Positive Biopsy tag:www.knowerror.com,2011-08-22:/know_error_blog/2 2011-10-12T16:31:51Z Movable Type 4.26 Mislabeled Biopsy Leads to Cancer Misdiagnosis and Unnecessary Surgery tag:www.knowerror.com,2011:/know_error_blog//2.50 2011-10-11T17:18:06Z 2011-10-12T16:31:51Z Mike http://www.knowerror.com On October 1, 2011, the Victoria Herald Sun reported on a biopsy labeling mix-up that resulted in the unnecessary removal of an Australian woman's spleen as well as part of her pancreas. Fifty-six year old, Christine Korolew, was given the diagnosis of cancer in January 2010 after a pancreatic lesion was biopsied and revealed cancer.

As with most cases covered in this blog, the mix-up was revealed when routine post surgical tests showed no evidence of cancer. Korolew is pursuing legal action and her claim alleges that "a slide containing a biopsy specimen from another patient had been mislabeled with [her] name." The unnecessary removal of part of her pancreas additionally caused her to develop diabetes which requires two injections of insulin every day. The suit also claims that her ability to continue working has been affected and her former employer confirmed that "she is unlikely to be gainfully employed again."

The article makes no mention of the patient with whom Ms. Korolew's slides were switched.

Launched in 2009, the know error® system was developed to prevent this type of mix-up from occurring. The system utilizes bar coding, forensic principles and DNA matching to confirm that the biopsy samples being evaluated belong to the patient being diagnosed. In this case, the mislabeling would have been detected prior to any treatment taking place. Ms. Korolew would not have undergone unnecessary surgery or developed diabetes and the other patient involved in the mix-up would not have experienced any delay in treatment.

Available for a diverse range of tissue types, the know error® system brings new levels of patient safety and diagnostic accuracy to the biopsy evaluation process. To learn more about the know error® system, visit our website www.knowerror.com.

 

 

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