Rationale:
Unnecessary blood tests increase the risk of incidental findings, which may lead to unnecessary investigations, treatments, and patient anxiety. Some patients also experience distress related to blood sampling. Frequent blood draws can contribute to anemia, and hospital-acquired anemia has been associated with an increased need for blood transfusions, prolonged hospital stays, and higher mortality rates. Additionally, excessive test ordering can delay the processing of critical laboratory results.
References:
- Eaton KP, Levy K, Soong C, Pahwa AK, Petrilli C, Ziemba JB, et al. Evidence-Based Guidelines to Eliminate Repetitive Laboratory Testing. JAMA Intern Med. 2017;177(12):1833-9.
- Deacon B og Abramowitz J. Fear of needles and vasovagal reactions among phlebotomy patients. Journal of anxiety Disorder 2006;20:946-960.