Which scenario illustrates a delta check trigger?

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Multiple Choice

Which scenario illustrates a delta check trigger?

Delta checks compare a patient's current result with the last result for that patient to catch errors or unexpected changes. A hemoglobin value jumping from 10 g/dL to 17 g/dL represents a large, abrupt change—about a 7 g/dL increase, roughly 70%—which is far beyond typical fluctuation. Such a sharp shift would prompt a delta check to investigate possible causes like sample mix-ups, mislabeled specimens, or instrument/entry errors. In contrast, changes within the normal range or small fluctuations, such as a white blood cell count changing from 5 to 6, or a platelet count staying at 150,000, are within expected biological or analytical variation and would not typically trigger a delta check. The idea is to flag substantial, unexpected changes rather than routine minor differences.

Delta checks compare a patient's current result with the last result for that patient to catch errors or unexpected changes. A hemoglobin value jumping from 10 g/dL to 17 g/dL represents a large, abrupt change—about a 7 g/dL increase, roughly 70%—which is far beyond typical fluctuation. Such a sharp shift would prompt a delta check to investigate possible causes like sample mix-ups, mislabeled specimens, or instrument/entry errors.

In contrast, changes within the normal range or small fluctuations, such as a white blood cell count changing from 5 to 6, or a platelet count staying at 150,000, are within expected biological or analytical variation and would not typically trigger a delta check. The idea is to flag substantial, unexpected changes rather than routine minor differences.

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