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Quality: Unsatisfactory Specimens & Demographic Errors on Specimen Cards

Quality measures include information on the number and type of unsatisfactory specimens received and the frequency of incomplete or incorrect demographic information submitted with specimens. Collecting good quality specimens and providing correct demographic information on the specimen cards are critical to the timely identification of babies with newborn screening conditions. These measures assist hospitals in identifying areas for training or improvement.

Unsatisfactory Specimens

Some specimens are considered unsatisfactory due to the quality of specimen collection or handling. In these cases, another specimen must be obtained to complete screening, which could delay diagnosis and treatment of an affected infant or cause undue hardship for the parents. 

Overall, 2.5% of specimens submitted were classified as unsatisfactory in the 2017 year. This is an increase of 0.4 percentage points from the previous year.

Unsatisfactory Specimen Error Rates by Hospital

See Unsatisfactory Specimen Key (PDF) for descriptions and causes of unsatisfactory specimens.

Demographic Errors on Specimens Cards

Key demographic fields are necessary for interpreting newborn screening results and for identifying the infant. Specimens with invalid or missing demographic information could delay diagnosis and treatment of an affected infant. 

Overall, 12.0% of specimen cards submitted had one or more demographic errors in the 2017 year. This is an improvement of 6.7 percentage points from the previous year.

Demographic Error Rates by Hospital

This information is also available alphabetically by hospital name, and in more detail regarding specific types of errors:

Unsatisfactory Specimen and Demographic Error1 Rates by Submitter Type2

Chart showing data on unsatisfactory specimens and demographic errors for NBS

​1 See Key 2: Hospital Volume (PDF) for hospital volume category definitions.
See Key 1: Unsatisfactory Specimen (PDF) Descriptions for descriptions and causes of unsatisfactory specimens.
Includes specimen cards with one or more missing or invalid demographic fields.

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Unsuitable Specimens by Submitting Facility

Received January 1, 2017 – December 31, 2017

 

Submitting Facility

 

City

 

Total Specimens

 

Unsat Specimen1
Error Rate

 

Three Rivers Hospital

 

Brewster

 

151

 

0%

 

Lincoln Hospital

 

Davenport

 

28

 

0%

 

Kaiser Permanente WA - Capitol Hill

 

Seattle

 

14

 

0%

 

St Joseph Hospital Providence - Chewelah

 

Chewelah

 

10

 

0%

 

Willapa Harbor Hospital

 

South Bend

 

2

 

0%

 

Swedish - Cherry Hill

 

Seattle

 

1

 

0%

 

Lourdes Medical Center

 

Pasco

 

1

 

0%

 

Yakima Regional Medical Center

 

Yakima

 

1

 

0%

 

East Adams Rural Hospital

 

Ritzville

 

1

 

0%

 

Ferry County Memorial Hospital

 

Republic

 

1

 

0%

 

Fairchild Air Force Base - 92nd Medical Group

 

Fairchild AFB

 

1

 

0%

 

St Mary Medical Center - Providence

 

Walla Walla

 

701

 

0.3%

 

Naval Hospital - Bremerton

 

Bremerton

 

1,137

 

0.4%

 

Mason General Hospital

 

Shelton

 

269

 

0.4%

 

Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center

 

Vancouver

 

3,668

 

0.7%

 

Harrison Medical Center

 

Bremerton

 

2,135

 

0.8%

 

Madigan Army Medical Center

 

Joint Base Lewis-McChord

 

3,977

 

0.9%

 

Kadlec Regional Medical Center

 

Richland

 

3,286

 

0.9%

 

Good Samaritan Hospital - MultiCare

 

Puyallup

 

2,372

 

0.9%

 

Northwest Hospital - UW Medicine

 

Seattle

 

1,584

 

0.9%

 

PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center

 

Vancouver

 

2,303

 

1.0%

 

St John Medical Center - PeaceHealth

 

Longview

 

863

 

1.0%

 

Olympic Medical Center

 

Port Angeles

 

948

 

1.1%

 

Jefferson Healthcare

 

Port Townsend

 

185

 

1.1%

 

Samaritan Healthcare

 

Moses Lake

 

1,053

 

1.2%

 

Sacred Heart Medical Center - Providence

 

Spokane

 

4,625

 

1.3%

 

Holy Family Hospital - Providence

 

Spokane

 

1,424

 

1.3%

 

Valley Hospital

 

Spokane

 

976

 

1.3%

 

Naval Hospital - Oak Harbor

 

Oak Harbor

 

454

 

1.3%

 

Providence Everett Regional Medical Center

 

Everett

 

5,172

 

1.4%

 

Island Hospital

 

Anacortes

 

694

 

1.4%

 

Pullman Regional Hospital

 

Pullman

 

433

 

1.4%

 

Deaconess Hospital - MultiCare

 

Spokane

 

1,847

 

1.5%

 

St Francis Hospital

 

Federal Way

 

1,496

 

1.5%

 

Capital Medical Center

 

Olympia

 

664

 

1.5%

 

Overlake Medical Center

 

Bellevue

 

3,861

 

1.6%

 

Skagit Valley Hospital

 

Mount Vernon

 

1,013

 

1.6%

 

Toppenish Community Hospital

 

Toppenish

 

678

 

1.6%

 

Virginia Mason Memorial

 

Yakima

 

4,319

 

1.8%

 

WhidbeyHealth Medical Center

 

Coupeville

 

387

 

1.8%

 

Swedish - First Hill

 

Seattle

 

8,531

 

1.9%

 

Swedish - Issaquah

 

Issaquah

 

1,685

 

1.9%

 

Seattle Children's Hospital

 

Seattle

 

806

 

1.9%

 

Lake Chelan Community Hospital

 

Chelan

 

161

 

1.9%

 

Newport Hospital

 

Newport

 

159

 

1.9%

 

St Joseph Medical Center - Tacoma

 

Tacoma

 

4,997

 

2.0%

 

North Valley Hospital

 

Tonasket

 

102

 

2.0%

 

Central Washington Hospital/Confluence Health

Wenatchee

 

1,365

 

2.1%

 

Swedish - Ballard

 

Seattle

 

1,229

 

2.1%

 

Prosser Memorial Hospital

 

Prosser

 

526

 

2.1%

 

Grays Harbor Community Hospital

 

Aberdeen

 

429

 

2.1%

 

EvergreenHealth - Monroe 

 

Monroe

 

47

 

2.1%

 

EvergreenHealth Kirkland

 

Kirkland

 

4,966

 

2.2%

 

St Joseph Hospital PeaceHealth - Bellingham

 

Bellingham

 

2,077

 

2.2%

 

St Elizabeth Hospital

 

Enumclaw

 

439

 

2.3%

 

Tacoma General Hospital - MultiCare

 

Tacoma

 

3,737

 

2.4%

 

Swedish - Edmonds

 

Edmonds

 

1,962

 

2.5%

 

Highline Medical Center

 

Burien

 

1,026

 

2.5%

 

Sunnyside Community Hospital

 

Sunnyside

 

889

 

2.6%

 

Mid-Valley Hospital

 

Omak

 

231

 

2.6%

 

Trios Health Hospital

 

Kennewick

 

1,510

 

2.8%

 

Valley Medical Center - UW Medicine

 

Renton

 

4,007

 

2.9%

 

Kittitas Valley Healthcare

 

Ellensburg

 

340

 

2.9%

 

Whitman Hospital and Medical Center

 

Colfax

 

63

 

3.2%

 

Virginia Mason Hospital

 

Seattle

 

30

 

3.3%

 

Othello Community Hospital

 

Othello

 

807

 

3.5%

 

Harborview Medical Center - UW Medicine

 

Seattle

 

112

 

3.6%

 

Forks Community Hospital

 

Forks

 

109

 

3.7%

 

Coulee Medical Center

 

Grand Coulee

 

129

 

5.4%

 

Summit Pacific Medical Center

 

Elma

 

51

 

5.9%

 

Providence St Peter Hospital

 

Olympia

 

2,329

 

6.7%

 

Auburn Medical Center - MultiCare

 

Auburn

 

1,234

 

7.1%

 

Providence Centralia Hospital

 

Centralia

 

697

 

7.5%

 

Mount Carmel Hospital - Providence

 

Colville

 

241

 

8.3%

 

Cascade Valley Hospital

 

Arlington

 

206

 

9.2%

 

University of Washington Medical Center

 

Seattle

 

2,277

 

10.1%

 

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital - MultiCare

 

Tacoma

 

29

 

24.1%

 

Columbia Basin Hospital

 

Ephrata

 

4

 

25.0%

 

Walla Walla General Hospital

 

Walla Walla

 

9

 

33.3%

 

Lewis County Hospital

 

Morton

 

3

 

33.3%

All Hospital Specimens

 

Statewide

 

102,286

 

2.1%

Non-Hospital Specimens

 

Statewide

 

67,880

 

3.2%

 

All Birth Center Specimens

 

Statewide

 

754

 

2.4%

 

All Midwife Specimens

 

Statewide

 

4,719

 

5.2%

 

All Clinic and Laboratory Specimens

 

Statewide

 

62,407

 

3.0%

All Washington State Births

 

Statewide

 

170,166

 

2.5%

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See Key 1: Unsatisfactory Specimen Descriptions for descriptions and causes of unsatisfactory specimens.

Demographic Error Rated by Submitting Facility

Received January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2017

 

Submitting Facility

 

City

 

Total Specimens

 

Demographic Error Rate1

 

Lewis County Hospital

 

Morton

 

3

 

0%

 

Willapa Harbor Hospital

 

South Bend

 

2

 

0%

 

Swedish - Cherry Hill

 

Seattle

 

1

 

0%

 

Lourdes Medical Center

 

Pasco

 

1

 

0%

 

Yakima Regional Medical Center

 

Yakima

 

1

 

0%

 

East Adams Rural Hospital

 

Ritzville

 

1

 

0%

 

Ferry County Memorial Hospital

 

Republic

 

1

 

0%

 

Fairchild Air Force Base - 92nd Medical Group

 

Fairchild AFB

 

1

 

0%

 

Three Rivers Hospital

 

Brewster

 

151

 

1.3%

 

North Valley Hospital

 

Tonasket

 

102

 

2.0%

 

EvergreenHealth Kirkland

 

Kirkland

 

4,966

 

2.4%

 

Virginia Mason Memorial

 

Yakima

 

4,319

 

2.6%

 

Holy Family Hospital - Providence

 

Spokane

 

1,424

 

2.6%

 

Olympic Medical Center

 

Port Angeles

 

948

 

2.6%

 

Naval Hospital - Bremerton

 

Bremerton

 

1,137

 

2.7%

 

Forks Community Hospital

 

Forks

 

109

 

2.8%

 

Madigan Army Medical Center

 

Tacoma

 

3,977

 

2.9%

 

Othello Community Hospital

 

Othello

 

807

 

3.1%

 

Newport Hospital

 

Newport

 

159

 

3.1%

 

Coulee Medical Center

 

Grand Coulee

 

129

 

3.1%

 

Samaritan Healthcare

 

Moses Lake

 

1,053

 

3.4%

 

Northwest Hospital - UW Medicine

 

Seattle

 

1,584

 

3.9%

 

Sunnyside Community Hospital

 

Sunnyside

 

889

 

3.9%

 

Overlake Medical Center

 

Bellevue

 

3,861

 

4.0%

 

Valley Hospital

 

Spokane

 

976

 

4.0%

 

Swedish - Edmonds

 

Edmonds

 

1,962

 

4.2%

 

Skagit Valley Hospital

 

Mount Vernon

 

1,013

 

4.2%

 

Island Hospital

 

Anacortes

 

694

 

4.2%

 

Swedish - Issaquah

 

Issaquah

 

1,685

 

4.5%

 

Swedish - Ballard

 

Seattle

 

1,229

 

4.5%

 

Highline Medical Center

 

Burien

 

1,026

 

4.6%

 

Kadlec Regional Medical Center

 

Richland

 

3,286

 

4.7%

 

Providence St Peter Hospital

 

Olympia

 

2,329

 

4.7%

 

St Joseph Hospital PeaceHealth - Bellingham

 

Bellingham

 

2,077

 

4.7%

 

St John Medical Center - PeaceHealth

 

Longview

 

863

 

4.9%

 

Toppenish Community Hospital

 

Toppenish

 

678

 

4.9%

 

St Francis Hospital

 

Federal Way

 

1,496

 

5.2%

 

St Mary Medical Center - Providence

 

Walla Walla

 

701

 

5.3%

 

Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center

 

Vancouver

 

3,668

 

5.6%

 

Harrison Medical Center

 

Bremerton

 

2,135

 

5.6%

 

Grays Harbor Community Hospital

 

Aberdeen

 

429

 

5.6%

 

WhidbeyHealth Medical Center

 

Coupeville

 

387

 

5.7%

 

Valley Medical Center - UW Medicine

 

Renton

 

4,007

 

5.8%

 

Capital Medical Center

 

Olympia

 

664

 

5.9%

 

Seattle Children's Hospital

 

Seattle

 

806

 

6.1%

 

St Joseph Medical Center - Tacoma

 

Tacoma

 

4,997

 

6.2%

 

Central Washington Hospital/Confluence Health

 

Wenatchee

 

1,365

 

6.2%

 

Sacred Heart Medical Center - Providence

 

Spokane

 

4,625

 

6.3%

 

Prosser Memorial Hospital

 

Prosser

 

526

 

6.3%

 

Mason General Hospital

 

Shelton

 

269

 

6.3%

 

St Elizabeth Hospital

 

Enumclaw

 

439

 

6.4%

 

Auburn Medical Center - MultiCare

 

Auburn

 

1,234

 

6.6%

 

Tacoma General Hospital - MultiCare

 

Tacoma

 

3,737

 

6.7%

 

Providence Centralia Hospital

 

Centralia

 

697

 

6.7%

 

Virginia Mason Hospital

 

Seattle

 

30

 

6.7%

 

Deaconess Hospital - MultiCare

 

Spokane

 

1,847

 

7.1%

 

Kaiser Permanente WA - Capitol Hill

 

Seattle

 

14

 

7.1%

 

University of Washington Medical Center

 

Seattle

 

2,277

 

7.3%

 

Trios Health Hospital

 

Kennewick

 

1,510

 

7.6%

 

Good Samaritan Hospital - MultiCare

 

Puyallup

 

2,372

 

7.7%

 

Whitman Hospital and Medical Center

 

Colfax

 

63

 

7.9%

 

Pullman Regional Hospital

 

Pullman

 

433

 

8.1%

 

Kittitas Valley Healthcare

 

Ellensburg

 

340

 

8.8%

 

St Joseph Hospital Providence - Chewelah

 

Chewelah

 

10

 

10.0%

 

Providence Everett Regional Medical Center

 

Everett

 

5,172

 

10.5%

 

Lake Chelan Community Hospital

 

Chelan

 

161

 

10.6%

 

Jefferson Healthcare

 

Port Townsend

 

185

 

10.8%

 

Cascade Valley Hospital

 

Arlington

 

206

 

11.2%

 

Naval Hospital - Oak Harbor

 

Oak Harbor

 

454

 

11.7%

 

PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center

 

Vancouver

 

2,303

 

13.2%

 

Mid-Valley Hospital

 

Omak

 

231

 

13.9%

 

Summit Pacific Medical Center

 

Elma

 

51

 

15.7%

 

Mount Carmel Hospital - Providence

 

Colville

 

241

 

15.8%

 

Walla Walla General Hospital

 

Walla Walla

 

9

 

22.2%

 

EvergreenHealth - Monroe 

 

Monroe

 

47

 

23.4%

 

Columbia Basin Hospital

 

Ephrata

 

4

 

25.0%

 

Swedish - First Hill

 

Seattle

 

8,531

 

26.1%

 

Harborview Medical Center - UW Medicine

 

Seattle

 

112

 

28.6%

 

Mary Bridge Children's Hospital - MultiCare

Tacoma

 

29

 

31.0%

 

Lincoln Hospital

 

Davenport

 

28

 

35.7%

All Hospital Specimens

 

Statewide

 

102,286

 

7.7%

Non-Hospital Specimens

 

Statewide

 

67,880

 

19.1%

 

All Birth Center Specimens

 

Statewide

 

754

 

26.9%

 

All Midwife Specimens

 

Statewide

 

4,719

 

17.9%

 

All Clinic and Laboratory Specimens

 

Statewide

 

62,407

 

19.1%

All Washington State Births

 

Statewide

 

170,166

 

12.0%

1 Includes specimen cards with one or more missing or invalid demographic fields.

If you have questions regarding the compliance and quality standards for Newborn Screening, please contact us at 206-418-5410 or email at NBS.Prog@doh.wa.gov.

 

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