Study of Critical Biochemical Alert System in Prompting Timely Clinical Responses by the ICU staff: A Retrospective Observational Study

Background: In intensive care units (ICUs), early detection and timely response to critical biochemical abnormalities are essential for preventing deterioration and reducing mortality.The reports generation exercise in laboratory  is time consuming.It takes 8 -12 hours to generate and release  basic reports.Virtual alert systems integrated within Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) can notify ICU teams of critical values in real time, potentially expediting intervention. Objective: To evaluate the impact of a Critical Biochemical Alert System (CBAS) on the timeliness of ICU staff responses following the generation of critical laboratory alerts. Methods: A retrospective observational study was  conducted in the ICUs of a tertiary care hospital. Data from laboratory alert logs and ICU documentation over a 6-month period is analyzed. Response time to biochemical alerts and nature of interventions are  studied. Results : This study  quantify the average response time, identify common types of alerts and corresponding clinical actions, and assess adherence to institutional timelines for critical response. Barriers to prompt response such as shift timing, staff category, and alert overload are also explored. Conclusion:This study  provides  insight into the operational utility of biochemical alert systems in enhancing ICU responsiveness, thus supporting workflow redesign and alert management strategies.