Objectives: With the Department of Laboratory Services of the Ministry of Health entering into force with the general rule no. 2017/12, corrective actions were taken in the preanalytical, analytical and postanalytical processes related to the regulation of ethanol in the hospital and laboratory. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of changes in the preanalytical process determined by the circular on the sample acceptance / rejection rates in addition to the safety of the forensic sample.

Materials and Methods: After the circular, a locked bag was prepared for the transport of the requested samples of ethanol test. From July, before the circular, the retroactive 7 months period between 01.01.2017 - 01.08.2017, after the circular, the ethanol test reject statistic was scanned retrospectively from September, 01.09.2017 - 01.04.2018 over the laboratory information system.

Results: In the period before the circular; hemolysis rate, number: 1.003%, 16. After the circular hemolyzed sample rate, number: 2.766%, 41. The hemolyzed sample rate and number were found to increase significantly (p <0.05).

Conclusions: Ethanol sample rejection rates have increased. Nevertheless, it is positive that the awareness of forensic samples is improved for laboratory workers according to result of corrective actions taken after issue a circular letter. The follow-up may training and field application studies can be conducted to increase the awareness of the clinicians who manage the test orders in the preanalytical process and the nurses working in the blood collection unit.