Laboratory Automation

• Laboratory automation is the use of automated analyses with pre and post-analytical phases as well as the use of linked IT systems to reduce the manual input of data
• Pre and post-analytical phases may be attached to the laboratory automation or standalone situations
• 70% of patients being admitted to hospital require some form of laboratory test
• laboratories face around a 10% increase in workload every year
• staffing costs are the single biggest cost for laboratories
• automation can improve efficiency allowing for increased workflow while maintaining staff levels
• using a fully automated system result in a reduction in the number of manual interventions required for a sample
• automated systems improve quality, as a consistent process is applied to all samples - this standardized turnaround time and reduces the health and safety risk to laboratory staff
• Laboratory process:

  1. sample taken and transported to the laboratory
  2. sample received, labelled and entered into the laboratory information system (LIS)
  3. the pre-analytical stages occur
  4. analytical staged occur
  5. sample is stored and results are interperated
  6. report is generated and reviewed by clinician for action
• pre-analytical phases include:

  • sorting and distribution of samples
  • labelling of samples
  • decapping of samples
  • centrifugation of samples
• analytical phases include:

  • clinical chemistry
  • immunoassay
  • haematology
  • esoteric analysis
• system based automation reduces steps from 17 to 9 and process-based automation can reduce steps down to 5 or even 3
• the use of a completely automated system greatly reduced the number of steps involved in handling a sample
• to ensure optimal efficiency of the system it is important to properly plan the workflow model and adhere to the sequence of pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical steps in a linear fashion
• each hospital has its own lab which has a different workload, operating hours and repertoire of tests - these dictate in part the level of equipment and automation required for each lab
• systems can be individually tailored to suit the needs of each individual lab
• a pre-analytical system is the p612 - a computer-controlled fully automatic system for sorting of open and closed barcoded, centrifuged and non-centrifuged sample tubes
• automated system detects tube type and questions LIMS as to requests and samples are routed to the appropriate areas
• a cobas 6000 analyser is a combination of an ion-selective electrode (ISE) and a photometric analysis and an immunoassay analysis - one unit can analyse up to 1000 tests per hour and hold up to 60 reagents in the carousel
• 9100 processes samples and transports samples before and during the analysis it also stores and retrieves samples - it is a fully tracked system and includes the 8100 connection components and the control unit PC and software
• having each analyser linked up to a track creates an integrated consolidated core unit on a single platform - basically one huge analyser
• p701 can store up to 27060 samples for up to 14 days depending on the workload of the laboratory - once the storage time frame is reached the samples are automatically disposed of
• traditionally samples would have to be processed manually post-analysis - this involved caping and archiving thousands of sample tubes per day causing RSI and boredom among staff
• paper request forms are associated with wrong demographics filled in or entered into the LIMS incorrectly with omitted tests - this also takes a long time to manually enter the details
• order comms electronically request the tests they would like with labels printed for each sample type created wich is then attached to the sample and sent to the lab in a bag
• some areas are not tracked or as automated due to the nature of the assay - e.g. electrophysiological study (heart)
• there is a huge reliance of IT in an automated solution
• contingency plans must be set in place in case an analyser is not working, tracked solution fails or the IT is not available