Lab productivity

Today 80% of all diagnoses reached in hospitals derive from the testing of blood samples in the laboratory. This put demands not only on the laboratories but also on their productivity and ability to deliver quick test results.

 

While 80% seems high, it is a reality that this particular percentage of results increases steadily every year and, so does the hospitals' dependability on the test results. Many hospitals are expecting an annual increase of samples around 10-15 % per year.

 

Consequently, terms like efficiency, LEAN concepts and FIFO (First In, First Out) in both work routines and equipment are top priority on the laboratories and hospitals agenda. Too much time and resources are often spent on transporting the samples from the ward to the lab.

 

Therefore it is relevant to ask if the hospitals and laboratories routines and equipment can bring (or keep) the KPI´s to a satisfactory level?

 

 

Laboratory solutions of today are multifunctional matters. They must be capable of handling the analysis of millions of clinical samples with a focus not only on the result of the analysis but with due respect to safety, quality, working environment, advanced working processes and a constant view on costs per sample being analyzed.

 

Today, there are many different Medical Laboratory Systems available for laboratories worldwide. A selection of systems comprise and span from Automation Systems, Quality Control Systems, Information Systems, Validation Systems and Transportation Systems; all developed to make work easier, faster and safer in the laboratory environment.

 

 

Every year the number of analysis in hospitals increase with around 10-15 % and, consequently cost per analysis must be reduced as well. Thus highly efficient laboratory solutions are the key issue in hospitals of today.

 

The focal point in all solutions is “time”. Less time spent per sample being analyzed lower the costs. From decentralized hospital laboratories with several smaller laboratories spread over the campus of the hospital, the trend moves towards central mega laboratories where essential competences of the laboratory staff can be used optimally.

 

While many of the available Medical Laboratory Systems aims at simplification, speed and safety, their challenge is often to compress already very complicated information or steps, which inevitably provides a solution consisting of many (though fewer) steps, routines, procedures or even platforms to be established for the end-user benefit. However, more often than not, they require a high degree of compatibility with other such systems.

 

The Tempus600 solution is the exception to the majority of these systems. The aim and result of the Tempus600 System is simplification, speed and safety, which has been proven repeatedly in installations spanning from laboratories in Scandinavia and Europe to laboratories in South East Asia. The scope of which is rapidly increasing as more and more laboratories around the world discover the Tempus600 Solution.

 

Tempus600 is a system developed to transport blood samples individually and immediately from patient to analysis with only one step/one touch.

 

 

A key element in efficient laboratory solutions is a dedicated transport system for clinical samples only. By transporting the samples directly from the ward to the automated laboratory systems, Tempus600 solution meets and supports the demand for cost reduction per analyzed sample. It also meets the requirements to safety, high-quality blood tests, improved working procedures and optimal use of staff competences. 

 

Focusing on automation of sample transportation from point of drawing to the lab significantly improves the KPI's, compared to traditional ways of transporting samples, Tempus600 system offers a range of advantages.

 

 

The system provides dedicated, individual transportation of small clinical samples from the ward to the lab. There is no risk of samples being sent to the wrong destination. The narrow pipeline, in which the samples move, can be connected directly to a bulk loader or automated lab systems. When landing the samples in a fully automated GLP system or bulk loader it provides one-touch handling from when the sample is sent till the test result is available. Alternatively, the samples can be landed in a manual tray at the receiving end in the laboratory.

 

The Tempus600 pipeline is 25mm, which is significantly smaller, thus requiring less energy and space for the installation. The samples can be sent with a speed of 10 meters per second, but the Tempus600 system is calibrated to match the individual requirements of the particular laboratory.

 

Tempus600 systems effectively improve the Total Turnaround Time for the specimen. Fewer resources are spent upon transportation and resources are freed up for patient care. Thus Tempus600 system helps the hospitals and laboratories to save crucial time, resources and money - and maybe even lives.

 

The only person touching the blood sample is the person drawing it from the patient.

This person places it in the Tempus600 sending unit, which through a dedicated tube sends the sample directly into the interface/receiving unit of the automation system from where the sample is automatically placed on the automation track heading for its designated analysis.

 

Tempus600 allows a ToTAT (from patient to analysis result) about 45 - 60 minutes.

 

The first sample loaded in the Tempus600 sending unit is also the first to arrive in the automation.

 

It is connectable to most Automation Systems implemented in laboratories today such as Inpeco, Siemens, Abbott, Roche, Sarstedt and Sysmex/GLP. It is also connectable to semi-automation setups through T&O Lab Systems and A.S.P sorters and for laboratories without any degree of automation, there is a receiving station developed.

 

It is an incredibly safe system to use; there are no significant effects at all as to the quality of the blood sample.

 

Tempus600 is in many laboratories the chosen Medical Laboratory System for transport and connects to nearly all Automated Medical Laboratory Systems.