Reducing response time in the laboratory

Reduced response time for blood analyses is a key element in an optimized lean process in modern laboratory diagnostic work. The importance of fast, reliable and trustable results, supplied in a reduced time is not only important for an optimal lean process, but also of high interest for patients waiting in the wards.

Fast blood analysis results mean a faster treatment which is for the benefit of the patient and additionally a fast blood analysis result also reduces the financial costs for the hospital – i.e. reduced number of hospitals day.

The importance of reducing response time

The issue of reduced response time in the laboratory has been a key subject for laboratory managers for many years. Today, sample tubes are processed at a speed where the turnaround time (TAT) can now only be marginally improved.

Now efforts are focused on solutions to reduce the response time already from the point of drawing the blood. From the point of drawing the blood and until the blood tube samples arrive in the laboratory must be looked at if the response time shall be reduced.

Business cases show that transporting blood sample tubes with traditional pneumatic tube systems or manually transporting blood sample tubes by staff or walkers can take up to 2 hours or in some cases even longer.

Point-to-Point solution for sample tubes can reduce response time

Fortunately, more and more hospitals are focusing on short response times and, by using the Tempus600 system for transporting sample tubes, the response time will be reduced significantly. An innovative logistical solution that has proved to reduce this part of the response time dramatically. In most cases, it can be reduced to less than one minute, compared to previously average 90 minutes or more with traditional transport systems.

Benefits of reducing the response time can be measured in both, the time before the patient receives the correct medical treatment, and the economy compared to unnecessary hospitalizations when patients can leave hospitals without having to be hospitalized.

In short, fast response times mean very much in terms of patient satisfaction as the overall economy.

Another crucial factor is also to ensure stable delivery of blood samples to the laboratory, as a stable flow also helps reduce time and ensure proper treatment for patients involved. 

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