A 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 issue about 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 turn-around-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.
An innovative logistical solution 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 2 or more hours.
By installing a dedicated, point-to-point transporting pipe, blood sample tubes can now be transported from point of taking the blood sample and directly into the blood analysis equipment in the laboratory, and now crucially reduce the response time in the laboratory.
Menu
