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Transport of pediatric samples to laboratory using Tempus600®

Thursday, May 6, 2021

Using Tempus600® to send pediatric samples directly to the laboratory means faster transport, which reduces the total turnaround time and ensures extremely fast response times. The samples arrive in the laboratory in an even flow, so there are no production peaks, ensuring an even workflow.

Here are some examples and experiences from Scandinavian and European hospitals that for several years now have transported pediatric samples and microtubes using Tempus600®.

Tempus600 ensures extremely fast response times

Stavanger University Hospital, Norway, installed two Tempus600 systems in 2016. When the bioanalysts carry out their rounds, they send the ongoing pediatric samples using the Tempus600® systems. The extremely fast transport using Tempus600® means that the samples are already being analysed by the time the bioanalysts are on their way back to the department, said Lene Mikkelsen, Chief Biomedical Scientist, Department of  Medical Biochemistry, Helse Stavanger HF.

Venous samples

Aabenraa Hospital, Denmark has used Tempus600® to transport pediatric samples since 2019. The bioanalysts take the samples in standard sample tubes using reduced vacuum and the samples are sent to the laboratory after each sample procedure using the Tempus600® system. The samples land directly on the conveyor belt in the fully automatic laboratory equipment, where they are automatically registered, centrifuged, decapped and analysed on the track.

“By sending the samples using Tempus600®, the response time of test results is significantly reduced and consequently the longevity of the samples after receipt in the laboratory is extended,” said Line Svenningsen, Department Bioanalyst, Aabenraa Hospital.

Microtubes

At Aalborg University Hospital, Denmark, microtubes are used for pediatric sampling. Barcode labels are attached to the microtubes which are placed in larger sample tubes and then sent directly to the laboratory using the Tempus600® system. Each large sample tube contains one or two microtubes and one small tube on top for stability. The samples land in a manual tray, where they are collected by the personnel and analysed.

Small tubes are not a problem

In 2013, Kolding Hospital, Denmark installed the Tempus600® system in their Acute Paediatric Department with the primary objective of speeding up the analysis of acute blood samples in the laboratory.

At the Paediatric Department, the samples are collected in special microtubes. The microtubes are labelled with barcodes, placed in larger tubes also labelled with barcodes, and secured for safe transportation. These large tubes are dispatched via the Tempus600® system and placed into the fully automated laboratory systems track, which registers and places them in a special output section. From here, they are handled manually in the microanalysis process.

Today, all samples from the department are sent through the Tempus600® system. The system has been running 1200 samples a month since it was installed. Transportation time is only 40 seconds for acute samples, which results in savings of 30–60 minutes. This is a huge time saving factor and results in better treatment.

“The main improvement is the speed and the fact that haemolysis is reduced because the samples can be transported much quicker than before,” said Jens Hastrup, Clinical Biochemist, Kolding Hospital.

Receipt of sample tubes in the laboratory

Hospitals that use Tempus600® to send sample tubes can choose to receive the samples in the laboratory in the following ways: In a manual tray, where the bioanalysts collect the samples for further analysis, or in a Tempus600® Connection Module connected to a bulk loader, sorter or directly in fully automated laboratory equipment.

 

Samples, which land in the fully automatic laboratory equipment, can be processed in different ways which depend on the laboratories decision. For example, in one solution the samples are registered and placed in a special output section on the conveyor belt and removed for manual analysis. In another solution, the samples are automatically registered, centrifuged, decapped and analysed on the track.

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