The latest in coagulation automation has facilitated improved efficiency in haematology services across the two main hospitals in Gloucestershire, as Stephan Bates, Kevin Willett and Ceinwen Davies explain. Gloucestershire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust provides haematology services to a population of around 600,000 through its two acute hospitals, Cheltenham General and Gloucestershire Royal. There is a haematology laboratory located at each site, reflecting the way that clinical services are organised within the trust. Tests have been organised across the two sites to ensure maximum efficiency. Cheltenham General is the centre for haematology in-patient services, oncology and bone marrow transplantation. It also performs haematinics (vitamin B12, folate and ferritin estimations) and specialist flow cytometry for leukaemia typing. Immunology, haemoglobinopathy and thrombophilia screening take place at Gloucestershire Royal, while both hospitals perform coagulation screens (international normalised ratio [INR], Ddimer and factor assays), as results are often required immediately; however, some non-urgent work is also sent to the Oxford Haemophilia and Thrombosis Centre.
Extensive procurement process
In 2009, the decision was made to invest in new automated coagulation instruments, with the aim of increasing throughput and providing faster turnaround times, to help deliver results in a more timely fashion and improve patient care. The team developed a specification list of what a new instrument should achieve, keeping in mind that the capacity and capability of the new systems would need to exceed those of the existing ones, and the requirements were published as a tender specification, sparking an extensive procurement process.
Four companies responded and were graded according to a predefined scoring system, based on the features and benefits of the competing instruments and the accuracy of the results produced, rather than just cost. The scores were very close, but ultimately the Destiny Max high-throughput analyser from Stago came out top, and two were purchased for each hospital.
Date with Destiny
The Gloucestershire trust’s four systems were the first Destiny Max instruments to be installed in the UK, and provide the laboratories with continuous sample processing, multitasking capabilities and flexibility to generate accurate and reliable results. Implementation was staggered to minimise the potential risk of disruption to the hospitals’ haematology services, and was supported by a product specialist from Stago, who configured the tests and ensured the transition was as smooth as possible.
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