University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has opened a new automated blood sciences laboratory at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. Equipped with state-of-the-art Roche analytical platforms and track system, the new laboratory ensures a very efficient workflow and will reduce turnaround times (TATs) for routine high-throughput work.
The track system consists of two cobas 8000 platforms (one with two cobas c701 chemistry modules and two cobas e602 immunoassay modules, and the other with one cobas c701 and two cobas e602 modules), a MODULAR PRE-ANALYTICS module and a cobas p501/701 post-analytical unit for automated sample storage and retrieval.
“The fully automated track system with pre- and post-analytics has eliminated the need for manual transfer and storage of samples once they are loaded on the system,” explained laboratory manager Chris Gaskin. “The cobas 8000 platforms are designed for high throughput and the whole Roche solution has helped us to be more 'Lean' in our processes and much more TAT-efficient for our high workloads.”
He continued: “The whole implementation process has gone smoothly and everything was delivered on target. We have been extremely happy with the support received from Roche. Our on-site laboratory coordinator from Roche has been very committed and hardworking, and the company has also been involved in staff training, which has been thorough and practical. It even took our sample reception team leaders to another site to get hands-on experience prior to our own system going live. This really helped to increase their confidence, and is an excellent way to train people.”
The laboratory also has a standalone cobas p512 module for automated sample receipt. “In the next few months, we aim to introduce a pneumatic sample delivery system and ward order-communications throughout the hospital,” Chris concluded. “When a test is requested on the ward, a barcode label will be printed automatically. Then, when samples arrive in the laboratory, they will be loaded directly on the cobas p512. The system will register receipt on the laboratory information management system (LIMS) and then sort the samples into appropriate racks, depending on their destination. This will eliminate the need for paperwork, streamline sample reception significantly, and further reduce turnaround times.”