Application of existing technology to meet increasing demands for automated sample handling.
As the clinical laboratory advances toward total automation, the marketplace is now demanding more-efficient sample-handling systems. These demands have arisen over a relatively short period of time, in part because of heightened concern over laboratory safety and the resulting manpower shortages. Adding sample-handling capabilities to existing instrumentation is often a challenge, because usually mechanical or system constraints are present that interfere. This challenge has been overcome in the DuPont Sample Management System (SMS), a second-generation general chemistry analyzer that incorporates the latest barcode and computer-interfacing technology. The development of the SMS system relies heavily on recent advances in technology, e.g., software modeling and computer-aided design. The SMS system includes a barcode scanner based on "charge-coupled device" technology, a random-access sample wheel, and new software that oversees the various functions.
Chow
A T
AT
E.I. duPont de Nemours & Co., Inc., Medical Products Department, Wilmington, DE 19898.
Kegelman
J E
JE
Kohli
C
C
McCabe
D D
DD
Moore
J F
JF
D002624:Chemistry, Clinical / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004581:Electronics; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science / Q000295:instrumentation*; D012371:Robotics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000295:instrumentation*