Virtual automation.
Total laboratory automation (TLA) can be substituted in mid-size laboratories by a computer sample workflow control (virtual automation). Such a solution has been implemented in our laboratory using PSM, software developed in cooperation with Roche Diagnostics (Barcelona, Spain), to this purpose. This software is connected to the online analyzers and to the laboratory information system and is able to control and direct the samples working as an intermediate station. The only difference with TLA is the replacement of transport belts by personnel of the laboratory. The implementation of this virtual automation system has allowed us the achievement of the main advantages of TLA: workload increase (64%) with reduction in the cost per test (43%), significant reduction in the number of biochemistry primary tubes (from 8 to 2), less aliquoting (from 600 to 100 samples/day), automation of functional testing, drastic reduction of preanalytical errors (from 11.7 to 0.4% of the tubes) and better total response time for both inpatients (from up to 48 hours to up to 4 hours) and outpatients (from up to 10 days to up to 48 hours). As an additional advantage, virtual automation could be implemented without hardware investment and significant headcount reduction (15% in our lab).
Casis
E
E
Basque Country University, Spain.
Garrido
A
A
Uranga
B
B
Vives
A
A
Zufiaurre
C
C
D001322:Autoanalysis; D002984:Clinical Laboratory Information Systems / Q000458:organization & administration*; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D017598:Efficiency, Organizational / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013030:Spain; D014584:User-Computer Interface; D016526:Workload