title: Extending laboratory automation to the wards: effect of an innovative pneumatic tube system on diagnostic samples and transport time.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The innovative pneumatic tube system (iPTS) transports one sample at a time without the use of cartridges and allows rapid sending of samples directly into the bulk loader of a laboratory automation system (LAS). We investigated effects of the iPTS on samples and turn-around time (TAT).
  
  
  METHODS
  During transport, a mini data logger recorded the accelerations in three dimensions and reported them in arbitrary area under the curve (AUC) units. In addition representative quantities of clinical chemistry, hematology and coagulation were measured and compared in 20 blood sample pairs transported by iPTS and courier.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Samples transported by iPTS were brought to the laboratory (300 m) within 30 s without adverse effects on the samples. The information retrieved from the data logger showed a median AUC of 7 and 310 arbitrary units for courier and iPTS transport, respectively. This is considerably below the reported limit for noticeable hemolysis of 500 arbitrary units.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  iPTS reduces TAT by reducing the hands-on time and a fast transport. No differences in the measurement results were found for any of the investigated 36 analytes between courier and iPTS transport. Based on these findings the iPTS was cleared for clinical use in our hospital.
authors.forename: Juliane
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Suchsland
authors.forename: Theresa
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Winter
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Greiser
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Streichert
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Otto
authors.forename: Julia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mayerle
authors.forename: Sören
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Runge
authors.forename: Anders
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kallner
authors.forename: Matthias
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nauck
authors.forename: Astrid
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Petersmann
mesh_terms: D057205:Automation, Laboratory; D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000295:instrumentation*; D001800:Blood Specimen Collection / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D013997:Time Factors