title: Greater Efficiency Observed 12 Months Post-Implementation of an Automatic Tube Sorting and Registration System in a Core Laboratory.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sample classification and registration have been recognized as important and time-consuming processes in laboratories. There is increasing pressure on laboratories to automate processes due to intense workload and reduce manual procedures and errors. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the positive effects of an automatic tube registration and sorting system on specimen processing.
  
  
  METHODS
  An automatic tube registration and sorting system (HCTS2000 MK2, m-u-t AG, Wedel, Germany) was evaluated. Turnaround time (TAT), rate of sample rejection and unrealized tests were examined 12 months pre- and post-implementation of the automatic tube sorting and registration system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The mean TAT of routine chemistry immunoassay, complete blood cell count (CBC) and coagulation samples were significantly improved (P<0.001). The number of rejected samples and unrealized tests was insignificantly decreased post-implementation of the system (0.4% to 0.2% and 4.5% to 1.4%, respectively) (P>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  By reducing delays and errors in the preanalytical processing and sorting of samples, significant improvements in specimen processing were observed after implementation of the system. These results suggest that an automatic tube registration and sorting system may also be used to improve specimen processing in a higher-volume core laboratory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Fatma
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ucar
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey; Department of Biochemistry, Hacettepe University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gonul
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Erden
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mine Yavuz
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Taslipinar
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Gulfer
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ozturk
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zeynep
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ginis
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Diskapi Yildirim Beyazit Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Erdem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bulut
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Hacettepe University Medical School, Ankara, Turkey.
authors.forename: Namik
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Delibas
keywords: laboratory automation; preanalytical phase; specimen processing; turnaround time