Laboratory Automation
Automation is the manifestation of technology and its application in order to perform, monitor, and control any repetitive work process; it performs tasks that were previously performed by humans. Automation is being used in a number of areas such as manufacturing, transport, utilities, defense, facilities, operations, information technology, and obviously now for clinical laboratory setups. The development of this technology has become increasingly dependent on the use of computers and related technologies. Consequently, automated systems have become increasingly sophisticated and versatile. Advanced systems represent a level of capability and performance that surpass in many ways the abilities of humans to accomplish the same repetitive activities.
Automation has radically changed both the analytical and non-analytical (pre- and post-analytical) aspects of clinical laboratory operations. Automation of test procedures began 5-6 decades back, but non-analytical automation including sample transport or conveyor systems, interfaced analyzers for processing and storage began in the last two to three decades. Today, there are state-of-the-art automation solutions designed to improve the result quality, throughput, and efficiency of laboratory testing.
Modern automation solutions or total laboratory automations are proficient to process the entire lab work flow in one synchronized process; including but not limiting to sample transport, sorting of samples, centrifuging, aliquoting, collecting test details from hospital or central data base, perform analysis, reflex testing, repeat testing, auto validating results, sending critical alerts, sending system generated messages/results to key persons/clinicians, storage of sample, checking quality control results, instrument maintenance, reagent inventory, and calibration status of the assays to perform. It also includes error free data exchange (bi-directional), data storage, and obviously keeps an audit trail of individual tests which is a great support to the documentation part of large number of patients in big diagnostic laboratories or central laboratories of any super specialty hospital.
Mindray being a leading developer, manufacturer, and marketer in the field of in vitro diagnostics, we understand the market needs and requirements and by keeping the vision of better healthcare for all by working with the mission of advanced medical technologies to make healthcare more accessible and with core values of aligning with our customers are committed to contribute to the improvement of public health through our scientific and technological innovation.
Thus, inspired by the voice of the customer for their changing needs and backed by innovative technologies, Mindray is proud to introduce serum analysis line (biochemistry & immunoassay) and cellular analysis line (hematology) systems – SAL and CAL series, (SAL 6000, SAL 8000 and CAL 6000, CAL 8000). These systems are developed to address real challenges observed in frontline clinical settings. Through the SAL series Mindray addresses the need for seamless integration of biochemistry and immunoassay platforms.
On one hand SAL & CAL systems provide superior cutting-edge technology, unmatched speed, and advanced clinical parameters; on the other hand they provide AI (artificial intelligence) enabled LabXpert, which enables creating decision trees and providing remote access to results on mobile devices; in addition to acting as a central control system for the whole unit. Thus, the SAL & CAL systems actually re-define the true walk away experience, and provide tools to the laboratory to reduce the review rate and provide much lower TAT (Turn Around Time) for their patient samples.
The potential advantages of total automation are decreased personnel and operating costs, less human intervention and fewer laboratory errors, more rapid processing of samples and recording of results, decreased turnaround time, that is, faster processing and reporting, increased safety, better control of the entire process and consolidate laboratory space and work flow, higher degree of reproducibility, and better quality of results.
