LAB MANAGEMENT :: ANALYZERS
Selecting the right analyzer technology to meet your laboratory’s testing needs
By Kara Nadeau A
clinical laboratory’s choice in ana- lyzer technology impacts all aspects of its operations, from staffing
and workflows to operating costs and quality of testing. With the broad range of analyzers available, lab leaders must carefully weigh their options and select the right technology that meets their lab’s needs today and supports future testing volumes and growth. To help lab professionals determine
the right analyzers for their labs, we asked leading analyzer manufacturers to comment on the latest trends in this area, new platforms and features that address current pain points (e.g., staff- ing shortages, supply chain disruptions), and factors to take into consideration when evaluating the analyzer technol- ogy landscape.
Staffing shortages
Lab staffing shortages continue to be a problem across the United States, as evidenced by the results of MLO’s 2022 Annual Salary Survey of laboratory pro- fessionals, where 43% of respondents said the current shortage has largely impacted their labs’ operational efficiency.1 Laboratories should consider their immediate needs and the growth goals of the organization when evaluating di- agnostic testing solutions, according to Andrea Diebel, Marketing Instrumenta- tion Product Manager, DiaSorin. “A lab challenged with staffing short- ages might urgently need to introduce automated, higher-throughput methods to improve their workflow,” said Diebel. “Those with growth mindsets should look closely at the test menu, especially unique offerings and tests in development, and consider the flexibility and capacity of the analyzer family and vendor to grow with them.” When evaluating analyzer technology, Diebel suggests lab leaders ask the fol- lowing questions: • Will this analyzer make work simpler for my technicians?
• Can this system reduce send out costs and consolidate testing from other equipment, or even other labs?
• Will this instrument shorten turn- around times, improving the experi- ence for both providers and patients?
32 JUNE 2022
MLO-ONLINE.COM “Having these conversations with
vendors will help labs recognize the value in their solution,” Diebel added.
Process automation
Clinical lab professionals cite more reliable results, reduced errors, and the ability to view and analyze cumulative trends of data as key benefits of lab automation and informatics, yet 74% report that less than half of their lab operations are automated.2 To meet increased demand for automation, manufacturers are designing analyzers that minimize manual steps and seam- lessly integrate with connected systems. “Total workflow efficiency - both to meet current and perceived future demands - should be the key consider- ation when looking into purchasing any new equipment for the lab,” said Alejan- dro Mora, Head of Global Marketing, Workflow Solutions, Siemens Health- ineers. “One of the key considerations in establishing the smartest workflow is process efficiency and the reduction of manual steps to improve quality, save time, and simplify workflows.” Mora says labs today have more choices
than ever when it comes to automated technologies, stating: “Advances in data and process man- agement have further transformed lab operations by leveraging data to drive smarter workloads and continuous work- flow improvements—from reductions in aliquots to save costs or advanced result management protocols to guide patient- specific reflexive testing, to name a few. Smart integration between IT, automation and analyzers is key to realizing these data-driven advances.”
Siemens Healthineers has more than
140 workflow consultants that can help labs simplify processes and design optimal workflows, using simulator tools and process mapping to determine and map workflow processes. According to Mora, they can help guide labs in select- ing an appropriate automation level, what tasks are automated, and where. “Based on unique workflow and budget requirements, there are several automation options—from integrated automation to task-targeted automa- tion, to total lab automation—that can enhance efficiencies in the lab,” Mora
added. “Every lab will have its own set of variables that will guide how to improve space utilization, reduce staff motion, improve the work environment, and reduce material transportation.”
Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Atellica Solution
One solution Siemens Healthcare Diag- nostics offers to labs in search of analyzer integrated automation is the Atellica Solu- tion, which consolidates sample manage- ment technology, intelligent software, and IT to provide workflow efficiency with the flexibility to automate critical tasks with little or no additional footprint.
Workflow efficiency
Consolidation of platforms into a single, automated analyzer can help labs maxi- mize their workflow efficiency and achieve LEANprocesses, says Maria Crisostomo, BS, MBA, Sr. Sales Core Lab Product Manager, BioPlex 2200 Autoimmune/ Infectious Disease Segment, Bio-Rad Laboratories. She recommends labs look for the following features and benefits when evaluating analyzer technology: • Full automation with random-access sample processing
• Total Lab Automation (TLA) track line connectivity
• Reduced turnaround time, labor, and send-out tests
• Consolidation of tests and analyzers • Highly secured web-based interface applications for remote monitoring, quality control data management systems and cybersecurity “These aspects help today’s clinical labs address the challenges of manag- ing increasing testing volumes with less personnel and constrained operating budgets, while providing their physician clientele with high quality test results,” said Crisostomo.
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