A cutting-edge robot-operated medical lab was recently unveiled in Brantford, Ontario.
First specimen vials at the lab are carefully bar-coded with patient information and diagnostic instructions are given to the robots. Then, with the push of a button, the samples of blood, urine and spinal fluid begin a journey through the automated testing process.
"At the analyzer a probe picks up the specimen - not the tube - just the serum from the specimen...And distributes it to different parts of the analyzer for testing," said tech specialist Lee-Anne Lambert.
Using just a tiny amount of the specimen on a microchip, the speedy analyzer can process thousands of routine tests a day. It even cleans itself. Then the specimen vials go back on a moving track destined for sampling at other automated testing stations.
When testing is complete the specimens are removed for storage. Some of the advantages for patients with this automated system are faster results, fewer errors and virtually no contamination.
"We're able to put out results up to 40 per cent faster, we also put them out consistently in so they can count on the result," said Don Manning, head of the hospital's lab and imaging. "Getting it faster means they can adjust treatment or get them out of the hospital and home quicker."
Hospital CEO Jim Hornell says this is an investment for the future.
"Many of our employees are going to retire in the years to come and we have to look at ways we can implement technology into health care," he said. "We can't really afford not to do this. We have a two million dollar investment going here and we expect to have it pay off in five years."
