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Slide#0
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Slide#1
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Many of the laboratory who are willing to reduce a laboratory cost are
planning to have the Laboratory Automation System.
Besides, thanks to the pressure from government and mass-communications
of United States to activate Japanese economy, a large number of Public
Hospitals were able to get a budget for laboratory automation.
So, in spite of the severe economic situation, we prospect that LAS market
will be heated up in 1999 in Japan.
Under this market situation, A&T have installed around 30 laboratory
automation system. As a Chemistry Automation System, |
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Slide#2
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These are the points we recognized as the successful LAS. |
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Slide#3
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Most easy way to reduce Turn-Around-Time is to purchase the high throughput
analyzer. However, if the Sample Transportation System has enough intelligence
and performance, it is possible to minimize the investment for analyzers.
In other words, it will be an over investment if the user needs larger
scale of analyzer to cover the poor performance of transportation system.
It is more difficult than reducing TAT of LAS. There are several idea,
such as walking robot or mini belt conveyer system.
Blood Collection is very important environment for LAS.
For Outpatients, a Blood Collection Center with the Sample Tube Preparation
System is very effective way to reduce the workload for phlebotomy.
Intelligent Transportation Technology
Effective Sample Distribution and bypass function with High Priority should
be the basic performance of LAS, to avoid excess investment for analyzer.
Integration of Multiple Test Field into LAS and Reduce the number of Aliquot
The number of Aliquot expands TAT
The number of Off-line Test Item expands TAT
Monitoring of Reporting Time (TAT) by LIS
Time Management (for Reporting Time) is important service. |
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Slide#4
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Reducing Turn Around Time is one of the most common target of LAS.
This example is the successful case of Showa University Hospital in Tokyo.
These Turn-Around-Time is the reporting time to HIS after the sample arrived
at Laboratory.
It is amazing that they are able to integrate Emergency Laboratory into
their LAS and realized a pre-consultation testing with keeping 19thousand
tests productivity in a day. |
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Slide#5
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-This is the comparison study at Aso Iizuka Hospital.
-These are the Turn Around Time including Re-testing for each type of samples.
-As same as Showa University, they integrates Clinical Chemistry, Immunology,
Coagulation, Therapeutic Drug Monitoring and Hematology in TLA.
-In our LAS, sample will be distributed according to the priority.
-STAT samples, which are required to report to physician before their consultation,
will be fed to the analyzer with first priority.
-In Japan, Inpatient Sample are collected in the morning, and the physician
in charge will visit patient in the afternoon. So, the results are not
required urgently.
-The STAT sample must be able to pass these low priority samples. |
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Slide#6
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In case of Aso Hospital, they changed Clinical Chemistry Analyzer from
Multi Channel Analyzer (Super Multi) to Reagent Pick Up Type Analyzer.
So they were able to reduce the reagent consumption.
Reagent Pick Up type analyzer itself is not enough through-put for their
laboratory, but with having appropriate distribution of sample, they were
able to change without increasing investment for analyzers. |
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Slide#7
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Next topics is the Integration of Analyzers.
-In many of the conservative laboratory, LAS was designed as Branch Line
structure because of they could not restructure their existing section.
There are Chemistry Line, Immunology Line and so on.
-By the integration of these analyzers existed in each section to one line,
user can be minimize the necessary analyzers.
-Furthermore, by connecting these analyzers in one lien, user can minimize
the number of Aliquot, so it will shorten the Turn Around Time and reduce
the necessary volume of sample also. |
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Slide#8
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This is an example of Showa University.
They integrated Clinical Chemistry, Immunology, Coagulation, Hematology
and even the Emergency Lab to one LAS. |
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Slide#9
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The next point is the necessary Sample Volume, but it is actually a problem
of analyzer's suitability for LAS.
The analyzers which takes samples inside and won't send them back to STS.
Analyzer which dips its probe in a sample over and over again, the analyzer
which keeps samples and won't release them quickly.
We think, those Analyzers are not suited for LAS because those analyzers
needs dedicated samples and it increase the necessary number of aliquot.
It will increase the necessary sample volume and TAT will become longer. |
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Slide#10
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This is the idea provided by Prof. Sasaki 10 years ago.
For the Open and High performance LAS, we think this would be a complete
idea for LAS.
Outside Sampling, Once Dip Sampling, Fast catch & release of sample,
Holding diluted sample for initial-run and rerun. |
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Slide#11
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Flexible and Easy expansion of the system is also very important capability
of LAS.
Otherwise, User has to invest a huge money at once or has to stop the laboratory
during the expansion.
This is the case of Komagome Metropolitan Hospital.
HbA1c, Coagulation, Glucose and two unit of EIA analyzer were connected
half year after the initial construction.
To avoid to stop laboratory, we had to complete these expansion within
2 or 3 days.
It means in a weekend, we have to set up everything and be able to start
running. |
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Slide#12
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This is an actual example of the stepwise construction.
We have completed the expansion ( additional analyzers connect to existing
LAS ) without stopping routine analysis in several laboratories.
In our system, each on-line analyzers are linked by Local Area Network,
There is only some registration of parameters required after the mechanical
connection. |
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Slide#13
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On the contrary, there are many cases that it seems it is not successful.
-Which seems to be excess investment, the case that user has invested more
on analyzer to cover the poor intelligence of Sample Transportation System.
-Which could not reduce the running cost. Not only Reagent consumption,
sometimes they may forgot the Aliquot Cups, Tips and so on.
-Which Increased the necessary sample volume. In case the LAS designed
as tree structure, Daughter Sample aliquot is necessary for each lines.
So the dead volume will also be increased.
-Couldn't change the surroundings. Even there is a nice Automation System,
if the environment is not suitable for LAS, the total performance would
be poor. |
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Slide#14
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It is very difficult to evaluate the real performance of LAS.
But if we can think about some kind of Package System, users will be able
to have LAS with secured and proven cost performance.
Modular Concept would be one solution if it is kept open. If it is closed
the user has to chose all analyzer from one vendor. Then real consolidation
of the laboratory would be very difficult.
We think our responsibility as LAS vendor is to realize a Packaged System
based on NCCLS standards. We are hopping a successful discussion of NCCLS
meeting and willing support their activity.
Thank you very much. |
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Slide#15
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"Open Architecture", "Stepwise Construction", "Thorough
Integration"
By these design concepts, we packaged a system as the best combination
system.
De-cap Unit, On-line and Off-line Aliquot Unit, Coagulation analyzer, Immunology
analyzer, Special chemistry analyzer,Chemistry analyzer and Hematology
analyzer are connected to one line STS.
Of course, the several customization and the stepwise reconstruction are
acceptable. |
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