A new automated blood sciences laboratory in a Birmingham hospital has an automated track system that simplifies laboratory processes and improves turnaround times.

The University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust has opened an automated blood sciences laboratory at the new Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham (Birmingham, United Kingdom). Equipped with state-of-the-art Roche (Burgess Hill, United Kingdom) analytical platforms and track system, the new laboratory ensures a very efficient workflow and will reduce turnaround times (TAT) for routine, high throughput work.

The track system consists of two cobas 8000 platforms (one with two cobas c 701 chemistry modules and two cobas e 602 immunoassay modules and the other with one cobas c 701 and two cobas e 602 modules), a modular preanalytics module and a cobas p 501/701 post-analytical unit for automated sample storage and retrieval.

The cobas 8000 modular analyzer series is designed for high workload laboratories and can cover a range of 3 up to 15 million tests per year. With a peak throughput of 8,400 tests per hour and many innovative design elements to allow unrestricted sample flow and intelligent sample routing, the cobas 8000 modular analyzer series significantly improves sample turnaround time and efficiently addresses peak demands. High speed, intelligent sample dynamics, and workflow improvements further enhance productivity and efficiency for high workload laboratories.

“The fully automated track system with pre- and post-analytics has eliminated the need for manual transfer and storage of samples once they are loaded on the system”, explained laboratory manager, Chris Gaskin. “The cobas 8000 platforms are designed for high throughput and the whole Roche solution has helped us to be more lean in our processes and is much more TAT efficient for our high workloads.”

The laboratory also has a standalone cobas p 512 module for automated sample receipt. “In the next few months, we aim to introduce a pneumatic sample delivery system and ward order communications throughout the hospital,” Chris Gaskin concluded. “When a test is requested on the ward, a barcode label will be printed automatically. Then, when samples arrive in the laboratory, they will be loaded directly onto the cobas p 512. The system will register receipt on Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) and then sort the samples into appropriate racks, depending on their destination. This will eliminate the need for paperwork, allowing the process to be entirely electronic from request to result for the very first time. It will streamline sample reception significantly and will further reduce turnaround times.”

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Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham
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