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Atrium unveils automated lab
System only in one other hospital in the nation. It reduces amount of time technicians handle patient samples
Friday, April 25, 2008
MIDDLETOWN — Atrium Medical Center recently became only the second hospital in the nation with an automated chemistry laboratory system often used for blood and urine testing.
The system, called the StreamLAB Analytical Workcell with integrated Vista analyzers, allows lab technicians to test more specimens and reduces the amount of time lab technicians handle patient samples.
Melissa Wissing, a medical technologist, places a test tube into an automated chemistry laboratory system called the StreamLAB Analytical Workcell at Atrium Medical Center on Thursday, April 24."This is very exciting news for our medical center, its patients and physicians," said Jan Schuster, administrative director of the Atrium laboratory. "This technology gives us a more consistent and often faster turnaround time for routine and emergency blood and urine chemistry tests."
The StreamLAB reads barcode labels, sorts, spins and uncaps the tubes and then sends the tubes to the proper analyzer for testing, and recaps the tubes and holds the samples for temporary storage.
The machine, which costs about $500,000, can handle more than 1 million tests per year. The longest test can take about 10 minutes.
"A great advantage of StreamLAB is that it creates a safer work environment for our personnel. The system also benefits patients by reducing the potential for human error,'' Schuster said.
Scripps Hospital in San Diego, Calif., is the only other hospital that has the machine.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2180 or tlatta@coxohio.com.
