Mindray Hematology Solution Helps High-Volume Lab Run 2,820,000 CBC Tests Annually

High-volume laboratories face several challenges, including high instrument failure rate, errors due to several manual steps, low efficiency and long TAT, and heavier workload for the lab staff.

Mindray’s (Shenzhen, China) hematology solutions can help labs face these challenges such as its tailor-made solution provided for CientíficaLab (Sao Paulo, Brazil) that now helps the high-volume lab run 2,820,000 CBC tests annually.

Owned by one of the largest diagnostic laboratory chains in the world, CientíficaLab provides clinical analysis service to 26 hospitals and 883 outpatient units in the Brazil public sector. Prior to its recent partnership with Mindray, CientíficaLab used to perform all its blood tests on more than a dozen stand-alone analyzers and slide makers, which were low in efficiency and demanded significant manpower. With overwhelming workload, the laboratory staff had to work extremely long hours, with three shifts a day, six days a week. High failure rate of the old instruments posed another daunting challenge for CientíficaLab, often resulting in extensive downtime.

After studying the laboratory’s challenges, Mindray came up with a tailor-made hematology automation solution for CientíficaLab. To automate its workflow and improve productivity, Mindray replaced the old stand-alone instruments with two high performance CAL 8000 Cellular Analysis Lines, each connecting four units of BC-6800Plus Auto Hematology Analyzers and one unit of SC-120 Auto Slide Maker and Stainer. Equipped with the labXpert data analysis software, the automation lines automatically validate test results and perform rerun and retest of abnormal hematology samples as per pre-defined rules. This helped reduce the laboratory's manual work substantially and improve its Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

After tracking the laboratory’s working path of samples, from collection to testing to microscopic analysis, Mindray provided a customized solution – placing the two automation lines face-to-face, but re-configuring one of them to make its sample route in the same direction as the other. This special design now enables just one technician to easily handle large amount of samples on both lines at the same time creating the shortest, most time-saving route from sample loading to unloading, all the way to microscopic review and result delivery.

During onsite inspection, Mindray discovered another possibility of helping CientíficaLab optimize its workflow. Before installing CAL 8000, the laboratory technicians had to print out the test result of the abnormal sample, and then bring the result along with the slide to the microscopy area for result comparison. These paper documents will be filed away for five years, managing which will be a demanding task. Mindray helped digitalize the process by installing the labXpert software at the microscopy area which allows data transfer and storage within the laboratory information system. Simply by scanning the barcode on the slides, technicians can now easily access the information of the test results during microscopic analysis.

Higher stability and reliability of the CAL 8000 system have also brought significant benefits for CientíficaLab in terms of enhanced efficiency and faster TAT. The laboratory used to have 11 stand-alone instruments that always had breakdown issues, with uptime of only around 60% to 70%. CientíficaLab had to wait for engineers to repair or spare parts to be sent which could take days and significantly impacted daily routine. The introduction of CAL 8000 with its reliability and stability has been a gift for the laboratory. Mindray analyzers rarely see any failure issues which are resolved on the very same day or no later than the next day by the company or its local distributor.

With the introduction of the two customized CAL 8000, CientíficaLab has achieved significant improvement in both production capacity and cost-effectiveness. With the full capacity of just one CAL 8000 being superior to the previous 11 instruments operated by CientíficaLab and two Mindray automation lines working in good condition, there has been a huge improvement in the lab’s performance. Today, CientíficaLab’s headquarters alone performs 3,000,000 different tests per month, with up to 9,000 hematology tests each day – totaling nearly 2,820,000 a year.

“With the introduction of CAL 8000, we have increased our testing capacity,” said Fabiana Gomes Lancelotti, Hematology Department Supervisor at CientíficaLab. “The SC-120 Slide Maker and Stainer makes slides for microscopic analysis, then the results will be automatically validated and ready to report.”

“By placing one CAL 8000 face-to-face with the other, and adjusting the sample routes in the same direction, we can reduce the number of staff and make the process much simpler. Our productivity has improved by 50%,” said Audrei Roberto Bertini, Production Manager at CientíficaLab.

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