Awanui Labs has taken another step forward in laboratory innovation and technology which is transforming workflow and outcomes for staff and patients in Taranaki.
Enhancing efficiency and outcomes
New Plymouth is the second regional Awanui laboratory after Northland to have installed a benchtop robotic workstation, delivering greater automation, and increased efficiency and accuracy in processing blood sample tubes.
“A regional laboratory of our size can receive and process over 1000 patient blood tubes a day. Bringing in robotic automation has meant we have removed much of the front-end, pre-analytical manual work for our team in sorting samples,” says Laboratory Manager Sally Scouller.
“Our staff have a more sustainable workload and can focus on responsibilities such as managing complex samples, troubleshooting, and quality checks.
“We have not only alleviated the demands of repetitive tasks, but we are improving turnaround times, maximising the benefits of our electronic lab orders and paperless workflow and increased our capability to deliver accuracy and outcomes for our lab and patients.”
Streamlining workflow in the lab
Sally says the robotic equipment (PathFinders) fully automate the tasks before and after the samples go on the analysers – called pre and post analytical work.
“The automation includes removing tube caps and sorting the samples for correct testing through to the storage of the blood tubes at the end of the laboratory workflow.
“The robotic equipment also places foil caps back on the tubes and archives the results after analysis in our laboratory information system. This is essential for ensuring good inventory management and compliance and easier retrieval of the blood tubes if further testing is requested by a doctor.
“Another important efficiency gain is the system also sets aside any samples requiring referral to another laboratory once our local work has been completed.”
Supporting staff and delivering for patients
Sally says the team are excited about the machines being in the lab.
“Our team are always jumping onboard anything new and innovative and especially if the technology reduces pressure and improves day-to-day work. Importantly, they can focus on areas where their skills are most valuable, and needed for delivering better outcomes for our laboratory processes and our patients.”
Awanui Labs is continuing to deploy the robotic automation across the network with further installations in the Auckland Microbiology department currently underway.
Photo – Laboratory Technician Razel Nicolas with the robotic automation