Technology Trends in Clinical Lab Industry PDF

TECHNOLOGY TRENDS IN THE CLINICAL LABORATORY INDUSTRY OBJECTIVES discuss briefly the three phases of laboratory analyses; Discuss examples of technological advancements in the field of laboratory medicine; and Extract applications of how these advancements will have in the futu...

TECHNOLOGY TRENDS IN THE CLINICAL LABORATORY INDUSTRY OBJECTIVES discuss briefly the three phases of laboratory analyses; Discuss examples of technological advancements in the field of laboratory medicine; and Extract applications of how these advancements will have in the future of  laboratory = ongoing rapid and dramatic innovation since the 1980s. Innovation in laboratory technology has made testing more efficient and automated. Information technology (IT) has revolutionized the transfer of data by decreasing the TAT; by creating AUTOMATION continues to be an important force in the changing laboratory marketplace; AUTOMATION Laboratory automated ( ) processes occur in three stages: PREANALYTIC STAGE ANALYTIC STAGE PREANALYTICAL STAGE choosing the test placing the order preparing the patient collecting the specimen transporting the specimen any specimen preparation work and daily quality controls PREANALYTICAL STAGE within the hospital, specimens are transferred efficiently using a pneumatic tubing system (ACCESS THI LINK TO SEE HOW THE PNUEMATIC TUBE WORKS: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=0Ipx_LQki-M&t=3 PREANALYTICAL STAGE in most settings of care, specimens are collected and labeled with identifying information and are entered into the laboratory computer system manually. PREANALYTICAL STAGE specimen containers = prelabeled with bar codes; container may contain substances that automatically. prepare the sample for processing; Test tubes may have computer chips embedded in the stopper; PREANALYTICAL STAGE Technology to automate many of the processes for or specimen preparation, sample quality testing, specimen transport and handling, and automatic PREANALYTICAL STAGE Test ordering over the Internet may increase efficiency and reduce administrative errors during specimen collection and processing. PREANALYTICAL STAGE Machines may draw blood specimens robots may transport specimens from hospitalized ANALYTICAL STAGE involves actual testing of the specimen and all routine procedures up to result reporting Beginning in the 1960s, several rounds of sophisticated automation resulted in multi-analyzers, which are multichannel ANALYTICAL STAGE Emerging in the early 1980s, consolidated workstations contain several instruments in one area. Typically, the area is managed by one technical person ANALYTICAL STAGE The workstation approach increases the productivity of the laboratory, reduces personnel costs, and dramatically decreases testing turnaround time (TAT) ANALYTICAL STAGE During the 1990s, Modular laboratory automation was introduced This technology permits the laboratory to begin with a basic configuration and add automated modules as needed. Robots may be part of a ANALYTICAL STAGE Replacing manual steps with automated processes virtually eliminated the risk of mistakes and reduced testing error rates. Enhancements in automated processing resulted in improved technical precision and POST ANALYTICAL STAGE is concerned with forwarding results to the appropriate hospital department or physician and routine daily maintenance and shutdown 1980s - test results were often transferred by courier POST ANALYTICAL STAGE Nowadays, results are automatically forwarded to the appropriate area of the hospital or physician office through dedicated printers, and billing and utilization report generation is computerized. POST ANALYTICAL STAGE Use of the Internet to report results would likely reduce costs by eliminating the need for designated fax and telephone lines. In addition, quicker TAT may lead to reduced episode-of-care costs. Electronic systems may also manage specimen POST ANALYTICAL STAGE Finally, these systems monitor consistency of results and ensure that panic values are called to medical staff’s attention. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Laboratory experts that keep pace with emerging IT have found new, more efficient ways to communicate and provide services; educate themselves, their staff, and their clients; market their products; and manage data INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Requests for testing and test results will be communicated electronically. Electronic image transmission will mean that hard-to-diagnose images can be sent quickly and INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY The use of electronic systems creates the opportunity to improve laboratory services laboratory results for certain tests can be influenced by drug use. Patient records could include all pharmaceuticals the patient INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY The use of electronic systems creates the opportunity to improve laboratory services INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Internet-based reporting creates opportunities to communicate test results directly to patients. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY Information technology change the way laboratorians educate themselves and their staff. Information technology has created new marketing and advertising opportunities for laboratories.  TECHNOLOGY’S EFFECT ON SITE OF SERVICE Some laboratory testing has moved out of the laboratory and is closer to the patient. Point-of-care testing (POCT) provides rapid test results within minutes of taking the sample, and home testing affords the ultimate consumer convenience, testing from the TECHNOLOGY’S EFFECT ON SITE OF SERVICE Point-of-care testing (POCT) New technologies not only have made POCT devices small and portable but also have improved specimen collection techniques so that they are minimally invasive. TECHNOLOGY’S EFFECT ON SITE OF SERVICE Home testing is another growing market made possible by technological advances in laboratory testing. is decentralized and physicians may not receive the test results unless they are provided manually by patients  THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY Edwina Clark, a 42-year-old woman with diabetes, no longer needs to test her blood sugar concentrations every day because she now has a glucose sensor implanted under the skin of her thigh. Her toilet at home provides a double check because it can analyze glucose, protein, and bacteria concentrations in her urine. Instead of giving herself daily injections of insulin, she now relies on an implanted insulin  THE FUTURE OF TECHNOLOGY Her blood sugar concentrations are so well controlled that she is unlikely ever to develop any of the vascular and neurological complications that used to be common.  POINT-OF-CARE TESTING “In just a few years, primary care physicians may be able to get a complete-blood count (CBC) for a patient simply by shining a light in the patient’s eye or sticking a probe under the patient’s tongue. This technology provides immediate test results, minimizes patient discomfort, reduces the risk of needle stick injuries, is free from concerns about contamination, eliminates the need to dispose of left-over blood samples, and is likely  REFERENCES: Miller, W.D. et al. 2000. Institute of Medicine (US) Committee on Medicare Payment Methodology for Clinical Laboratory Services. Washington (DC): National Academies Press (US). Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK223043/ on August 28, 2022 The Western PA Healthcare News Team. 2020.Technological Trends in the Clinical Lab Industry. Retrieved from: https://www.wphealthcarenews.com/technological-developments-i n-the- clinical-lab-industry/ on August 28, 2022