The Hospital Clínic of Barcelona has installed the most advanced and fastest diagnostic laboratory automation system in the world, allowing 5,700 samples to be analyzed daily and reducing expenses by 15%.
It is a pioneering technological system, in operation 24 hours a day, seven days a week, capable of automating the entire sample process, from reception to the issuance of results, facilitating data management and improving decision making. clinical decisions. Its launch, which began at the beginning of July, has led to an increase in activity of more than 35%.
Pioneering equipment to provide a quick and safe response
This Thursday, the hospital team presented the automation chain, manufactured by Inpeco and distributed by Siemens Healthineers, with the help of the general director of the Clínic, Dr. Josep M. Campistol, who highlighted the capacity and innovative vocation of the center and, specifically, that of the Biomedical Diagnostic Center (CDB). “This pioneering equipment significantly improves the hospital’s diagnostic capacity. “We have patients who need urgent results, where saving their life depends on just a few minutes.”
Precisely, Dr. Josep Lluís Bedini, Operational Head of the CORE laboratory of the CDB, has highlighted that with this new equipment they will be able to provide “better service” and “priority to urgent cases.” “95% of urgent samples are received, analyzed and delivered in less than an hour.”
Technicians place the samples in a hopper and the robotic arm collects each one.
In turn, Dr. Áurea Mira, director of the Clínic’s CDB, has highlighted the value of the collaboration agreement with Siemens, which has been in place for 22 years. “This agreement is based on innovation, the training of other professionals and support in the development of more useful products for the laboratory.” Along these lines, Guilherme Marques, general director of Siemens Healthineers, also present at the press conference, assured that this automated chain “allows not only to generate more tests, but also more space to bring new technologies.”
In addition, the equipment stores a total of 24,000 samples, 12,000 in each of the two refrigerators, increasing storage capacity by 30% without taking up more space and avoiding repetitions of analysis. Automation, on the one hand, quickly locates the required sample and, on the other, discards the oldest ones to make way for new ones.
A team of 14 technicians works in the CORE laboratory.
Entering the hospital’s CORE laboratory is immersing yourself in the most advanced technology. Technicians place the samples in a hopper and technology does the rest. A robotic arm collects, photographs and sorts each sample in a matter of seconds for later analysis. The equipment improves efficiency and productivity by automating the laboratory’s pre-analytical, analytical and post-analytical processes, and allows workers to focus on performing more technical and complex tasks.
“Technology and automation are important and improve our work, but they are nothing without people. “Both the technical and medical staff carry out their work under difficult working conditions,” said Dr. Bedini, who recalled that they have replaced and remodeled the laboratory while continuing with their tasks, in addition to mentioning the circumstances under which they worked after the cyber attack in 2023.
The incorporation of the FlexLab system also means 14% more available space, free areas to connect other analyzers, and a 30% reduction in noise.
The remodeling and incorporation of the FlexLab in a more pleasant environment, among others.
In addition, it is planned that the samples that now arrive at the laboratory manually will do so immediately through a new transport system.
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