In 2004, the central laboratory of Klinikum Dortmund (Dortmund Hospital) in Germany opted for the installation of a chemistry and immunology automation solution. Under the direction of Joachim Lehner, MD, the hospital implemented the automation solution ADVIA WorkCell®, which was customized to meet the individual needs of the laboratory and has since been further expanded because of its profitability. Dortmund hospital decided to implement the analysis system due to its numerous abilities, including that of being able to integrate clinical chemistry and immunodiagnostics. This enables them to process more than 75 percent of all samples on one automation line. Hereby, the system ensures efficient utilization of serum by extracting the exact amount necessary for a specific test. As a result, 30 microlitres (μl) of plasma are enough for conducting more than ten tests. Required follow-up measurements with diluted serum or plasma also run automatically.

Flexible Implementation according to Demand

As of 2004, Dortmund hospital was equipped with two ADVIA® 1650 analyzers for managing clinical chemistry and with one ADVIA® Centaur for immunoassay testing. Demand and workload have increased, especially with the adoption of the children’s clinic emergency lab. After moving the laboratory to the new institute in the hospital headquarters, the smaller volume ADVIA® 1650 systems were replaced by higher volume ones such as the ADVIA® 1800 and the ADVIA® 2400. Furthermore, an IMMULITE® 2000 with an assortment of 80 immunoassays and 420 allergens was integrated into the line. Today, the central laboratory, located at two sites, supplies the city clinic as well as the institute for transfusion medicine. Hereby, the laboratory team at the Klinikum Mitte (center hospital) processes all samples coming from this site and almost 85 percent of the samples from the Klinikum Nord (northern hospital). The medical-technical assistants from the closely interconnected satellite laboratory at the north site handle the remaining 15 percent.

Lower Personnel and Material Costs

The substantial reorganisation of the laboratory can be noticed in the personnel and material costs. According to Lehner, the manual work could be reduced thanks to automation. This was possible because follow-up measurements with diluted plasma are now fully automated. As a result, the manual work is reduced to merely the reading or entering of specifications, the centrifuging of samples, and the loading of the sample manager. Furthermore, thanks to consistent controlling, the required test volumina could be reduced from four to three million tests per year. These advantages enabled the laboratory to reduce personnel and material costs by a total amount of 700,000 Euros.