Automated lab at Hemas Hospital

Automation is a common method used in developed countries to minimise human intervention in laboratory testing and errors as a result of human mistakes. Inter-phasing of the lab equipment ensures the speed as well as accuracy by minimising data entry errors, said Director, Medical Services, Hemas Hospitals (Pvt) Ltd Dr. Aruna Rabel.

Hemas Hospital, Wattala commissioned fully integrated Barcoding, Inter-phasing and a fully automated laboratory system which is the first of its kind in Sri Lanka.

It includes a unique system of integration of the laboratory process, interfacing of analysers with the hospital's information system and a new barcode system which eliminates errors in entering or documentation of patient details.

This also enables to track and trace the stage of a laboratory test through the entire laboratory process.

In addition, all advanced automated laboratory equipment (analysers) have been integrated into a common computer system, which carries out a wide range of laboratory tests with minimum human intervention.

According to Dr Rabel, this would further reduce the errors and improve the efficiency. Laboratory Manager Rohan Sugatadasa said that the Hemas Hospital laboratory provides a quality and reliable service, which in turn would build confidence among patients as well as doctors.

The integrated system is linked to the Hospital's Information System which enables doctors to view the reports on the computer screen from wards and consultation rooms as soon as the test is performed.

With test results being made available faster, treatment can be given without delay.

All the results are electronically saved and can be retrieved if needed.

Among the advanced equipment integrated and interfaced into the system are state-of-the-art biochemistry analysers, which perform tests such as blood glucose and cholesterol levels, hormone analysers, full blood count (haematology) analysers and high performance liquid chromatography analysers.