Austin Regional Clinic celebrates its latest lab automation technology

Austin Regional Clinic

Automated lab testing gives Austin Regional Clinic (ARC) the capacity to provide quicker and more efficient lab results for a growing patient population.

On December 2, Austin Regional Clinic (ARC) hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate ARC Central Lab’s latest lab automation technology. With this new addition, ARC can provide quicker test results to patients and meet the demand for future growth. The vendor for this project, Roche Diagnostics, joined ARC as a host.

The ceremony opened with remarks from ARC Central Lab leadership recognizing the quicker and more predictable process and the benefits of its scalability. ARC processes more than 3,000 samples every day and thanks to the new equipment, we can get most results to patients within the same day or by the next day.

Anas Daghestani, MD, ARC President and Chief Executive Officer, talked about the safety and efficiency of the new system. “In-house testing with lab automation means faster results and quicker decision-making for care teams, contributing to enhanced engagement with our patients. Thanks to this lab automation system, we are prepared with the necessary infrastructure to grow, add new tests, and have our lab techs practicing to the full extent of their training; no more need to uncap and cap thousands of tubes each day.”

Executives from Roche expressed their gratitude to ARC, noting that ARC’s Central Lab is one of fewer than 10 in the U.S. utilizing the bulk loader input module (BLIM), which enables the loading of closed tubes in bulk.

How the lab automation works

Automated lab testing gives ARC the capacity to provide quicker and more efficient lab results for a growing patient population. From loading and de-capping, to testing, re-capping, holding, and disposal, the entire process is automated through a hands-free robotic assembly line.

Test tubes with patient labels and bar codes are loaded directly into a bin. After loading, each test tube is automatically categorized and digitally documented by image and barcode recognition. Robotic arms then use this information to read the required tests for each sample and navigate each tube through the assembly lines’ testing stations.

At the end of the line, the sample is stored in a large, refrigerated chamber with its own robotic arm for a full week. If a physician or advanced practice clinician (APC) needs to add on additional testing after seeing initial results, the robotic arm gathers the sample and sends it back through the line for the appropriate additional tests.

“A previously manual process that typically took 2-3 days can now be completed in 30 minutes,” said Manish Naik, MD, ARC Chief Medical Officer and Chief Medical Information Officer. “This new lab automation, combined with our software automation to release lab results to patients, has optimized patient care with timely and efficient communication of test results.”

Last year, all 7.3 million lab tests were performed manually. With this new equipment, ARC is ready for the increased volume that we expect with the growth of new clinics, new services, and expanded care teams.



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December 19, 2024

Austin Regional Clinic