automated staining improves performance at hospital alemán
DESCRIPTION
Dr. Gabriel Casas, Director of Pathology, at Hospital Alemán in Buenos Aires, Argentina reviews the benefits of making the change from manual to automated IHC/ISH staining in his lab with the VENTANA BenchMark GX instrument.TRANSCRIPT
Automated Staining Improves PerformanceCase Study: Hospital Alemán in Buenos Aires
Customer profile & results summary
Detailed benefits analysis
Economic value
Customer profileHospital Alemán, Buenos Aires, Argentina• Private, 240-bed community hospital • 7 pathologists, 4 histotechs, 3 cytotechs• Hospital pursuing Joint Commission International accreditation• Lab participating in College of American Pathologists (CAP)
proficiency testing programs and NordiQC
Automation improves performance
• Histology lab implemented IHC/ISH staining automation in May 2012 using the VENTANA BenchMark GX platform
• Changed from manual staining to an automated process and individual slide processing
– Optimized quality– Improved productivity and throughput– Expanded test menu and enhanced protocol
flexibility– Improved patient safety
• Grew slide volume, reduced turnaround time (TAT) and added more complex testing without adding staff
Results summarySince moving to automated staining…
71%SPY
increase
& now performing more complex tests
3-4 dayIHC TAT
reduction
2xMore
antibodies
7 dayGlobal TAT
reduction
…all without any need for additional lab
staff
0Cross-
contamination
events
Customer profile & results summary
Detailed benefits analysis• Optimized quality• Faster turnaround time• Improved productivity and throughput• Expanded test menu• Enhanced protocol flexibility and patient safety
Economic value
Optimized quality “Slides are easier to read and cases are easier to diagnose with automated stains.”― Dr. Gabriel Casas, Director of Pathology, Hospital Alemán
Improved staining quality
+Greater consistency
+Enhanced reproducibility
=Greater confidence in diagnosis
IHC
ISH
Optimized quality
• Staining variables more controlled with automation and pre-diluted antibodies
– Less variability– Less troubleshooting– Fewer intra-department
consultations
IHC
ISH
“70% of cases are now quick to diagnose. This is a big improvement over manual staining.”― Dr. Gabriel Casas, Director of Pathology, Hospital Alemán
Faster TAT “The hospital and doctors love our improved turnaround time. Manual methods are labor-intensive and slow. Automatic staining is much faster.”
― Dr. Gabriel Casas, Director of Pathology
Optimized staining quality
+Streamlined workflow from automation
=Faster results
Faster TAT
• Automation reduces TAT– IHC TAT improved from 5 days to
1 day– Global TAT (case sample to
result) improved from 12 days to 5 days
– Same day results for rush orders• Improved clarity lowered recut and
restain rates from 5-50% (depending on technician) to almost zero
Improved productivity & throughput
“We will continue seeing a volume increase due to our enhanced reputation for fast, reliable diagnoses.”― Dr. Gabriel Casas, Director of Pathology, Hospital Alemán
Streamlined slide processing
+Reduction in recuts/restains
=Increased productivity and capacity
Improved productivity & throughput
• The BenchMark GX eliminates up to 80% of manual tasks
• Staining automation helped Hospital Alemán take on more histology cases:
– 71% increase in annual slide volume, from 3,500 to 6,000
– 0 additional technicians needed despite volume growth
Expanded test menu“We could have reduced staff, but instead we use the time gained for more value-added activities, like learning new technologies and adding more complex tests.”― Dr. Gabriel Casas, Director of Pathology, Hospital AlemánFewer steps/more time for histotechs
+Advanced staining automation
=Improved capacity for more complex tests and techniques
Expanded test menu
Since adopting automation, Hospital Alemán:• Uses almost twice as many
antibodies, from 50 to almost 100
• Performs more tests with greater complexity and added fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)
Enhanced protocol flexibility“The BenchMark GX gives us the flexibility to accommodate our pathologists’ individual preferences, such as light versus dark hematoxylin.”― Dr. Gabriel Casas, Director of Pathology, Hospital Alemán
Individual slide heater pads +Selectable protocol options
+Random access barcode technology
=Enhanced protocol flexibility
Enhanced patient safety
• Virtually eliminates cross-contamination risk during IHC/ISH staining
– Zero cross-contamination events since moving to automation at Hospital Alemán
• Barcodes help ensure the right test for the right patient every time
Customer profile & results summary
Detailed benefits analysis
Economic value
Economic value “If you’re thinking only about cost only in terms of manual versus automation, you’re not seeing the big picture… Remember it helps eliminates problems and reduces risks, and the associated savings and other benefits gained offset the cost.”
“It’s a one-way trip – you won’t ever want to go back.”― Dr. Gabriel Casas, Director of Pathology, Hospital AlemánImproved quality and confidence in diagnosis
+Reduced TAT
+Patient safety risk mitigation
+Labor savings for technicians and pathologists
=A very worthwhile investment
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