Work/Expert Line
Work/Expert Line
Sysmex organizes the cell analytics of blood samples in medical laboratories with a novel concept: an automation combination, the »Work/Expert Line«.
This novel concept ensures that blood samples received by a central laboratory – the so-called »EDTA tubes« – are processed as fast and as safely as possible and that the complete results will be available to the treating physician as clearly as possible and within the shortest possible time. The current Sysmex concept combines experiences in the field of robotic automation and the pertinent data processing technology of more than a decade.
The first part of the concept – the Work Line – consists of up to four cell count systems (Sysmex XE-2100D). They are able to process up to 600 sample tubes per hour with distinctly selectable analytic requirements – the so-called profiles. These are usually initial examinations, the so-called »screening«. The analysis results obtained are subsequently taken over by a sophisticated EDP system (Sysmex SIS) and assessed by Expert Rules, i.e. they are validated. In case of specific results combinations, this »expert system« triggers follow-up examinations, such as for example the determination of very specific, rare blood cells (reticulocytes or nucleic acid containing blood platelets, the so-called reticulated thrombocytes) or providing a blood smear as the preparation for a final microscopic blood cell analysis. All that is done in real time – fully automatically and without human intervention. In the absolutely shortest time possible!
This is rendered possible, inter alia, by an integrated sorting robot (TS-1000) which picks out samples assessed by SIS as »conspicuous« and transmits them to the second concept component, the Expert Line. This also comprises a state-of-the-art cell analyser, a so-called flow cytometer (XE-2100) which distinctly processes eight very different examination profiles which are matched to specific medical issues – at the highest current processing speed! And the blood smears prepared on glass slides, the specimen slides, are produced and simultaneously stained by means of another robotic system intelligently controlled by the EDP system – subsequently completely ready for microscopy. Here, the robot not only imitates the difficult work steps of the specialized human worker but also takes into account the »condition« of the droplet of blood during processing, whether thick or thin (haematocrit): the SP-1000i always generates uniform smears of top quality – a basic prerequisite for the subsequent, error-free microscopic cell analysis.
Once all blood cell analyses are done on the Sysmex Work/Expert Line system, the TS-1000 also provides tubes for different blood examinations (e.g. for the so-called blood sedimentation or the determination of the HbA1c value in diabetes diagnostics) in specific tube holders. But even such subsequent examinations can nonetheless be fully automated with additional concept components from Sysmex. And it is hard to believe: Today, even microscopic analysis is automated – although the final cell evaluation must be exclusively done by trained haematology experts. This »digital morphology« – performed in the so-called DiffMaster 96 or 8 – is basically a fully automatic microscope; and, like all other optional components, it can be integrated into the Sysmex automation concept. And a simple remote control feature allows to start and stop the entire Work/Expert Line system at the tip of a finger.
Thus, it's all about safe and swiftest processes. The Sysmex ICS concepts guarantee the most accurate examination results and their fastest possible availability for the treating physician – certainly also a contribution to more efficient health care and better quality of care for the patient.