| Background:Clinical laboratory has a major influence on clinical decisions and the past 60 years have seen an evolution brought about by advances in information technology and automation. Among the evolutions, it is worthy of taking attention to the total laboratory automation (TLA). Global clinical laboratory is also due to the wide application of the system and into a new era of rapid development, especially the change of nearly 20 years. Domestic total laboratory automation system, however, the use of the whole lags 10 years in the world, although in the past five years has been rapid development, but the total laboratory automation (TLA) application in China is still in its infancy. The impact of the ever-changing technology in regard to responsibilities and training therefore needs continual appraisal, especially for total laboratory automation (TLA) used in China. Even so, the adoption of total laboratory automation (TLA) has played an important role in the optimization of the laboratory management, whether in the process management of laboratory, sample management or people management, etc.Purpose:Automation in other industries has also been reviewed, since the reasons to automate and the impact of automation have similarities and these include reduction in errors, increase in productivity, and improvement in safety. Advances in technology in clinical laboratory that have included total laboratory automation call for changes in job responsibilities to include skills in information technology, data management, instrumentation, patient preparation for diagnostic analysis, interpretation of test results, as well as skills in research. Research in clinical laboratory should not only emphasize evaluation of performance of automation but also should include pre-and post analytical phases and training also needs to reflect this.Content:In this article, it is the key point that the value brought from total laboratory automation (TLA) for the clinical laboratory and the potential problems existing in the using of TLA, especially for Turnaround Time (TAT) and result quality improvement. By the comparison of the total laboratory automation (TLA) before and after in turnaround time (TAT) and laboratory error rate, we can find the part value and advantage from the total laboratory automation (TLA) used in the. At the same time, we also get the satisfaction to the result after TLA from clinical doctors. But, the cost pressure in short-term is a problem for TLA selection from the technicians satisfaction to the change of laboratory due to TLA.Methods:The contrast method is selected for analysis and conclusion for the value and the possible problems of total laboratory automation (TLA).Results:Total laboratory automation system can reduce the manual intervention, shorten TAT 1 to 2 hours and get the steady TAT. And it also greatly reduces the error rate especially in the pre-analysis, improve satisfaction of clinical doctors. The cost savings of total laboratory automation (TLA) shows in labor costs initially, especially in biochemistry and immune lab labor costs.Discussion and Suggestions:How does the lab choose it according to its size and how should it configure to fit the lab? Is LIS or and HIS system ready? How does the lab arrange to meet the LEAN concept? What is the learning curve for the technicians before and after TLA installation? It is important to select and use correctly to save the whole lab cost, enhance patient and doctors services, improve clinical doctors and staffs’ satisfaction, reduce the waiting time, increase safety and improve the quality of testing. So, it is important and necessary to continually appraise technology. |
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