Product category:
Clinical chemistry analysis
News Release from: Horiba ABX | Subject: Pentra DX 120 and DF 120
Edited by the Laboratorytalk Editorial
Team on 13 December 2007
Haematology analysers cope well with
aged samples
The reliability of Horiba ABX Pentra DX 120 and DF 120 haematology analysers was put to the test soon after their installation at Bronglais District General Hospital in Aberystwyth, Wales
Following heavy snow falls in the large rural catchment area for this hospital, many blood samples taken at remote surgeries took up to five days to reach the laboratory Despite such extended storage periods, automatic differentials were obtained on the new analysers which could not be achieved by manual ones, as the cells fragmented when spread on a slide for viewing
This article was originally published on Laboratorytalk on 16 Aug 2002 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Haematology analysers for Wales
University Hospital of Wales at Cardiff, one of the top university teaching hospitals, gets new haematology analysers and the first networked STV data management system in the UK
Haematology analyser fills gap in range
With a throughput of 80 samples per hour, this will suit laboratories with workloads of up to 350 samples per day and fills the gap between 60 and 120 sample per hour machines
This saved many patients from having to have another sample taken and tested (full validation could not be performed at the time but the differentials were accepted, subject to a disclaimer on the report, on the basis of: the scatterplot; clinical detail; and previous results on these patients).
This extreme reliability of the automatic white blood cell differentials delivered by the new Horiba ABX analysers was an added bonus for laboratory staff within the Ceredigion and Mid-Wales NHS Trust when they replaced its ageing haematology analysers.
"Due to Aberystwyth's isolated location and an ever increasing workload, we had to ensure that we had dependable analysers that would require minimal maintenance call outs," explained Anita Worthing, chief biomedical scientist at the trust.
"We chose to install the ABX Pentra DX 120 and DF 120 because of their reputation for reliability.
"On the rare occasion that we have had to contact them since installation, Horiba ABX support and maintenance teams have been excellent and in most cases any issues have been resolved remotely".
Of its workload of over 70,000 samples per year, around 50% comes from GP practices, many of which may be very remote to the hospital laboratory due to the rugged Welsh surrounds.
"We had heard of the Horiba ABX analysers' reputation to be able to cope with aged samples so, given the distance that some of our samples have to travel, this was certainly a further consideration in the selection process for new analysers," continued Anita Worthing.
"However, we hadn't expected to put this ability to the test so soon after their installation, nor had we expected them to cope with quite such aged samples".
"We were also extremely confident that our technology was the best for dealing with aged samples, but dependable results after five days is fantastic" said Cleve Wright, general manager, Horiba ABX UK.
• Horiba ABX: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Laboratorytalk email newsletter
• Laboratorytalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
