An overview of the automated Blood Banking system

Blood banking technology at Western Province Blood Transfusion Service has been elevated to a new level of efficiency and accuracy with the introduction of automated analyzers. These analyzers have been introduced into all urban area blood banks with a view to prospective roll-outs in the regional blood banks during the course of 2007.

The obvious question to be answered is whether these innovations benefit the patient ultimately and, if so, what is to be gained from these benefit/s. The best way to describe the new technology would be to focus on the qualitative elements of the analyzers. The traditional tube technology is replaced by cassette technology i.e. an open manual system of testing has been replaced with bar-coded self-enclosed sterile cassettes, where each of these are uniquely identified. In addition all materials being utilised are more distinctly quality controlled and quantified so that all quality control, cost and supply side elements are optimized. These measures then translate to better health security for patients where the elements of human intervention and associated elements of error constantly threaten to undermine supply of services and products for patient well-being.

Diagram: A typical scenario of workflow in Blood Banks with automation.

Conclusion

Ultimately laboratory testing and healthcare benefit from a totally quality controlled environment where patient identification, testing materials, resources and time are put to optimum use.