Automated Blood Grouping Ortho Autovue Blood Grouping System brings automation to the WPBTS Blood Banks The WPBTS after a period of testing and evaluation have purchased the Ortho Autovue system. This new system will see for the first time in the WPBTS the automation of the blood grouping process. The evaluation period of this new system started in July 2005 and was conducted at Tygerberg Hospital. The medical staff and superintendent of Tygerberg Hospital greatly assisted in the evaluation of this new technology. The evaluation period ended in October 2005 and focused on the following areas:  Subgroups  Antibody titres  Weak examples of D antigen  Problem groups  Antibody screens (clinically significant, as well as insignificant) The analyzer produced consistent results in comparison with our manual crossmatch method. The system is very sensitive and for example, found Direct Coombs tests positive where the manual method produced a negative result. The positive result is due to the fact that the majority of the patient population is on some form of drug treatment. Advantages of the system  Decreased hands-on time, which reduces the possibility of operator  error.  Improved quality in terms of consistency of results and techniques.  Increased productivity - random access, batch, STAT and continuous  feed modes; consumables are monitored continuously (reagents &  cassettes); liquid level detection ;for samples and reagents; intuitive  menu - driven computer screens.  Safety - fully enclosed system; software controlled access doors;  minimal handling of patient samples; automated cassette disposal.  System / data security - positive sample and reagent identification;  positive cassette identification; automated reading, reaction grading  and interpretation of results; password protected; bi-directional  interface.  Consistent, high quality results - standardized pipetting, incubation,  centrifugation and reading / interpretation; positive sample, reagent  and cassette ID. Turnaround time The turnaround time is expected to be 1 hour from receipt at blood bank to completion. The current time for a standard crossmatch / group & screen is 1 hour and 30 minutes. This is due to a decrease in incubation time (from 30 minutes manually to 15 minutes on Autovue) and because all aspects of testing are standardised and automated on the Autovue. Distribution of analysers Groote Schuur and Tygerberg blood banks each have one Autovue (fully automated) and one Biovue (semi-automated). The Autovue analyzer will be used for routine testing and the Biovue as a 'back-up' or for problem samples. Medicity Vergelegen blood bank will have one Biovue system and Red Cross Hospital blood bank will have 2 Biovue systems. It is currently the plan to automate Paarl, Worcester and George in the next financial year.