Laboratory Automation - The Future Is Here

ened in car manufacturing, it happened in farming,exactly the same, every time. Such automation
it happened in the big pharmaceutical companiesleaves the operator free to perform other tasks
so are we very surprised that technology isin the laboratory, prevents risks to employees
taking over in the clinical laboratory? Scientistsfrom carrying out repetitive tasks, and uses the
simply need to look around their laboratories toresources of the laboratory more efficiently.
see how quickly the equipment they use everyHealth and safety issues
day becomes obsolete, remodelled or completelyAs introduced above, some laboratory tasks are
replaced by an automated solution.so labour-intensive and routine in nature that they
From the analytical laboratories of companies incould pose staff health and safety risks in terms
the pharmaceutical, chemical, agriculture, food andof RSI, for example. There may also be a risk to
environmental sectors, technology has nowstaff health in terms of being repeatedly exposed
permeated the clinical laboratory. The commercialto harmful chemicals, pathogens or reagents.
sector embraced this revolution, for example, inThe presence of equipment that automates such
order to increase throughput in screening fortasks could leave the skilled scientist free to carry
potential drug compounds. The challenge ofout more interesting, rewarding laboratory work
screening such vast quantities inevitably led toand could actually make the profession more
finding quicker, more cost-effective methodologiesattractive.
opening the door to automation and robotics. ACost of automation
similar story, you may recognise, from the wayFor many laboratories the will to automate certain
mass production occurred in the manufacturingprocedures is overshadowed by the lack of
industry generally.budget to purchase relevant equipment. Total
A sign of the timesautomation, however, is not the same as
Incorporating automation into the laboratory is,automating certain tasks or procedures, which
however, a sign of the times. Not only does usingneed not be as much of a constraint. Don Whitley
automation standardise procedures in terms ofScientific have been automating microbiology
compliance and regulatory issues, it provideslaboratory solutions for 30 years and have found
additional accuracy in clinical test results, crucial inthat it can be a progressive process. Dr Pridmore
patient safety. It is not about eliminating humansexplains: “Laboratories can take on automation
from laboratory work, rather eliminating humanin stages, for example you could look at ways of
error.automating media preparation as a first step.
“Every time there is the need for a human toCareful research can yield modular systems that
handle a sample, whether it is taking delivery of,can grow with the throughput of your lab.”
bar coding, streaking, incubating, etc, there is theThe range of Whitley Workstations from Don
risk of human error — which couldWhitley Scientific (DWS) are an excellent example
translate to a risk to the patient. We need to doof this. From the DG250 to the large 1080 plate
all we can to minimise such risks,” suggestedcapacity Whitley 1000, each unit has the option of
Dr Andrew Pridmore, Head of Microbiology at Donadding an airlock at the time of purchase or at a
Whitley Scientific.later date to provide the facility to take bulk
Automation in such circumstances can be said tosamples, plates or equipment in and out of the
be taking the monotony (which can be a cause ofworkstation without loss of anaerobic conditions.
human error) out of the work and freeing upAs a laboratory grows or the throughput
scientists to perform more highly skilled tasks.increases, it needs manufacturers to be more
More samples, less timeflexible and to work with them in modifying
For many facilities there appears to be a definiteequipment to suit their particular requirements.
increase in the quantity of samples for testing.Automation — here to stay
The NHS may soon find it necessary to testIt is, I suppose, a sign that automation is big
every single incoming patient for MRSA —business in our industry when we see that there
and how many more tests will that mean?is now a US exhibition that celebrates and
Another consideration is the ever-increasing speedpromotes laboratory automation —
at which test results need to be achieved.LabAutomation 2008. The organisers of the event
Silvio Lignarolo from Copan, an Italian companyinvite “… research scientists, engineers, and
already selling automated equipment into the UKbusiness leaders to accelerate breakthroughs in
with great success, explains: “With budgetarylaboratory technologies and informatics …” to
constraints and already overworked staff,submit abstracts for presentations.
laboratories are having to look to technology toAn article by Dr Pantelidis featured in Laboratory
cope with their daily throughput. They are startingNews Online recently suggested a future-view of
to acknowledge that such investment really is thethe laboratory — “… whole laboratories
only way to go.”one day be contained on a single electronic chip,
Manufactured by Copan and distributed in the UKwith all diagnostic testing performed exclusively at
by Don Whitley Scientific, ASpecT is anthe point of care? Such concepts may still seem
automated inoculating/streaking bar coding deviceimpossibly futuristic, but when one stops to
for swab specimens. The operator simply loadsconsider the pace at which laboratory technology
the patient samples into the machine, selects theis currently evolving, it would surely be
required programme and walks away. Theshort-sighted to dismiss them out of hand.
machine does the rest, streaking each plate