Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Siemens Healthineers has introduced two new solutions, the Atellica HEMA 570 Analyzer and the Atellica HEMA 580 Analyzer, for high-volume hematology testing. The complete blood count (CBC) is a crucial diagnostic test, often providing the first indication of illness in a patient, and physicians rely on accurate and timely hematology information from the lab. However, traditional hematology testing can be complex and time-sensitive, requiring experienced laboratory staff for result evaluation before they reach physicians. The Atellica HEMA 570 and Atellica HEMA 580 Analyzers aim to address these challenges by offering integrated automation and intelligence to improve workflow efficiency and deliver patient results faster.
Sharon Bracken, Head of Diagnostics at Siemens Healthineers, emphasized the need for agility, reliability, and speed in lab operations. The Atellica HEMA analyzers combine workflow improvements with proven technology to propel hematology testing into the future, enabling labs to produce high-quality patient results more quickly. In hospital or critical care settings, turnaround time expectations for routine CBCs are often one hour or less, and for urgent STAT tests, less than 10 minutes. The Atellica HEMA 570 and Atellica HEMA 580 Analyzers have a throughput capacity of up to 120 tests per hour, significantly reducing maintenance time and supporting rapid reagent changes with user-friendly designs.
Vulnerable patient populations, such as oncology, renal, and neonatal patients, rely on hematology testing for monitoring and adjusting their care. However, the expertise in hematology is diminishing due to a shrinking labor pool. The Atellica HEMA 570 and Atellica HEMA 580 Analyzers address this challenge by leveraging advanced data management capabilities to bridge the expertise gap and empower staff with varying skill levels to interpret results effectively. The analyzers employ rules-based auto validation to release normal results directly into the laboratory information system, while abnormalities are flagged and coded by severity, indicating the need for closer attention from technicians. Standardized guidance is displayed when follow-up actions are required, ensuring adherence to lab protocols.
Dr. Laura Ciardelli, Biologist and Laboratory Hematology Manager at Policlinico San Matteo in Pavia, Italy, praised the Atellica HEMA Analyzers for their speed, ease of use, and optimal clinical performance. The Atellica HEMA 570 Analyzer measures 43 cell parameters, while the Atellica HEMA 580 Analyzer offers an additional 12 parameters, including indicators for immature red blood cells relevant to specific patient populations and an optical-based platelet count that reduces analytical interferences. The analyzers can be integrated together, with up to six units working in harmony to maximize throughput through intelligent workload balancing and reflexive testing.
To further streamline workflow, Siemens Healthineers offers Scopio Labs' full-field digital cell morphology technology, which operates alongside the Atellica HEMA 570 and Atellica HEMA 580 Analyzers. This technology allows clinical laboratorians to digitally examine patient blood cell samples, eliminating the need for traditional microscopic examination. The Scopio X100 and Scopio X100HT3 imaging platforms provide high-resolution, full-field viewing for peripheral blood specimens and offer artificial intelligence-based morphological analysis with remote viewing capabilities through secure hospital networks.
