Clinical Biochemistry automated equipment

The Clinical Biochemistry department is currently in the process of replacing its automated equipment. Roche diagnostics will continue to provide the equipment, and the technologies used will be based on the same technology but have improved capacity and throughput, improving turnaround times.

The changes are as follows:

• Cobas c502 and c701 analysers will be replaced with Cobas c702 analysers
• Cobas e602 analysers will be replaced with Cobas 801 analysers

The change will be a 2 stage process:

• Week commencing 13th May – replacement of first analyser, new c702 and e801 analyser will run in conjunction with existing c701/e602 analyser
• Week commencing 15th July – replacement of remaining second analyser, the department will then be using c702/e801 analysers for all tests

This will mean that for a period of ~8-9 weeks samples will be processed on both existing equipment (c701/e602) and new technologies (c702/e801). The department has undertaken detailed evaluations to ensure that the results across the systems are comparable; we do not expect any clinically significant differences in results generated across the analysers. Users will be alerted to any clinically significant changes and/or updates to reference ranges by report comments.

New HbA1c analyser

In addition, from the week commencing 20th May 2019 a new analytical system will be implemented for HbA1c analysis, the Tosoh G11 will replace the existing Tosoh G8. This change will also provide additional capacity, helping maintain and improve turnaround times.

Haematology automated equipment

The Haematology department has recently replaced its automated equipment.  Sysmex will continue to provide the equipment, and the technologies used will be based on the same technology but have improved capacity and throughput, improving turnaround times.  Test repertoire and reference ranges currently remain the same.

The changes are as follows:

• 2 Sysmex XE 5000 FBC analysers replaced with 2 Sysmex XN10 and 2 XN20 FBC analysers
• XS1000i POCT FBC analyser replaced with XN550 POCT FBC analyser
• 2 ESR analysers replaced with 2 new versions
• 1 slide stainer replaced with 2 new slide stainers

All equipment has been validated and went live on 7th May 2019.

The Clinical Biochemistry and Haematology laboratories will be applying to our accreditation body, UKAS, to update our scope of accreditation to include these changes, within 2019.

For further information please see -

Our current scope of UKAS accreditation here: https://www.ukas.com/wp-content/uploads/schedule_uploads/00007/8055%20Medical%20Multiple.pdf

And tests due for Extension to Scope assessment here: http://www.pch-pathlab.com/cms/sites/default/files/media/F401e2%20AC6%20Medical%20Laboratory%20e%20copy.pdf