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Precise turnaround time measurement of laboratory processes using radiofrequency identification technology.
Horst Mayer1, Jens Brümmer, Thomas Brinkmann
1Zentralinstitut für Laboratoriumsmedizin, Mikrobiologie und Transfusionsmedizin, Städtisches Klinikum Karlsruhe, Karlsuhe, Germany. horst.mayer@klinikum-karlsruhe.de
Clinical Laboratory
|March 12, 2011
Summary
Radiofrequency identification (RFID) technology accurately tracked emergency department serum samples, revealing manual centrifugation steps significantly impact laboratory turnaround time (TAT). Optimizing these manual processes is key to improving TAT.
Area of Science:
- Laboratory Medicine
- Process Improvement
- Healthcare Technology
Background:
- Implementing Lean Six Sigma in central laboratories requires precise measurement of pre-analytical steps affecting turnaround time (TAT) for emergency department (ED) serum samples.
- Traditional Laboratory Information System (LIS) data is insufficient for accurate, real-time TAT analysis.
- Radiofrequency identification (RFID) chips offer a solution for real-time sample tracking throughout pre-analytical phases.
Purpose of the Study:
- To measure individual pre-analytical steps influencing the turnaround time (TAT) of emergency department (ED) serum samples using RFID technology.
- To identify bottlenecks within the pre-analytical workflow impacting overall TAT.
- To provide data-driven insights for laboratory process optimization and automation.
Main Methods:
- 1,200 serum tubes were affixed with RFID chips and distributed to the ED.
- Three RFID receivers were strategically placed in the laboratory (pneumatic tube system outlet, centrifuge area, analyser area).
- LIS data provided additional time stamps for sample entry and result communication, complementing RFID tracking.
Main Results:
- Out of 1,023 tracked samples, 899 were used for TAT calculation.
- Median transfer times included: pneumatic tube system to centrifuge (1:25), centrifuge to sample distributor (14:06), sample distributor to analysis zone (2:39), and analysis zone to result communication (12:42).
- Manual processes surrounding centrifugation constituted a significant portion of TAT (44%/60% median/95th percentile).
Conclusions:
- RFID technology is a reliable, user-friendly, and accurate method for tracking laboratory samples.
- The study successfully identified significant variability in manual sample transfer processes.
- Manual steps in centrifugation are major contributors to TAT, highlighting the need for automation in this area.
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