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Smartphone monitoring of pneumatic tube system-induced sample hemolysis
Garrett R Mullins1, James H Harrison2, David E Bruns1
1Division of Laboratory Medicine, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States; Department of Pathology, University of Virginia School of Medicine, Health Sciences Center, Charlottesville, VA, United States.
Background:
Pneumatic tube systems (PTSs) are convenient methods of patient sample transport in medical centers, but excessive acceleration force and time/distance traveled in the PTS have been correlated with increased blood-sample hemolysis. We investigated the utility of smartphones for monitoring of PTS-related variables.
Methods:
Smartphones were sent through the PTS from several hospital locations. Each smartphone used 2 apps as data-loggers to record force of acceleration vs time. To relate the smartphone data to sample integrity, blood samples were collected from 5 volunteers, and hemolysis of the samples was analyzed after they were transported by hand or via 1 of 2 PTS routes. Increased sample hemolysis as measured by plasma lactate dehydrogenase (LD) was also related to the amount of transport in the PTS.
Results:
The smartphones showed higher duration of forceful acceleration during transport through 1 of the 2 PTS routes, and the increased duration correlated with significant increases in hemolysis (H)-index and plasma LD. In addition, plasma LD showed a positive linear relationship with number of shock forces experienced during transport through the PTS.
Conclusions:
Smartphones can monitor PTS variables that cause sample hemolysis. This provides an accessible method for investigating specific PTS routes in medical centers.
