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Published on: March 14, 2017
How do we design a laboratory space for a hospital transfusion medicine service?
Elizabeth S Allen1, Ingrid Perez-Alvarez2, Jennifer S Woo3
1Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
Background:
Transfusion service laboratories (TSL) often need to renovate or design new laboratory space, and their leaders must be involved in the complex and multifaceted design process.
Study Design And Methods:
This manuscript outlines the design process and considerations for a dedicated TSL space.
Results:
Proactive engagement with key collaborators throughout the design process is essential. Major design considerations include physical features such as location, size, service/equipment needs, and zones within the laboratory; intangible issues such as efficiency, well-being, and disaster planning; and adaptations for suboptimal space and changes over time.
Conclusion:
Investing in the design of the laboratory space facilitates high-quality TSL operations, productivity, customer satisfaction, regulatory compliance, staff well-being, and most importantly, patient safety.
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