Dade Behring and Addenbrooke's Hospital have expanded their partnership with the second Streamlab Analytical Workcell helping the hospital's lab to manage increasing test volumes
To underline the strong working relationship that has developed between the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Dade Behring over the past 20 years, Jim Reid-Anderson, the company's chairman, president and CEO, was present to celebrate the official 'go-live' of Addenbrooke's second Streamlab Analytical Workcell.
This was marked by Jo Whittaker, who is the director of pathology, loading one of the first patient samples onto the new system.
Gareth Goodier, chief executive of the Cambridge University Hospitals was also on hand to witness the 'go-live'.
The two workcells, along with six Dimension RxL Max integrated chemistry analysers, will enable the clinical biochemistry and immunology department at Addenbrooke's Hospital to manage their five million tests per year, while dealing comfortably with a workload that has grown over 70 percent in the last five years.
In addition, they will be able to continue providing consistent turnaround times for Accident and Emergency (A and E) test results.
"The installation of the new pre-analytical processing capability and the increased number of analysers will have a major positive impact on the department's workflow", said Ian Halsall, Addenbrooke's deputy operations manager.
"We are confident the new set-up will allow us to move toward our target of reporting 100 percent of our A and E requests within 60 minutes of receipt.
"We currently deliver approximately 75 percent of our routine test results within one hour.
"With the increased capacity, we should be able to set new standards in performance excellence".
"Dade Behring's goal is to be the most responsive provider of quality diagnostic products and services to our customers in the clinical laboratory", commented Jim Reid-Anderson, chairman, president and CEO of Dade Behring.
"Our flexible approach to integrated chemistry systems and automation is an ideal solution for Addenbrooke's increasing capacity needs.
"We are extremely pleased to grow our partnership with Addenbrooke's Hospital, one of the UK's pre-eminent teaching hospitals".
In conjunction with the installation of the new systems, Addenbrooke's has switched to a Managed Equipment Service agreement, administered by Dade Behring.
In addition to allowing the Trust to reclaim VAT, it will also benefit from a switch to just-in-time reagent delivery, support for staff training and advice on laboratory documentation
