Installation and implementation of automation and its impact on clinical chemistry laboratory productivity

Objective: To evaluate the impact of laboratory automation system on productivity with implementation of laboratory automation system in a clinical laboratory Methodology: This was a cross sectional study conducted at Dow Diagnostic Reference and Research Laboratory during October to December 2019. Laboratory automation system at section of Chemical Pathology was installed. Data were retrieved from laboratory information system from 2011 to 2018 to calculate the annual and average growth rate of workload and test menu. Trends were examined for pattern of workload, full time employee (FTE) and test menu. Results: Growth rates of workload were 24%, 49%, 41%, 41%, 19%, 45% and 28% for the years 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. Average annual workload growth rate was 35%. Test menu growth rates of 23%, 25%, 10%, 10%, 16%, 4% and 5% were observed for 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018, respectively. Average annual test menu growth rate was 13.2%. After the adaptation of automation, upward trends were consistently observed in workload and test menu. However; a flat pattern was observed for dedicated FTE. Conclusion: We found total automation system, as a robust and efficient approach for organizing high workflow. This study demonstrated a productive and dynamic strategy to handle a high workload without any extra labor through laboratory automation.