Automated Staining Improves PerformanceCase Study: Hospital Alemán in Buenos Aires

Customer profile & results summary

Detailed benefits analysis

Economic value

Customer profileHospital Alemán, Buenos Aires, Argentina• Private, 240-bed community hospital • 7 pathologists, 4 histotechs, 3 cytotechs• Hospital pursuing Joint Commission International accreditation• Lab participating in College of American Pathologists (CAP)

proficiency testing programs and NordiQC

Automation improves performance

• Histology lab implemented IHC/ISH staining automation in May 2012 using the VENTANA BenchMark GX platform

• Changed from manual staining to an automated process and individual slide processing

– Optimized quality– Improved productivity and throughput– Expanded test menu and enhanced protocol

flexibility– Improved patient safety

• Grew slide volume, reduced turnaround time (TAT) and added more complex testing without adding staff

Results summarySince moving to automated staining…

71%SPY

increase

& now performing more complex tests

3-4 dayIHC TAT

reduction

2xMore

antibodies

7 dayGlobal TAT

reduction

…all without any need for additional lab

staff

0Cross-

contamination

events

Customer profile & results summary

Detailed benefits analysis• Optimized quality• Faster turnaround time• Improved productivity and throughput• Expanded test menu• Enhanced protocol flexibility and patient safety

Economic value

Optimized quality “Slides are easier to read and cases are easier to diagnose with automated stains.”― Dr. Gabriel Casas, Director of Pathology, Hospital Alemán

Improved staining quality

+Greater consistency

+Enhanced reproducibility

=Greater confidence in diagnosis

IHC

ISH

Optimized quality

• Staining variables more controlled with automation and pre-diluted antibodies

– Less variability– Less troubleshooting– Fewer intra-department

consultations

IHC

ISH

“70% of cases are now quick to diagnose. This is a big improvement over manual staining.”― Dr. Gabriel Casas, Director of Pathology, Hospital Alemán

Faster TAT “The hospital and doctors love our improved turnaround time. Manual methods are labor-intensive and slow. Automatic staining is much faster.”

― Dr. Gabriel Casas, Director of Pathology

Optimized staining quality

+Streamlined workflow from automation

=Faster results

Faster TAT

• Automation reduces TAT– IHC TAT improved from 5 days to

1 day– Global TAT (case sample to

result) improved from 12 days to 5 days

– Same day results for rush orders• Improved clarity lowered recut and

restain rates from 5-50% (depending on technician) to almost zero

Improved productivity & throughput

“We will continue seeing a volume increase due to our enhanced reputation for fast, reliable diagnoses.”― Dr. Gabriel Casas, Director of Pathology, Hospital Alemán

Streamlined slide processing

+Reduction in recuts/restains

=Increased productivity and capacity

Improved productivity & throughput

• The BenchMark GX eliminates up to 80% of manual tasks

• Staining automation helped Hospital Alemán take on more histology cases:

– 71% increase in annual slide volume, from 3,500 to 6,000

– 0 additional technicians needed despite volume growth

Expanded test menu“We could have reduced staff, but instead we use the time gained for more value-added activities, like learning new technologies and adding more complex tests.”― Dr. Gabriel Casas, Director of Pathology, Hospital AlemánFewer steps/more time for histotechs

+Advanced staining automation

=Improved capacity for more complex tests and techniques

Expanded test menu

Since adopting automation, Hospital Alemán:• Uses almost twice as many

antibodies, from 50 to almost 100

• Performs more tests with greater complexity and added fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH)

Enhanced protocol flexibility“The BenchMark GX gives us the flexibility to accommodate our pathologists’ individual preferences, such as light versus dark hematoxylin.”― Dr. Gabriel Casas, Director of Pathology, Hospital Alemán

Individual slide heater pads +Selectable protocol options

+Random access barcode technology

=Enhanced protocol flexibility

Enhanced patient safety

• Virtually eliminates cross-contamination risk during IHC/ISH staining

– Zero cross-contamination events since moving to automation at Hospital Alemán

• Barcodes help ensure the right test for the right patient every time

Customer profile & results summary

Detailed benefits analysis

Economic value

Economic value “If you’re thinking only about cost only in terms of manual versus automation, you’re not seeing the big picture… Remember it helps eliminates problems and reduces risks, and the associated savings and other benefits gained offset the cost.”

“It’s a one-way trip – you won’t ever want to go back.”― Dr. Gabriel Casas, Director of Pathology, Hospital AlemánImproved quality and confidence in diagnosis

+Reduced TAT

+Patient safety risk mitigation

+Labor savings for technicians and pathologists

=A very worthwhile investment

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