Isolated Island Achieves Health Self-Sufficiency

At the Princess Elizabeth Hospital on Guernsey, two cobas® 6000 analysers, linked to MODULAR PRE-ANALYTICS, from Roche are helping the hospital’s laboratory increase efficiency and become more self-sufficient.

With 183 different assays, Roche offers the largest menu of tests available on an automated SWA (serum work area) platform, thus providing an ideal solution for the Guernsey laboratory.

The new system has brought benefits for staff and patients alike. Previously, different platforms meant multiple blood draws – one serum tube for each of the analysers, typically three to four per patient – to try to get the work done as quickly as possible. The new streamlined workflow makes the phlebotomist’s job easier and means less discomfort for the patient.

One of the critical aspects for a laboratory in a remote location is reliability. With 99.9% of serum and urine samples being processed by the automated system, this was a major factor in the lab team’s decision. “The cobas® e-link remote diagnostics, which allows Roche technicians to interrogate, diagnose and often resolve issues without having to fly in to the site, was also seen as a benefit for our island laboratory”, added Nigel. Despite their special circumstances, Nigel and his staff know that with Roche’s superior technology, reliability and support, they are not cut off from the world.