BlockTracker and SlideTracker systems automate the sorting, storage, and retrieval of samples to improve traceability and laboratory efficiency.
Epredia announced an agreement with Canada-based manufacturer Lab Improvements to introduce automated archiving for tissue samples to US pathology laboratories. The company is adding two solutions, BlockTracker and SlideTracker, to its portfolio to provide traceability for pathology samples throughout their lifecycle.
Manual archiving of tissue samples used in cancer diagnostics can be a drain on productivity for laboratories facing rising case volumes and staffing pressures, according to a release from the company which notes that a single misfiled block or slide can stall a workflow. BlockTracker and SlideTracker are designed for pathologists and laboratory leaders at hospitals, university medical centers, reference laboratories, and cancer centers to automate the sorting, storage, and retrieval of pathology blocks and slides.
The systems allow facilities to automate a chain of custody, providing a digital and physical record of sample locations and staff interactions from the histology bench to off-site storage. BlockTracker provides high-throughput cassette archiving for laboratories and can archive up to 1,500 blocks per hour. SlideTracker replaces manual slide handling with automated archiving, loading 200 slides in less than five minutes and segmenting them by barcode.
The platform integrates with laboratory information system platforms and existing IT architecture. It also works with other company solutions, including SlideMate Laser Printers, and uses standard histology block and slide boxes. A centralized database provides analysis and reporting that staff can access from workstations within the laboratory.
“In cancer diagnostics, efficiency and confidence are both critical,” says Steven Lynum, CEO of Epredia, in a release. “With intelligent automated archiving, our customers don’t have to choose between throughput and efficiency. Epredia is offering pathology labs a way to reclaim their time and peace of mind, so they can better serve patients.”
Photo caption: BlockTracker and SlideTracker
Photo credit Epredia
