Patients in the Burnaby community will benefit from faster lab results as Burnaby Hospital’s Laboratory Team now has access to new technology designed to help streamline laboratory operations.
Photo (from left to right): Dr. Carolyn Shiau, regional medical director, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Program, and Jackie Jarvi, lab technologist, Burnaby Hospital
The new $1.5 million Beckman Autoline DxA 5000 system features a conveyor that moves test tubes between analyzers, enabling efficient and consistent processing of samples. Barcode scanning identifies samples and automatically performs the required tests, ensuring precision and reliability in the results.
"The Autoline moves the sample through various stages on a conveyor-like system, like a little train track. This is taking the most basic routine work and automating it," says Dr. Richard Cleve, regional division head of Medical Biochemistry, Fraser Health. “It's efficient and keeps our laboratory staff focused on more complex tasks."
The Burnaby Hospital Laboratory processed more than two million tests last year, and with the continued population growth in the community, it’s expected even more tests will be performed this year.
“Many patient care decisions rely on lab results, and now we can provide those faster due to automation helping with simpler tests,” says Dr. Carolyn Shiau, regional medical director, Laboratory Medicine and Pathology Program for Fraser Health. “This will increase capacity and allow our Laboratory Team to dedicate more time to more complex laboratory testing.”
In addition to providing faster lab results, the new system enhances laboratory safety practices by reducing staff exposure risks that can happen in laboratory work. Laboratory technologists no longer need to handle as many samples as this occurs within the analyzer.
“Introducing new automated systems is a part of the laboratory technology advancement,” says Devena Steinmann, senior director, Laboratory Operations, Provincial Laboratory Medicine Services. “We want to introduce tools and processes such as the Beckman Autoline DxA 5000 automation system to improve the provider experience for our laboratory teams and overall system efficiency for our patients.”
Burnaby is the first of four sites in the Fraser Health region to receive the Beckman Autoline DxA 5000 system in 2024. Royal Columbian Hospital, Surrey Memorial Hospital and Abbotsford Regional Hospital will receive the new Autoline systems early next year.
About Fraser Health
We recognize that Fraser Health provides care on the traditional, ancestral and unceded lands of the Coast Salish and Nlaka’pamux Nations and is home to 32 First Nations within the Fraser Salish region.
Fraser Health is dedicated to serving all Indigenous people, and honours the unique cultures of the First Nations, Métis and Inuit living within the Fraser Salish region.
Our hospital and community-based services are delivered by a team of 48,000+ staff, medical staff and volunteers dedicated to serving our patients, families and communities.