IDENTEC SOLUTIONS Technology Used To Secure The Safe Analysis Of Medical Samples
Up to 30,000 blood and tissue samples arrive daily at the Medical Care Center of Dr. Stein & Kollegen, headquartered in Moenchengladbach, Germany for examination. The medical samples are transported from various doctors' offices, hospitals and other laboratories in approximately 600 special transport containers. Particular attention must be paid to shipping as temperature fluctuations can cause the transported samples to be unusable. As a result, Dr. Stein & Kollegen's Medical Care Centre's laboratory deployed a wireless sensor network that utilizes RFID technology to address particularly this issue. The specifically designed system was the result a technology partnership that included IDENTEC SOLUTIONS and the system house PCO, who jointly developed a solution that documented transport and temperature gradation.
Automatic temperature control
Two and a half years ago, the team at Dr. Stein & Kollegen were searching for a solution that would simplify existing processes and provide a reliable quality assurance tool. Preliminary consideration was also given to a manual temperature logger, and a recording device. However, the manual reading of the data would have caused a high staff effort and was open to error. For that reason, Dr. Stein & Kollegen's laboratory decided instead to deploy an RFID based solution.
The project technology partners IDENTEC SOLUTIONS and PCO demonstrated what active transponders with a connected temperature sensor can achieve. "On the one hand, our technology is deployed for use in industrial labs for automated control of temperature-sensitive inventory, such as refrigerators and incubators," said Gerhard Schedler, CEO of IDENTEC SOLUTIONS, "And on the other, this system enables the very specific track and temperature monitoring of highly-sensitive medical sample containers during transport. It is a clear reflection of how flexible our technology is, and the benefit of working with a partner to help deliver our customers the ultimate solution."
High Quality
Additional safety features include an alarm system, which forwards an error message in an electronic form to supervising personnel. "If we will receive from a supplier, for example solvent for analysis, and during transport the predetermined temperature limits are not strictly adhered to, often times we will fine all samples unfortunately unusable," states Axel Klömpges, Head of Logistics at Dr. Stein + Kollegen. The negative financial consequences of damaged samples as well as the challenge of dealing with lost or missing deliveries were instantly addressed with the IDENTEC SOLUTIONS and PCO system . Further benefit was achieved by eliminating the significant human resource burden previously required with tracking shipments. "With the introduction of the IDENTEC SOLUTIONS &
PCO sytem, we saved about 15 to 20 hours in comparison to a manual temperature readout," says Klömpges.
Since early March, the solution is fully deployed. And now the logistics manager is enthused: "The implementation of active RFID meant for us, a quantum leap in safety analysis."
About IDENTEC SOLUTIONS
IDENTEC SOLUTIONS is the global leader in industrial wireless network based technology. Since 1999, IDENTEC SOLUTIONS robust, low-powered systems have delivered the ultimate in visibility and control to a variety of organizations, including an impressive roster of Fortune 500 clients that include Siemens, Bechtel, Volkswagen, Audi, Deutsche Post, General Electric as well as government agencies including the United States Department of Defense. From medical laboraties, to the rebuilding of New York Trade Center to safe guarding lives on remote oil platforms - IDENTEC SOLUTIONS' proprietary ILR network and technology delivers when others cannot.
Privately held, IDENTEC SOLUTIONS' corporate office is located in Lustenau, Austria, with the company's North American headquarters located in Dallas, Texas, and customer service centers in Germany, Australia and Norway. For more information, please visit www.identecsolutions.com.
About Dr. Stein + Kollegen
With fourteen doctors working in the areas of laboratory medicine, microbiology, bacteriology, virology, transfusion medicine and human genetics - Dr. Stein + Kollegen is one of the largest specialized-medical laboratories in Germany. Over 85 hospitals, and more than 100 medical services, health boards and other laboratory physicians are regularly provided with the centers specialized analysis and reports. Dr. Stein + Kollegen employs over 350 highly trained medical personnel in their various laboratories including Mönchengladbach. For more information, visit: www.labor-stein.de.
About PCO
The Osnabrück based subsidiary of Hellmann Worldwide Logistics has evolved since its inception in 1984 into a full-service provider of integrated IT solutions. Focused in the areas of server and desktop virtualization, application delivery, security and IT services that include complex bar code, RFID and wireless solutions. Their service portfolio includes all services ranging from feasibility studies on process analysis, consulting and programming, project management, technical service, and Software as a Service - SaaS. For more information please visit www.pco-online.de.
SOURCE: IDENTEC SOLUTIONS