Many clinical labs worldwide are converting to total laboratory automation, based on strong evidence that automation not only heightens profitability but also improves quality, timeliness, and lab flexibility. Over 80% of hematology and routine clinical chemistry can now be completely automatically analyzed. Development of automation is still needed in infectious disease and molecular diagnostics. Because sequence analysis will be increasingly necessary, there is a move to develop automated workcells that perform nucleic acid extraction and analytics, and some are available.

• The U.S. division of the Japanese conglomerate Olympus, the Olympus Diagnostic Systems Group (Melville, NY) offers the OLA4000? workcell lab automation system, which is a workcell laboratory automation solution designed for medium- and high-volume hospital and commercial reference laboratories. This system fully automates labor-intensive specimen processing tasks within the chemistry-immunochemistry work area, including sample identification, centrifugation, decapping, and output sorting of specimen tubes. It also integrates two Olympus AU analyzers for automated rack loading and unloading along with centralized data processing. The throughput is 400 tubes per hour for preanalytical processes. The system uses high-speed robotics and Windows NT^® operating software. A specimen tracking feature enables quick identification of samples while reducing biohazards for laboratory personnel. The flexible, modular design of the OLA4000 allows it to be fully integrated with any combination of two Olympus AU640? and AU2700? chemistry-immuno systems. The workcell solution integrates the analyzers into a single-user interface for the entire sample testing process.
• Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics (Deerfield, IL) offers a range of analytical automation solutions for chemistry and/or immunoassay automation. ADVIA Automation solutions is a multidiscipline system offering high capacity and increased throughput, and fully integrates with specimen processing management, centrifugation, and decapping. StreamLAB^® Automation Solutions allows a streamlined workflow by automating manual steps with highly flexible, compact configurations for efficient space utilization and minimal lab disruption during implementation. Aptio? Automation is a unified solution developed expressly for the changing workload and expanding needs of the clinical laboratory. It combines peak performance, adaptability, and intelligent technology with maximized automated workflow. The VersaCell^® System provides a unique sample management technology that works differently from other systems to increase workflow efficiency for chemistry and/or immunoassay testing.
• BD Diagnostics (Sparks, MD) offers the BD MAX? System, which provides fully automated testing for molecular diagnostics. Enabling walk-away and on-demand workflow, the system fully automates cell lysis; nucleic acid extraction; and PCR setup, amplification, and detection. Its features include the ability to perform multiple assays and multiple specimen types simultaneously, run up to 24 samples simultaneously, and provide on-demand capability. BD Diagnostics offers the FDA-cleared MD MAX GBS assay, which is run on the BD MAX and detects Group B Streptococcus DNA in Lim Broth cultures obtained from vaginal/rectal swab specimens from antepartum pregnant women. In addition, the company offers BD MAX Open System Reagents, which consist of multiple-sample-type extraction reagents for DNA and RNA. The BD MAX System is also cleared or approved by the FDA when used with BD MAX IVD assays that have been cleared or approved by the FDA.