New Zealand: Laboratory ready for any pandemic

December 10, 2012
Press Release – Waikato District Health Board
The high-tech lab service, which carried out more than 7 million tests last year and is now capable of far more, includes a special containment lab for testing suspected infectious samples. It’s one of only two PC3 labs in New Zealand hospitals.Media Release
10 December, 2012
Laboratory ready for any pandemic
Waikato Hospital’s redeveloped laboratory will have a pivotal role in any national pandemic.
The high-tech lab service, which carried out more than 7 million tests last year and is now capable of far more, includes a special containment lab for testing suspected infectious samples. It’s one of only two PC3 labs in New Zealand hospitals.
It is currently used for the testing of tuberculosis but could quickly become a national testing base in an emergency, such as a bird flu or SARS outbreak.
The laboratory has had a $10 million revamp in the past four years, with a new open plan layout developed, paving the way for a major upgrade of the main biochemistry analysers for testing blood samples. That went hand-in-hand with a new lab information system which together set up the laboratory to cope with future demands.
“There’s been a real change in the way we work and in our processes,” says group manager for Clinical and Support Services, Melinda Ch’ng.
“This has been an investment in front-end technology which will take us into the future.”
The new part-robotic testing system has been the baby of Mark Jones, a medical lab scientist in charge of automation. He says the improvements in productivity and efficiency are an immediate payback.
“It’s been a success from day one.”
None of the redevelopment came easily. The laboratory runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, employing 170 staff, so testing work had to continue while the build and installation went on.
Other DHBs have been taking an interest in the new lab setup, while the National Health Board has been “tremendously supportive”, Melinda says.
Laboratory Services manager Kay Stockman says there’s still scope for further refinement of the information system. “This is the most advanced laboratory information system in New Zealand and will allow further technological advances when fully developed.”
The information system, the first of its kind in Australasia, had modifications to meet Waikato and national requirements and follows the DHB’s “paperlite” principle with most requests scanned in and results sent out electronically.
The laboratory, which also has outposts at Thames, Tokoroa, Te Kuiti and Taumarunui hospitals, does specialist testing for the Midland region, works closely with the privately owned Pathlab in Hamilton, doing after-hours work, and can support Auckland labs when required.
Melinda says the five Waikato DHB labs now function seamlessly under the new integrated process.
“The laboratory is a complex business and the new information system, analysers and refurbishment support, streamline and strengthen work processes,” she says.
ENDS