The Center for Blood Clotting Disorders and Transfusion Medicine in Bonn, Germany, Roche Diagnostics and the Munich-based start-up Smart4Diagnostics (S4DX) collaborated on a project to launch navify Sample Tracking. This cloud-based software solution is designed as a single, comprehensive tool to monitor patient samples along the entire process, from initial sampling through laboratory analysis.
The Center for Blood Clotting Disorders and Transfusion Medicine in Bonn, Germany, Roche Diagnostics and the Munich-based start-up Smart4Diagnostics (S4DX) collaborated on a project to launch Sample Tracking. This cloud-based software solution is designed as a single, comprehensive tool to monitor patient samples along the entire process, from initial sampling through laboratory analysis.
Approximately 62% of errors in laboratory diagnostics occur in the pre-pre-analytical phase1, between the moment samples are collected and received by the lab. Many providers of digital solutions are trying to help laboratories address this significant challenge. However, there has been no comprehensive solution that focuses on the end-to-end pre-pre-analytical process — until now.
In designing this project, the three collaborators examined the complete process for the collection and transport of blood samples. This included original sample collection, transportation, checking and recording patient data for sample collection (e.g. time of collection).
With Sample Tracking, CBT was able to combine all sample-relevant pre-pre-analytical data, even if the data originated from different digital tools or suppliers, and connect this data directly with the laboratory information system (LIS).
The result was greater visibility into potential sources of testing errors, enabling laboratory managers to take prompt action, when necessary, to protect the integrity of sample quality and, ultimately, the quality of test results.
In the eight-month pilot phase of Sample Tracking, 60,000 patient samples were successfully digitized. In extensive test runs, the CBT project team compared error rates when using Sample Tracking with the average error rates in pre-pre-analytical phase. The results were clear: Sample Tracking produced significant improvements by reducing errors in sample filling, incorrect patient assignments and misinterpreted orders. In addition, because Sample Tracking produces a unique digital stamp for each sample, including time of blood collection, control for each orders’ completeness was automated and made more reliable. Above all, it eliminated confusion between samples — a highly relevant result given the previous error rate of nine percent during patient identification.
For us, Sample Tracking is an essential part of value-based healthcare (VBHC) – just like the outcome measures reported by patients and collected by doctors. We are convinced that with Sample Tracking and other developments, we are making important contributions to VBHC.
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