The Clinical Core Laboratory located on the second floor of the Connecticut Tower serves the hospital’s inpatient and outpatient population from 8 different locations. The core laboratory functions 24 hours and performs testing on different sample types such as, serum, plasma, urine, spinal fluid, and other body fluid samples.

The high throughput analyzers for chemistry, immunochemistry, and hematology allows for an uninterrupted daily testing service to our patient population. The robotic process sorts, tests, and stores patient specimens without human manipulation thereby reducing handling and transcription errors. The automation is able to locate a single vial of blood for addition or repeat testing in a matter of seconds. An integrated data-management system identifies specimens that require intervention by a technologist and allows results that fit preprogrammed guidelines per individual patient to be reported immediately.

The automated system enables a continuous work-flow process that reduces specimen wait times, ensures accurate and timely electronic reporting of laboratory results and reduces biohazard exposures for laboratory staff. At present, accurate results can be obtained in a matter of a few minutes for 121 laboratory tests performed on one, or at most two, small vials of blood.