Medical Laboratory Technology The Use of Computers in Diagnostic Testing

Overview What is Medical Technology? The First Automated Analyzer A New Era The Layers of Laboratory Computer Systems The “Lego” in the Lab The Future of Diagnostic Medicine - OLIS

What is an MLT? Medical laboratory technologists (MLTs) play a critical role in the health system by performing lab tests on blood, body fluids, cells and tissues – nearly half a million in Ontario each day. MLTs in various specialties collect and process specimens, analyze results, and interpret findings. The knowledge and expertise of the MLT contributes to innovation in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases and medical conditions.

Every MLT is a regulated health care professional as mandated by the Regulated Health Professions Act, 1991. In accordance with the legislation, MLTs have a defined scope of practice, which includes authorization to perform a medical act. MLTs meet strict safety and ethical standards and are held accountable for their conduct and practice, so the public can have confidence in their lab tests.

Laboratory Tests Chemistry Glucose Cholesterol/Triglyceride Hormones Enzymes Hematology CBC Coagulation Toxicology, Microbiology, Pathology, Cytology, Transfusion Medicine

The Beginnings of Automation Wallace H. Coulter – The Coulter Counter Based on the impedance principle Still the main principle in 98% of today’s automated technology

A New Era The Coulter Counter The Unicell DxH 800

Unicell DxH 800 High Definition Cellular Analysis on the UniCel DxH 800 provides four times greater resolution and achieves new levels of performance Flow Cytometric Digital Morphology (FCDM) optimizes performance by providing 10 times more data per sample than existing technologies, allowing reduced review rates With its multi-angle scatter technology, onboard reagents and new advanced algorithms, the UniCel DxH 800 provides an unrivaled NRBC, with no need for special or expensive stains Using its data fusion capability, the system will correct for most of the common interferences in today’s laboratory, ensuring first-pass accuracy and efficiency

Enhanced Result Reporting Traditional Scatter Plot Unicell DxH 800

The Layers of Laboratory Systems Embedded software within instrumentation Instrumentation Workstations Middleware – The Translator LIS – Laboratory Information Systems E- reporting

The Lego in the Lab Modular systems that allow complete customization of instrumentation Fits together like lego Provides enhanced high volume testing Utilizes the latest testing technologies and computing systems

Roche Modular Pre-analytical line with two testing lines.

OLIS – The Future of Diagnostic testing The first phase of OLIS, the foundation adopters program, has connected seven foundation adopters – four hospitals (Grey Bruce Health Services, Trillium Health Centre, Lakeridge Health Corporation, and University Health Network), representing 23 hospital sites, and three community laboratories (CML HealthCare Inc., Gamma Dynacare Medical Laboratories, and LifeLabs LP). Over 821 million results for approximately 8.8 million Ontarians are in the OLIS database Implementation is underway to integrate the Ontario Agency for Health Protection and Promotion (OAHPP) laboratory information system for the purpose of submitting public health laboratory data into OLIS.

Next Steps Mount Sinai Hospital to connect to OLIS in the near future as part of the ConnectingGTA project. Deployment for remaining hospitals and labs, and continued implementation activities for the integration of OLIS into public health laboratories. The next phase of the ConnectingGTA project will focus on the implementation activities required to feed laboratory data into OLIS from another seven hospital organizations in the GTA. The ConnectingGTA project has initiated activities to provide a group of health service providers with view access to OLIS data for clinical use across the GTA LHINs. Planning and implementation projects are also underway with Alpha Laboratories, the North East LHIN, the North West LHIN, as well as in the South West LHIN with London Health Sciences Centre.

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