As hospitals continue to feel pressures from managed care on their budgets, laboratory directors in turn must search for strategies to reduce costs. Lab automation can be an effective tool to this end by helping to lower labor costs, reduce error rates, increase analytical speed, allow increased capacity at little additional cost, and reduce sample use. In making the decision to automate processes, laboratorians need to evaluate not only the financial aspects of automation equipment, but also modular versus total automation options.

A fully automated system can perform most laboratory tasks without human interaction, while a modular approach automates only targeted functions. Modular devices are especially well-suited for automating front-end processes such as labeling, centrifugation, sorting, and aliquoting specimens. One advantage of the modular strategy is that it spreads the cost of automating over a longer period of time and allows the laboratory to adopt a wait-and-see attitude with respect to the need for a larger system. The decision to use a modular, phased-in approach instead of purchasing a completely automated system depends on the size of the laboratory, throughput needs, and anticipated laboratory growth.

The following links are offered to provide information regarding laboratory automation, but their inclusion here does not indicate an endorsement from AACC.