Department of Laboratory Medicine, University-Hospital, Padova, Italy.
Clin Chem Lab Med. 2010 Jul;48(7):911-7. doi: 10.1515/CCLM.2010.192.
Recent technological developments in laboratory medicine have led to a major challenge, maintaining a close connection between the search of efficiency through automation and consolidation and the assurance of effectiveness. The adoption of systems that automate most of the manual tasks characterizing routine activities has significantly improved the quality of laboratory performance; total laboratory automation being the paradigm of the idea that "human-less" robotic laboratories may allow for better operation and insuring less human errors. Furthermore, even if ongoing technological developments have considerably improved the productivity of clinical laboratories as well as reducing the turnaround time of the entire process, the value of qualified personnel remains a significant issue. Recent evidence confirms that automation allows clinical laboratories to improve analytical performances only if trained staff operate in accordance with well-defined standard operative procedures, thus assuring continuous monitoring of the analytical quality. In addition, laboratory automation may improve the appropriateness of test requests through the use of algorithms and reflex testing. This should allow the adoption of clinical and biochemical guidelines. In conclusion, in laboratory medicine, technology represents a tool for improving clinical effectiveness and patient outcomes, but it has to be managed by qualified laboratory professionals.
近年来，实验室医学领域的技术发展带来了一个重大挑战，即如何在追求效率（通过自动化和整合实现）和保证效果之间保持紧密联系。采用自动化系统来完成常规工作中的大部分手动任务，极大地提高了实验室工作的质量；全实验室自动化是“无人”机器人实验室可能实现更好运作和确保更少人为错误这一理念的典范。此外，即使不断发展的技术已经极大地提高了临床实验室的生产力并缩短了整个过程的周转时间，合格人员的价值仍然是一个重要问题。最近的证据证实，自动化只有在经过培训的人员按照明确的标准操作程序操作的情况下，才能允许临床实验室提高分析性能，从而确保对分析质量的持续监测。此外，实验室自动化可以通过使用算法和反射测试来提高检验申请的适宜性。这应该允许采用临床和生化指南。总之，在实验室医学中，技术是提高临床效果和患者结局的一种手段，但必须由合格的实验室专业人员来管理。
