Development of a robotic near patient testing laboratory.

Many laboratories have centralized critical care services to conserve resources, but centralization has often been at the expense of providing optimized patient care. We have created a remotely controlled clinical laboratory that provides whole blood analysis of blood gases (PCO2, PO2), pH, electrolytes (Na+, K+, Cl-), glucose, and hemoglobin near the patient's beside, while maintaining the distinct advantage of central laboratory control. The automated remote laboratory provides extremely rapid turnaround times, eliminates the cost of labor for specimen processing, reduces the risk from contaminated specimens, reduces staff training, and results in improved patient care.