Vertical Sample Transportation enables workflow continuity

A game-changer solution by Inpeco for multi-story laboratories – the experience of Viollier, a Swiss reference laboratory.

When the Viollier lab (in Allschwil – CH) expanded its footprint within a new building, its multi-specialty Core laboratory – powered by a Total Laboratory Automation track – was moved onto the first floor. The accessioning area remained on the ground floor, for quick and convenient connection with the vans and couriers that deliver the specimens.

Stairs and elevators were a barrier to a quick and error-free process flow until Viollier installed a Vertical Transportation Module (VTM), the Inpeco solution that extends the advantages of the automation track to other floors.

Today, the VTM connects the accessioning area (where a dedicated automation system routes the tubes through the check-in steps) to the corelab on the upper floor, ensuring seamless and safe interchange between the two systems, without unloading the tubes from their carriers.

Viollier is now experiencing full process traceability, shorter turnaround times, and a smarter layout design. The VTM has limited the risk of delays in testing execution: “The Vertical Transportation Module has eliminated the critical decision of when-to-move the tubes to the upper floor, that was fully in the hands of the operators; racks were only moved to the other floors when they were filled and/or the technician had time. Now, tubes enter the automation line as soon as they are checked in, thus avoiding any delay that might compromise the quality of the sample.”

For us, the most important benefit of the VTM is the continuous loading of tubes – that is, workflow continuity.

Dr Maurice Redondo

Viollier’s technicians no longer need to push carts loaded with racks in and out of elevators with the risk of bumping, losing, and contaminating samples. “In the rush hour, you can imagine how many times they were going up and down the elevator! They couldn’t do any other task, then transporting racks with tubes. With the VTM, the accessioning is now very organized, clean and quick.” – says Ms Vera Andrist, Head of the Sample Entry Department.

The VTM has ensured workflow continuity at Viollier, thus contributing to achieving the company’s quality goal of a “one-touch workflow”. Today, lab personnel handle tubes manually only once, when removing them from their plastic bags, thereby reducing the possibility of human error during testing.

This transportation module is currently available on FlexLab systems for high throughput.