Lab automation began with the aim to free researchers from manual operations and speed up the testing process. However, it has now progressed to the point where it can now deliver precise and high-quality results that can provide additional value to the researchers.

Automation is a choice that is faced by lab owners every so often, especially the extent of its adoption in their practices. In the past technological advancement was not always as fast or frequent as it is currently. However, with globalization came a collaborative effort to advance science and research. This meant knowledge was shared and received faster, enabling the development of newer technology.

 Therefore, lab owners are often left with a choice when it comes to automation; simply choose an automated version for one process or go for adding an entire automated system for the same.

Understanding automation and its need

As a lab owner, it is not always easy to understand the level of automation needed at your facility. This answer is rooted in the type of diagnosis or research your lab does, the amount of time put into it, and how precise the outcome is. Key benefits to automating a lab range from time to efficiency. Let us explore them:

Optimization of Time: Automation, in its definition, means making a process or system work by itself without human intervention. This would mean that the lab members do not have to spend all their time doing repetitive tasks in a larger amount of time. This mundane activity could cause decreased productivity. A large amount of time could also lead to errors.

Automation in pathology is a very time-sensitive matter. The amount of time it takes to diagnose an illness can correlate equally to a patient’s wellbeing. Solutions like Panoramic Diagnostic Scanners from 3D Histech, with its unprecedented capacity and unparalleled speed, process up to 100 slides per hour. This would free up the lab resources for other important tasks.

Precise, Concise and Faultless: How much ever humans try, the error will always be part of the system. Having automated systems for taking a precise quantity of samples or recording data ensures a consistent error-free result. This, in return, also saves time for the researchers, which could be put to understanding the results better.

When you process tissue for diagnosis or clinical research, it needs to be highly accurate. Pioneering in precision technology, Slee’s fully automated microtomes allow tissue sectioning to be concise and thin layers for observation. Along with their standard components, they offer additional components that can be individually adapted to the laboratory’s needs.

Customizable Lab Automation: Laboratories can be broadly divided into diagnostic, research, and academic sections. The needs of each of these laboratories and the equipment they require may vary, and having customized automation software will help optimize their process. They can even be changed to accommodate any change in the future and evolve.

During a clinical diagnosis, the transparency and traceability of the processes are important to have at the ready. 3D Histech’s Laboratory Information System provides solutions like ‘Track and Sign Laboratory Information System‘ – which tracks the case through the entire pathology workflow or the ‘Central Log Service application,’ which provides information on scanners installed and its case managers. This level of automation in a diagnosis center can maintain an impeccable record of patients providing them the best care.

The new era of automation

In the world of AI and machine learning, the new era of automation and its future holds many possibilities. Usage of sensors and robotics has increased, making many tasks error-free in a lab. For example, a fast and accurate liquid handling system with drop detection system knows when the user runs out of source liquid and verifies dispensing volume. In addition, the no-contact technology eliminates carryover and cross-contamination.

Another area is how portable the equipment is being invented. Like the multimedia devices we use, the lab equipment is also gaining traction in reducing its sizes. Like the rapid PCR testing that was developed, one can hope to see smaller and smaller technologies that are going to be diagnosing larger elements.

The heavy automation conversation can strike up a fear in scientists that they might be replaced with them. However, lab automation is one step to make the scientists more focused on the research and provide them time to indulge in various curiosities of the universe. Human intervention is required for innovation and advancement in technology.

To answer our title’s question, automation is the friend of innovation. With a team of experts in the scientific field Leader Life Sciences enables these innovations through comprehensive solutions.  Any laboratory with an intention to revolutionize its practices for better results would adopt automation so that the lab researchers, diagnosticians, and students can play the game of knowledge.

Learn more about our partners in lab automation. Email us at helpdesk@leaderlifesciences.com , call us at +971 4 5754647 or simply leave your contact details at https://leaderlifesciences.com/contact-us/ and we will get back to you as soon as possible.