DPC's Sample Management System—Increased Sample Flexibility and Track Connectivity

Since the release of the Sample Management System (SMS™), DPC has continued to develop and enhance the functionality of this device to increase user walk-away time and reduce operator intervention. As part of this development, the SMS can now use alternative sample racks from clinical chemistry systems such as Olympus and Hitachi. Additionally, DPC has entered into agreements with Dade Behring and Thermo Electron Corporation which take advantage of the flexibility of the SMS to connect with automation systems for enhanced laboratory workflow management and productivity.

Increased on-board sample capacity
The SMS is designed as an optional robotic device that can transfer sample tubes to and from the IMMULITE^® 2000 or IMMULITE^® 2500. The unit consists of a robotic framework with the look and feel of these IMMULITE^® instruments. The SMS has four drawers containing removable sample rack carriers that can accommodate DPC generic racks in a configuration of five racks of ten samples each, giving the system a total sample capacity of 200 samples-more than double the sample capacity of the IMMULITE 2000 or IMMULITE 2500. Additionally, the SMS's independent user interface displays the status of all tubes aboard the SMS at a glance, improving sample management and tracking.

Accommodation of chemistry system rack carriers
The SMS now has rack carriers that will accept Olympus and Hitachi racks, which can be used either with or without DPC rack carriers or in any combination. These alternative rack carriers increase not only the capacity of the IMMULITE systems but also their flexibility: samples that have been run on a chemistry system can be loaded onto the SMS-without reshuffling or resorting. The operator may remove and replace any of the rack carriers or racks at any time without interrupting sample processing.

DPC rack carrier	Olympus rack carrier	Hitachi rack carrier

SMS connection with Thermo TCAutomation
The versatility and integrity of the SMS design allows for the continuity of an extensive development program. The SMS can be connected to any open total laboratory automation (TLA), track or workcell system, providing laboratories with the flexibility to meet many of their automation needs. As part of this development strategy, DPC and Thermo Electron Corporation have agreed to market and distribute the connection of the DPC IMMULITE 2000 or IMMULITE 2500 SMS to the Thermo TCAutomation laboratory automation system in several European countries. This combined system, called the DPC LabStation, will be previewed at the upcoming Journées Internationales de Biologie (JIB) congress this November in Paris, France.

SMS connection with Dade Behring StreamLAB^® Analytical Workcell
In another development, DPC has entered into a comarketing arrangement in the United States with Dade Behring to enable connection of the IMMULITE 2000 or IMMULITE 2500 SMS to Dade Behring's StreamLAB Analytical Workcell. Such a workcell provides laboratories with significant advantages. Dade Behring is a company that is firmly established in the US clinical chemistry market, and the combination of its menu with that of DPC provides customers access to one of the largest and most diversified offerings of high-quality chemistry and immunoassay tests currently available. Within the StreamLAB Analytical Workcell, the connection of DPC's IMMULITE 2000 or IMMULITE 2500 SMS with Dade Behring's RxL Max™ systems offers customers a combined test menu of more than 150 clinical chemistry and immunoassay methods, covering approximately 98 percent of all lab tests requested. Other advantages of the StreamLAB Analytical Workcell include labor-efficient workflow management of samples from a single operator interface and a user-friendly but extremely space-efficient footprint. Together with intelligent sample routing for optimized throughput and turnaround time, the StreamLAB Analytical Workcell is designed to provide maximum productivity per square foot.

The StreamLAB Analytical Workcell integrating the IMMULITE 2500 SMS was previewed at the 2004 annual meeting of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) in Los Angeles in July. The first installation of this combined system is anticipated to occur in the first quarter of 2005. Although this agreement is primarily for the US market, global support will be available from DPC for any customer who wishes to connect an IMMULITE 2000 or IMMULITE 2500 SMS to the StreamLAB Analytical Workcell.

The Dade Behring and Thermo Electron Corporation agreements constitute an extremely important step forward for DPC to provide laboratories with customized solutions to their automation needs. For more information about these partnerships and the flexibility of the SMS, please contact your local DPC representative.