A-280 Effect of Panther® Link Software on Operational Efficiency in a Large Clinical Laboratory

Abstract Background The Hologic Panther is a fully automated, random access and continuous loading instrument for the molecular detection of targets such as human papillomavirus (HPV), Chlamydia trachomatis (CT), Neisseria gonorrhea (NG) and Trichomonas vaginalis (TV). It is commonly used in clinical laboratories and larger laboratories often have multiple Panther instruments. One challenge for laboratories with multiple instruments is monitoring the status of each instrument with respect to tasks such as reagent management and locating pending specimens. Such tasks can be time consuming especially when each instrument must be checked individually to complete a particular task. The Panther Link is a new software program designed to provide an online dashboard for real-time monitoring of up to 64 network-connected instruments as well as data sharing between up to 16 instruments. Such monitoring would purportedly improve operational efficiency by decreasing labor time and decreasing reagent utilization. This project aims to study the effect of the Link software on the operational efficiency at a Quest Diagnostics laboratory in West Hills, California. The null hypothesis is that the Link software will have no effect on operational efficiency. Methods To study the effect on labor time, six routine tasks for the operation and maintenance of 13 Panther Plus instruments were independently performed by two or three Quest Diagnostics employees before and after Link implementation. The six tasks were: 1) new lot registration; 2) reagent management (unloading, labeling and storing partially-used kits); 3) archiving of results; 4) monitoring preventive-maintenance schedules; 5) updating pending lists and locating pending specimens; 6) instrument checks for reagents, consumables and waste. Calculations were made for mean time for task completion, time savings per task and overall time savings. To study the effect on reagent utilization, the quantity of reagent used was calculated before and after Link implementation for seven tests: 1) human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype; 2) bacterial vaginosis; 3) CT/NG; 4) Candida vaginitis/TV; 5) HPV E6/E7; 6) Mycoplasma genitalium; 7) TV. Index values were calculated as a ratio (number of reagent cartridges used divided by the number of tests performed) and were weighted based on test volume. Post-Link values were then assessed relative to the 95% confidence intervals (CI) for pre-Link values. Results With the Link software, the mean time savings per task ranged from 39% to 87%. The overall mean time savings for all tasks was 62% (95% CI: 46% - 78%). For reagent utilization, the post-Link index values for four out of seven tests were within the 95% CI of the pre-Link values. Of the three outside the CI, one had a higher post-Link value while two had lower values. The null hypothesis is rejected for time savings but not reagent utilization. Conclusion The Link system improved operational efficiency with respect to labor savings but not reagent utilization.