211 - “Shared Resource Laboratory” consolidation of cytofluorimetric diagnostics in Area Vasta Romagna
Autor(s): F. Monti, M. Rosetti, G. Poletti, A.Clementoni, A. Zucchini, D. Conti, P. Masperi, R.M. Dorizzi
Issue: RIMeL - IJLaM, Vol. 6, N. 3, 2010 (MAF Servizi srl ed.)
Page(s): 211-5
Background. In the recent years diagnostic biotechnology rapidly evolved and today includes an increasingly sophisticated and complex approach. This required the development of the so called “Shared Resource Laboratory (SRL)”, a “core” laboratory equipped with highly skilled operators and advanced instrumentation in order to enhance the scope and the quality of the laboratory services. Materials and methods. Central Laboratory of Area Vasta Romagna is a subregional reference laboratory providing diagnostic activity for an area with about one million inhabitants. In the present study we describe the results of the consolidation of 4 local Flow cytometry laboratories dealing with immunodeficiencies and lung diseases. In the first trimester of activity (May-July 2009), 3338 samples have been assayed: 3114 tests for lymphocyte subpopulations in blood and 224 samples in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALf). The assays have been carried out using Cytomics FC 500 cytofluorimeters (Beckman Coulter, Miami, FL, USA). Results. In the investigated trimester we saved 9200 euros for the monoclonal antibodies required for the testing in blood and 3288 euros for the testing in BALf. The total number of flow cytometry instruments have been reduced from six to two saving 63382 euro. Conclusions. The consolidation of the cytofluorimetric testing caused saving in reagents and analyzer rentals confirming the efficiency of the proposed model in diagnostic laboratory service.
Key-words: shared resource laboratory, flow cytometry, immunodeficiency, bronchoalveolar lavage fluid.