This year, the ECU Health Medical Center’s microbiology laboratory upgraded its technology by adding the BD Kiestra Total Lab Automation (TLA) system. The new equipment improves standardization in laboratory processes, enhances lab efficiency and centralizes microbiology testing. This automated solution to laboratory challenges represents ECU Health’s ongoing pursuit of innovation, efficiency and process improvement.
The Kiestra TLA system is an end-to-end automated lab culture workflow from plate labeling, inoculation, incubation, plate reading, imaging, reading and follow up work, to maximizing staff productivity. “Previously, after incubating cultures, you took the plates out and read each one from the oldest to the newest, but if the culture wasn’t robust enough, the plate had to go back in the incubator,” Caryl Havasy, the system administrator of laboratory service lines, said.
Heather Duncan, the director of ECU Health Medical Center’s laboratory services, further explained the challenge. “Think about incubating plates like baking a cake in the oven,” she said. “The whole time the plate is out of the incubator, it’s not growing the organism, just like a cake stops baking once you take it out of the oven. This can delay an organism’s growth and delay the test results.”
Furthermore, reading plates was subject to human experience and error. The Kiestra, Havasy and Duncan said, takes photos of the plates and uses AI algorithms to see an organism’s growth before the human eye can detect it. “This technology means there’s no variation in how the sample is applied to a plate” Duncan said. That means there’s no delay due to rework, and there’s less room for error.
Acquiring the technology was a four-year process, which included establishing a business case, investing funds, working through construction to get the microbiology lab space ready, installing equipment and training lab technicians. The lab opened officially this past July, and on Oct. 8, the team hosted an open house to celebrate the new technology with a ribbon cutting ceremony and tours for those interested in seeing the new equipment.
It was a great opportunity for Dr. Niti Armistead, the chief quality officer and chief clinical officer at ECU Health, to see the newest technology in action. “The Kiestra is an investment in our people, specifically our laboratory and microbiology team,” she shared. “These are highly trained professionals, and this technology takes away manual, inefficient tasks and allows them to use their skills and education to the fullest extent. This in turn drives improvement in safety with fewer manual errors, efficiency and professional fulfillment. It is another example of how we are advancing our vision to be the national model for rural health as it will be processing specimens from all of our hospitals.”
Jay Briley, the president of ECU Health Medical Center, also attended the event. “It’s exciting to see ECU Health continue to invest in cutting-edge technology like the Kiestra Total Lab Automation system. The system streamlines our processes, reduces manual errors, and allows our highly skilled lab professionals to focus on what matters the most: delivering timely, life-saving results,” he said. “The Kiestra TLA system is a testament to ECU Health’s commitment to innovation and the health and well-being of our patients.”
Andy Zukowski, ECU Health’s chief financial officer, highlighted the value of ECU Health’s investment in this new technology: “The Kiestra Total Lab Automation system represents significant innovation and value for ECU Health. By streamlining our microbiology lab’s processes, it enhances the patient experience and quality of care we provide all while improving throughout and cost savings. The long-term return on investment is clear, as it positions us to continue delivering innovative high-quality care while maintaining fiscal responsibility.”