Better Value & Economy is not always Lower Initial Cost…
Take a Closer Look At Operating Cost, Consumable Cost,Value Aided Clinical Parameters Reported By Instrument before choosing a Hematology Analyzer
Hematology cell counters continue to provide an ever-broader scope of capabilities.Technologies that were leading edge a few years ago, such as three part differential enumeration, are now routine.
Those selecting hematology instruments can no longer base their decisions solely on the lowest-price instrument. Operating Costs of the instruments, Technology,Upgradability to walk away operation considerations should and may dominate.
For rural labs operational considerations may be paramount—Lower requirement of consumables, reliability, high-throughput, easy-to-use instrumentation, future upgradability may be more crucial than having all the lowest priced, instrument having more consumable requirements.
For 25 years, the Holy Grail in the automated counting of the WBC differential has been the enumeration/quantification of immature Granulocytes. The availability of cost effective technologies like four part differential Analyzers, may outweigh a higher cost-per-test on CBCs associated with traditional 5 part Differential Analyzer.
When it comes to making prudent and effective hematology analyzer purchasing decisions that balance your diagnostic and budgetary considerations.
· Any laboratory considering automation should take the following steps:
· Map out your current workflow and process.
· Examine the entire process from specimen receipt to result.
· Check the number of clinically useful Parameters reported by analyzers.
· Check if the analyzer can be upgraded to Walk Away System in future to meet the need of your increasing workload demands.
· Study the vendor options and their impact on your laboratory.
· Consider the analyzers carefully because they are the potential bottlenecks like hidden costs involved consumables with low priced instruments.