Abstract
Abbott Laboratories (Abbott Park, IL): The AxSYM immunoassay analyzer has been linked to the Coutler/IDS Model CLA (Coulter Corporation, Miami, FL) laboratory automation system to allow automatic loading and unloading of the AxSym analyzer.
The automated interface was developed at the Medical Automation Research Center (The University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA). The automated system can accept one or two AxSYM analyzers depending on the throughput needs of the laboratory. At the heart of the AxSYM automation is a CRS (Burlington, Ontario, Canada) robotic arm that is used to remove specimens from the model CLA, place them in an AxSYM sample agent, load the analyzer, and then automatically unload the finished specimens and return them to the Coulter/IDS.
The system is projected to load and unload up to 200 specimens per hour from and to the conveyor system. While supporting automated loading, the system allows the AxSYM analyzer(s) to run manually loaded specimens.
Minimal interfacing is required to install and operate the automated AxSYM so that the system can be up and running quickly. No physical connections are made to the Coulter/IDS thus simplifying installation and maintenance.
The system is expected to be shown at the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC) Annual Conference in Atlanta, Georgia in July and at LabAutomation in San Diego in January, 1998.