Michael McHale , 2025-04-25 07:30:00
Development means that Tallaght laboratory ‘future-proofed’ for expected increases in demand
The installation of cutting-edge sample testing technology is set to significantly increase a Dublin hospital’s capacity to test patient samples.
The Cellular Pathology Laboratory at Tallaght University Hospital (TUH) recently introduced the Axlab AS-410 M, auto slide preparation system.
TUH is the first site in Ireland to introduce this vital piece of new equipment. The purchase was funded by BowelScreen, a national programme which first began at the west Dublin hospital.
The main benefit of the Axlab AS-410M is that it can automate one of the most time-consuming, manual, and repetitive tasks in the lab. The fully automatic sectioning device is capable of cutting up to 96 paraffin blocks as well as delivering 400 sections mounted on slides, registered, dried and ready for further analysis, all in between four and six hours.
“Our fab receives about 65,000 patient samples per year,” said TUH chief medical scientist Sarah Delaney.
“One patient sample could need up to 20 blocks, depending on the sample type. Each block could produce 1-20 slides. Before the arrival of the new technology, our laboratory had a shortfall of 160 blocks a day. We will now be in a position to create 200-300 blocks per day, so we are somewhat future-proofed for increased demand as our services grow.”
TUH is currently in an expansion phase, increasing capacity in areas such as dermatology, gynaecology, surgery, and endoscopy, all of which directly impact the demand for cellular pathology testing in the hospital laboratory. Additionally, the complexity of testing has increased and is expected to continue rising, putting additional demands on the service.
Due to this expansion, in recent years the demand to test patient samples in TUH has increased by almost 25 per cent. With the introduction of this new equipment, the Hospital’s Cellular Pathology Lab will now have the increased testing capacity to meet current and future demands and will no longer need to outsource work.
“The installation of this advanced piece of equipment marks a significant step forward for the service,” said interim CEO of TUH John Kelly.
“It will enable us to efficiently handle increased workloads and tackle unexpected challenges, such as busy periods, equipment breakdowns, and staff leave. This technology empowers our skilled laboratory staff to be freed up from manual tasks to focus on more complex responsibilities while ensuring continued compliance with mandatory training standards”.
