JP2002156380A - Sample test automation system - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [PROBLEMS] In a sample test automation system, it is difficult to predict the time from sample pre-processing to completion of analysis by an analyzer due to various conditions. Statistically predict this time from past accumulated data,
By presenting to the operator, other work can be engaged in the waiting time, and the work can be performed efficiently. A processing time database for accumulating past data stores the conditions required for measurement (request item, rack type, measurement time / day of the week), as well as the time required from sample input to analysis result output. The processing time calculation unit predicts the result report time based on the statistical data and the current condition of the input sample, and displays the result report time on the screen.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an automatic analyzer used in a clinical test, and more particularly to a method and a system for processing data obtained by the automatic analyzer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Automatic analyzers for automatically analyzing samples such as blood and urine have been introduced in many hospitals and test centers in order to save labor and increase the efficiency of hospital tests. In such an apparatus, when a sample is put into the apparatus, the results are automatically reported, but it is not known when the analysis is completed and the results are reported. If the time at which the result of the target specimen is output is known to the laboratory technician, the doctor, the nurse, and the like, other work can be engaged in the waiting time, and the work can be performed efficiently. In order to solve such a problem, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 7-280815 discloses an analysis input time of a sample for which an analysis end time is to be determined, and an analysis time of each sample in each analyzer at that time. A method for calculating an analysis end time of the sample is disclosed.

[0003]

The above method is an excellent method for accurately calculating the analysis end time when the number of samples for which the end time is desired is small. However, in an automatic analysis system in which a large number of samples to be known exist and a plurality of analyzers are connected, there is a problem that calculation becomes complicated and calculation software for corresponding thereto becomes complicated.

[0004] In addition, in a clinical test department operating an automatic analyzer, how long a certain test takes is considered.
Further, there are cases where it is desired to know statistical data such as how the time required for the analysis for each day of the week and time changes. This allows for efficient placement of laboratory technicians (changing the number of personnel for each day of the week and hour), efficient operation of the system (to determine whether or not the number of analyzers needs to be increased, Outsourcing). The above method could not meet such a demand.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to roughly estimate the time from sample introduction to result output under various conditions (test items, test days of the week, time zones, etc.), and thereby to provide a simple configuration and a rough structure. Another object of the present invention is to provide an automatic analysis system capable of predicting an end time of an analysis and enabling efficient arrangement of a laboratory technician and efficient operation of the apparatus.

[0006]

According to the present invention, there is provided, in accordance with the present invention, a container containing a sample, a rack on which the container is mounted, a rack supply for supplying the rack, and A rack storage unit for storing the completed rack,
In an automatic analysis system having a plurality of analyzers and a transport line for transporting the rack to a pre-processing device, the time required from the time when a sample is put into the automatic analysis system for analysis to the time when analysis is completed is measured. A storage unit for storing information including at least one of a request item of a sample to be performed, a type of rack on which samples having different properties are installed, a day of the week to be measured, and a time zone, and the information stored in the storage unit is stored. An automatic analysis system having a data processing function is provided.

[0007]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The features of the present invention are as follows.

[0008] Each module (centrifuge, opener, dispenser, bar code labeling device, etc.) from the rack supply unit to the analyzer is connected to the information processing system which is the operation unit of the sample test automation system. On the other hand, the arrival time and processing end time of each sample are reported. In addition, each analyzer inquires of an analysis request item upon arrival of a sample,
When the result is output, it is reported to the information processing system.

The information processing system has a database for accumulating past performance data for calculating processing time. The database stores (1) the time required for the processing for each set item in which the request items are grouped in advance and registered, and (2) a table holding the average value of each set item. It has a table that stores the processing time in the data storage area divided for each time zone and holds the average value. (The reason why the input time and the day of the week are used as the parameters for the prediction calculation is that the number of processed samples in the laboratory has specificity depending on the day of the week and time of day.) In each table, the data is the rack type (general or general). Emergency). Upon receiving the report from each module of the sample test preprocessing system and the automatic analyzer, the data is stored in each table and necessary calculations are performed.

[0010] In the information processing system, based on the information of the database and the information of the sample for which the predicted end time is to be calculated (the number of requested items, the type of rack in which the sample is installed, the input time, the day of the week), Has a processing time calculation unit for predicting and calculating the time required for the analysis to be completed.

The information processing system has a screen for displaying a predicted processing end time, and displays a predicted end time calculated by the processing time calculation unit by inputting a target sample number.

An automatic analysis system having the above-described features will be specifically described below.

FIG. 1 is a partially omitted block diagram of a sample test automation system to which an embodiment of the present invention is applied.

The sample test automation system is managed by an information processing system 30 including an external input / output device 31. Module 1 that constitutes the sample test automation system
Each of 1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16 transmits and receives various information to and from 30 by communication processing. The sample is installed on a rack for general use, emergency use, or the like according to the purpose, and is input from 11 sample input units. The rack drops in according to the drop-in information defined in the information processing system, and necessary processing is performed.

Each module arriving at the rack reads the bar code of the rack upon arrival and reports it to 30.
At 30, this arrival time is stored in the processing time database 103, via the processing time registration unit 102 of FIG. After the processing is completed, the result report time reported from each module is also stored in 103.

The parent sample supplied from 11 is dispensed little by little into the child sample at 13, and the child sample is conveyed to the automatic analyzers 41 and 42. When the number of transport racks to 41 and 42 increases, the system temporarily waits in the buffer units 21 and 22. Upon arrival of the sample, the automatic analyzer reports to the inquiry 30 about an analysis request item and outputs the result.

At 30, these pieces of information are similarly stored in 103.

By repeating this series of processing, data of processing time under various conditions is accumulated in the database.

After the operator puts the sample into 11, the operator
On the screen shown in FIG. 3, it is possible to know the scheduled report time of the result of the target sample number. The operator inputs a target sample ID into the sample ID input area 201. At this time, the processing time calculation unit in FIG. 2 searches the sample information in the sample information database 104 from the input sample number, and obtains the request item set, the rack type, and the insertion time. Then, using that value as an input value, an estimated processing time is calculated from the past accumulated data under conditions suitable in the processing time database 103 and displayed in the result report scheduled time display area 202 on the screen. Also, the input time rack type and the like can be displayed in the sample information display area 203.

As described above, by using the information stored in the storage unit, the time required to complete the measurement of a specific sample can be reduced by the analysis request item of the sample, the type of rack on which samples having different properties are installed, By storing the sample together with at least one information of the day of the week and the time zone when the sample is put into the analysis system (for example, it is preferable that the unit of the time zone can be set arbitrarily such as every one hour or every two hours), It can be calculated and displayed as the average analysis time.

Further, based on the information in the storage unit, for example, FIG.
The average value of the time required until the end of the analysis as shown in (1) is the day of the week (in the figure, M, Tu, W, Th, F are Mon, Tu,
It can be shown as a graph of fluctuations depending on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday) and time zone (data is recorded in hourly units in FIG. 4). Although this data is not related to the measurement request item, it can be seen from this figure that a large amount of time is required for the measurement, for example, around 11:00 on Monday. Based on this figure, the administrator of the clinical laboratory department can determine that this time period requests an external laboratory to perform a part of the analysis or increases the number of part-time laboratory technicians by the time period. As a result, a stable working environment can be provided.

[0022]

According to the present invention, in a sample test automation system in which an analyzer is connected and a series of processes from sample pre-processing to analysis are performed, the time required from sample input to result output is predicted, thereby achieving a waiting time. It is possible to engage in other work at the time and work efficiently. That is, there is an effect of improving work efficiency in the examination room. In addition, the administrator of the inspection department can easily determine the appropriateness of the inspection work.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a sample test automation system to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a data transition diagram in the information processing system of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an example of a screen displaying a processing end time.

FIG. 4 is an example of a screen displaying the average value of the processing end time for each day of the week and time zone.

[Explanation of symbols]

11: Sample input unit, 12: Centrifuge unit, 1
3 online dispensing unit, 14 barcode pasting unit, 15 classification unit, 16 sample storage unit, 21, 22 buffer unit, 30 information processing system, 31 external input / output device, 41, 42 automatic Analysis device, 51 communication means, 101 processing time calculation unit, 10
2. Processing time registration unit 103: Processing time database
104: sample information DB, 201: sample ID input area,
202: Result report scheduled time display area, 203: Sample information display area.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A container containing a sample, a rack on which the container is installed, a rack supply unit for supplying the rack, a rack storage unit for storing a rack whose inspection has been completed, and a rack,
In an automatic analysis system equipped with a plurality of analyzers and a transport line for transporting the sample to a pretreatment device, the time required from the time when the sample is introduced into the automatic analysis system for analysis to the time when the analysis is completed is determined by measuring the time required for the sample to be measured. A storage unit for storing information including at least one of a request item, a type of rack on which samples having different properties are installed, a day of the week to be measured, and a time zone, and can process data stored in the storage unit An automatic analysis system having a function. 2. An automatic analysis system according to claim 1, wherein said data processing is a processing for obtaining and displaying an average value of past processing times. 3. An automatic analysis system according to claim 1, wherein the data processing is processing for displaying an average time required for analysis for each rack type, measurement day, and time zone.