“The installation of this advanced piece of equipment marks a significant step forward for the service,” according to John Kelly, Interim CEO of Tallaght University Hospital (TUH), welcoming the introduction of pioneering advanced technology which will speed up and significantly increase the hospital’s capacity to test patient samples.

The Cellular Pathology Laboratory at TUH, responsible for testing patient tissue samples, installed the cutting-edge new piece of equipment known as the Axlab AS-410 M in recent weeks.

It now means that TUH can automate one of the most time-consuming, manual, and repetitive tasks in the laboratory. TUH is the first site in Ireland to introduce this equipment marking a significant development for the hospital as the demand to test patient samples has increased by almost 25% over recent years due to significant service expansion.

According to Sarah Delaney, Chief Medical Scientist, TUH Cellular Pathology Laboratory, the laboratory receives “about 65,000 patient samples per year. 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. With the introduction of this new equipment, the hospital’s Cellular Pathology Lab will have the increased testing capacity to meet current and future demands and will no longer need to outsource work.”

John further explained how the new equipment 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.”

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.

The new equipment was funded by HSE BowelScreen.