Laboratory Broker System Dynamic Sample Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Medical samples are often not delivered to the most suitable laboratory with availability, leading to delayed test results and compromised quality, especially for time- or temperature-sensitive tests, due to inefficient routing and lack of optimization in the current courier systems.
Innovation Solution
A laboratory broker system that connects multiple testing laboratories through a network to share data on test availability, allowing for redirection of samples to the closest laboratory with the most availability and capability to perform the required tests, using proprietary communication logic and standards like IHE PaLM domain for efficient workflow and result management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If medical samples are delivered to a centralized testing laboratory using traditional courier routing, then the delivery process is simple and straightforward, but the samples may not reach the most suitable laboratory with availability, causing delays and compromising test quality
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a laboratory broker component as an intermediary between the courier system and testing laboratories. This broker receives sample delivery information, queries the laboratory network for availability and suitability, and redirects samples to appropriate laboratories. The broker acts as a mediator that resolves the contradiction by adding intelligence to the delivery process without requiring fundamental changes to the courier infrastructure.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by querying laboratory availability and test capacity before the physical sample arrives. The broker component checks the network of laboratories in advance to determine which laboratory can best handle the sample, allowing redirection to occur before the sample reaches an unsuitable centralized laboratory, thus preventing delays and quality compromise.
2Productivity
If medical samples are redirected to the closest laboratory with availability using a broker system, then test result quality and timeliness improve, but the system complexity and implementation difficulty increase
Solution Approach 1:
The laboratory broker component is designed as a universal system that can interface with multiple different laboratory information systems and courier protocols. It performs multiple functions including receiving delivery notifications, querying laboratory availability, determining optimal destinations, and redirecting samples. This multi-functionality consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate systems into a single versatile component.
Solution Approach 2:
The broker system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring laboratory availability, test capacity, and sample routing outcomes. This feedback allows the system to learn from past routing decisions and optimize future redirects, improving productivity over time while managing system complexity through adaptive rather than purely static rules.
3Loss of time
If the courier system uses fixed routing to centralized laboratories, then operational simplicity is maintained, but time and resource optimization is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transforms the static, fixed routing system into a dynamic one where the destination laboratory is determined based on real-time conditions such as sample type, test requirements, laboratory availability, and geographic location. The broker component enables dynamic routing decisions that adapt to changing conditions, reducing delivery time and resource loss while maintaining ease of operation through automated decision-making.
Data Source
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AI summary
A method for delivering medical samples with a digital laboratory request from an extraction point (230, 330) to a testing laboratory (100, 200, 120, 220, 320) is presented. The method comprises checking the availability of a test to be performed on a medical sample during a certain time period at a first testing laboratory (100, 200). If the test cannot be performed during the certain time period at the first testing laboratory (100, 200), laboratory attributes available at a plurality of testing laboratories (100, 200, 120, 220, 320) are checked via a plurality of laboratory broker devices (110, 125, 225, 325) communicatively connected by a communication network (115). A suitable candidate testing laboratory can be identified amongst the plurality of testing laboratories (100, 200, 120, 220, 320) based on the laboratory attributes of the suitable candidate testing laboratory. The identified suitable candidate testing laboratory and the first testing laboratory (100, 200) communicate with each other regarding the feasibility of the suitable candidate testing laboratory to perform the test on the medical sample. If feasible to perform the test at the suitable candidate testing laboratory, the medical sample and the digital laboratory request are delivered to the suitable candidate testing laboratory for testing. After performance of the test at the suitable candidate testing laboratory, the laboratory test results are communicated back to the extraction point (230, 330) in digital form.