Effective Lab Automation Equips Humans to Make Better-Informed Decisions

Carola Schmidt, general manager of automated robotic systems at Revvity, discusses how automation has advanced in clinical laboratories and what benefits the technology brings, particularly in light of staffing shortages.

What are today’s biggest challenges in advancing lab automation?

It’s key to understand that automation can’t function in isolation. True automation in laboratory workflows requires seamless integration of associated software, reagents, consumables, and relevant instruments. Together, these components act as integrated automation that connects multiple steps in the lab’s workflow, enables a reduction in manual workload, and frees up time for the scientists to focus on research and innovation.

In the postpandemic era, rising healthcare costs and an increased focus on developing advanced medicines will continue to increase reliance on automation in drug discovery and development. However, some challenges need to be addressed before the industry can fully embrace automation. 

The fear of change and loss of control over the results remains a hurdle that first needs to be considered before a laboratory can consider the costs of setting up automated systems. A mindset shift is essential for people to fully understand and adapt to automated tools and instruments. With this shift, lab leaders need to consider a number of factors, such as training, a reassurance that automation will not replace human jobs but instead repurpose efforts toward much-needed areas of research and innovation, and efficient protocols for query resolution. 

There also needs to be continuous communication around how the benefits of automation vastly outweigh the risks in terms of a reduced human error rate and increased efficiency.

Can you describe advances in lab automation in the past 12 to 15 months and how they can be applied?

A critical aspect of  automation is collaboration, which goes beyond merely offering automated services and tools. This concept also requires growing with the evolution of a company or lab to better meet its needs. 

For instance, in one case I’m familiar with, automation was able to elevate and scale up workflows for tuberculosis testing, which brought these tests to more people around the world. We need to see more collaborations like this to address rising healthcare challenges.

Other innovations included automated liquid handling workstations to aid in next-generation sequencing and automated systems for indirect immunofluorescence diagnostics.

How have AI and data analysis driven these advances?

Our industry is leveraging AI to advance science already today. For example, rule-based decisions on cut-off range in relation to quality control results, calibration, and reference standards are routine in all medical labs today to filter out poor samples. This protocol is in place for sepsis diagnosis and other critical diseases to improve the time it takes to make a medical decision for a better patient outcome. 

AI can also aid in complex pattern recognition tasks and image analyses, such as those involved with indirect fluorescent antibody tests or indirect immunofluorescent testing for autoimmune diseases. In its more advanced forms, AI capabilities built into lab software and instrumentation can aid in sample handling and other manual processes carried out by robotic systems.

Remember though, we can leverage AI’s abilities to a certain extent by utilizing products, components, software, reagents, and consumables for a specific workflow, but a final determination of a diagnosis is linked to a human being. AI can give guidance, propose a workflow, and reduce errors, but at the end of the day, a human determines the outcome.

In the next two to three years, what further advances in lab automation do you hope to achieve, and what will be the key benefits?

Compounding the issues associated with today’s laboratory personnel shortage, labs continue to be challenged by ever-changing quality and regulatory requirements. Fortunately, technological advances have paved the way to combat these obstacles in the form of automation. 

Labs will see more automated solutions come to market, enabling them to free up personnel for more sophisticated work where their expertise is needed. These solutions will also be proven to improve the accuracy and throughput needed to enable clinicians to make critical and time-sensitive decisions 24/7. 

It will be important to seek out lab automation that is SMART: scalable, modular, agile, reliable, and tailor-made to accommodate various needs.

Automation and data management are making room for innovations and bringing lifesaving therapies to people at a rapid rate, all without compromising on quality or accuracy.