Many hospitals are using a pneumatic tube system to rapidly send blood samples to the lab. It is an obvious benefit to quickly send samples to the lab using a fast-moving, air-filled tube, allowing quicker diagnosis for physicians. However, something always comes to mind, and that is, does the fast delivery of blood in a tube break it or shake it up too much? Nurses or lab personnel can be concerned when samples look different from others, especially when a new system is being used or when the installation is inadequate. Staff concerns may include abrupt starts and stops and improper packaging. Knowing what actually happens to the Laboratory Automation sample during transit would be helpful for a hospital so that the results would be correct and another blood draw from the patient would not be needed.

Understanding Hemolysis Risks in Pneumatic Tube System Transport

One of the big problems is with pneumatic tube shipment of blood samples - hemolysis. This is where the red blood cells rupture and their contents leak into the plasma, otherwise test results are of less value, and the sample must be discarded by the lab.The danger usually lies in the way the sample is transported. Carriers move quickly through the tube network, the movement often sudden start and stop, or rapid bends. If a blood tube is not packed appropriately, and it is nearly completely filled without any padding, the blood may become quite shaken, putting a stress on the red blood cells.An example can be given in an emergency department of a hospital with a large workload. A member of lab staff explained how blood samples delivered to their lab first thing in the morning had more hemolysis if they had been delivered by a recently installed tube system, than if they had been hand-carried. When the system was looked at, it was discovered that the carrier speed had been set too high, and that the sample holders were unpadded. Some system adjustments were made, and padding inserts were used instead and the problem was reduced greatly.Not all blood samples are equal, as a matter of fact all details really matter, even the way the sample was taken from a patient, as well as the volume and type of the sample tube, and so forth. The placement of the sample inside of the carrier is even a thing that can alter test results. The loose sample will obviously bounce around more.Generally, hospital personnel are able to limit problems by performing several basic rules and precautions: filling the tubes with blood correctly, providing appropriate sample rack/foam holders and adjusting the system speed for delicate materials will all help protect the blood sample. Regular checks of the system should also be carried out to avoid any potential problem early.Hospital Pneumatic Tube System can transport samples between different places around hospital and bring them to and from the labs, but there can be negative affects if small, simple points are not followed, as is common in many hospitals.

Pneumatic Tube System Features That Protect Blood Sample Integrity

Modern pneumatic tube systems aren't all about speed. Many of them have features which ensure the safety of the blood samples during their journey from one place to another. These little design features make a huge contribution to maintaining good sample condition.One important function is the speed control. It is common for older systems to be programmed to execute a program at a predetermined, rapid speed. Newer setups give hospitals the ability to tweak the speed for different types of material. Blood flow typically slows down and smooths out to avoid the abrupt shock as blood flows through the tube. This reduces the risk of damage to the cells.Soft-start and soft-stop movement are other useful features. The carrier doesn't pick up speed or slow down abruptly, but slowly speeds up and slows down before its final destination. Less shaking is likely to occur within the tube particularly at bends or junctions.There are also padded carriers or foam additions which are incorporated into many systems. These also keep the blood tubes steady so they do not bounce around when they are being transported. This simple addition can help avoid repeated rejection of samples in busy hospitals for hemolysis or leakage.The route design also is important. Some systems are configured to have smoother curves and fewer sharp corners. This allows the carriers to move without hard impacts. In big hospital buildings, engineers will usually design the tubes in such a way that they lead the sensitive samples through the least stressful route.One of the examples that come to mind is a mid sized hospital lab that upgraded its old system. Prior to the upgrade, some staff noticed there were delays with re-drawn blood samples. The number of samples rejected noticeably decreased within a few weeks after installing shock absorbing carriers and adjusting the speed settings. Nurses also said they had fewer repeat blood draws, making for more patient comfort.Routine maintenance is another aspect of protection. Stable transport is ensured by clean tubes, well-sealed joints and proper tube speeds. Any kind of wear and tear in the system will impact on the smoothness of a carrier's movement.Pneumatic tube systems can transport blood samples rapidly without compromising their stability or the accuracy of tests performed later.

Best Practices for Safe Specimen Transport Using Pneumatic Tube Systems

The use of a well-designed pneumatic tube system is as important as how staff manage the blood samples prior to sending them. There are many little things that can be done in the nursing station or lab desk that will help to maintain the integrity of the specimens.The least complex of them all is to have a properly prepared tube. The tube should always be tightly capped before it is placed into the blood carrier. Failure to securely tighten the cap or properly seal the container means that the sample could potentially leak or become contaminated during transit. Staff members will always double check that the cap is secured when sending off the blood, especially if the sample is required as a priority.Another aspect of the pre-analytics that can cause damage is having an inadequate setup within the carrier. There are numerous hospitals, within the carrier, which use foam inserts or sample racks. These keep the tubes upright so that during transport, they don't move around. Having a carrier without these inserts allows for the blood tubes to move against the sides of the carrier and this will damage the cells.A more crucial pre-analytic aspect could be timing. Oftentimes, for busy wards, it can seem time efficient to send many samples together, which is adequate; however staff members should not overpack the blood carriers. It has been observed that when blood tubes are packed too tightly together, pressure is exerted and thus friction can occur.The value of sensitive sample separation also exists. In critical situations, for instance, certain blood tests with the tendency to hemolyse may be picked up later by hand. They are still walking certain type of coagulation samples to the laboratory at peak times, just in case there is a risk of delay or damage to the samples when there is a lot of traffic in the tube system, one hospital nurse shared.Another important aspect is staff training. New nurses or lab assistants are instructed in the correct loading of carriers and what to avoid, and how to look out for potential sample problems, through short hands-on sessions. This aids in establishing uniformity between shifts.It is also possible to carry out routine inspections of the systems which ensures that blood is transferred in a safe way. Provided the tubes are clean, the pressure is stable and the carriers travel well then the sample will get to where it needs to go in good time. In some hospitals the hospitals organize fast weekly tests whereby a test carrier is taken into the hospital and in view of members of staff it is confirmed that everything is as it should be.These little checks when all put together go towards ensuring pneumatic tube systems are reliable systems that allow for rapid, safe transit of blood samples.

Addressing Blood Sample Safety Concerns in Pneumatic Tube Systems

Despite the many advantages offered by pneumatic tube systems in the hospital, blood sample safety issues are a frequent issue. Staff typically are concerned about hemolysis, leaks or changes in test results as a result of fast transport. Those concerns are well-founded, particularly in areas with older or poorly-maintained systems.A common concern is that the speed of the movement is sufficient to damage the samples. However, speed is just one of the factors. Most often, problems occur when the system is not properly set up or when samples are not prepared properly. There are ways to increase risk besides the speed, like a loose cap, overfilled tube, or no padding inside the carrier.Another worry is about the trust in the lab results. When samples are being transported by hand, particularly for critical patients, nurses may feel more confident in doing so. One hospital ward shared that blood gas samples were traditionally avoided by the staff in the tube system as they did not want to get an incorrect result. The lab team reviewed the system and identified that the system can actually be stable, but the carriers are not always loaded properly. The loading checklist was clearly defined and followed by staff, and the difference between samples being hand carried and tube delivered was significantly reduced.System maintenance is also a major factor in safety. The smoothness of carrier movement can be influenced by dust accumulation, worn seals or pressure changes within the tubes. These hidden problems can be avoided by regular checks. Hospitals may have a specific team to test the system each day, prior to sending patient specimens, with control samples.Good communication between nursing staff and the laboratory technicians also helps to establish confidence. If both parties are aware of how the system operates, then concerns can be more easily managed. Short refresher training sessions also help in minimizing the errors particularly in the busy shifts or during any change in staffing.Ultimately, most safety issues are more around the way in which the pneumatic transport system is managed. If the blood samples are handled properly, checked regularly and loaded in a simple way, it is possible to get these samples to move fast without compromising their reliability for testing.