ThedaCare first to install blood analyzer technology

System expected to reduce risk of error, produce results in minutes

Care teams at ThedaCare have secured new technology expected to enhance comprehensive and coordinated care for patients.

According to Grifols, a company that develops plasma-derived therapies and is a leader in development of innovative diagnostic solutions, ThedaCare Medical Center-Wild Rose is the first hospital in North America to install the DG Reader Net semi-automated analyzer, used to facilitate pre-transfusion blood type compatibility testing. This analyzer offers laboratories computer-assisted reading and interpretation of immunohematology (IH) tests with automatic results that are uploaded to the Laboratory Information System.

“When our lab teams draw blood from a patient, we run a series of tests on that blood,” said Rebecca Schultz, blood bank key operator at ThedaCare Medical Center-Wild Rose. “We screen for antibodies, antigens, as well as determine the blood type. The DG Reader Net semi-automated analyzer reads those results and exports everything to one centralized system.”

Before the analyzer, team members would need to read results and then manually enter them into the system.

“By using the analyzer, we believe it has ability to minimize the potential for error, and create additional time for our team members to provide care for our patients,” said Elizabeth Kujawa, laboratory manager at ThedaCare Medical Center-Wild Rose. “There are no room for mistakes when it comes to blood types and having accurate information in the event of a blood transfusion.”

The reader can have results in minutes, according to Schultz. The amount of time saved can help during those immediate responses where blood transfusions might be needed in critical access hospitals like Wild Rose.

For the smallest and most specialized laboratories, DG Reader Net is designed to work as both a standalone solution or integrate with Grifols’ fully automated DG Gel system for a truly scalable solution. At ThedaCare, Information Services developed and implemented the software to allow hospitals to share the information.

“It’s very neat to use the program,” said Schultz. “If I have results in Wild Rose, a provider in Neenah can take a look at those results in real time and, if needed, provide recommendations for care. It’s another tool that allows us to provide comprehensive care across our system.”