Core Laboratory receives automation advancements

As UF Health grows and our patient volumes increase, we have a greater need than ever to develop more efficient processes with high-quality outcomes. Starting in March, UF Health Shands Hospital Core Laboratory will undergo renovations to become fully automated — leading to improved patient satisfaction and care.

Laboratory automation integrates electronic and mechanical systems to produce faster turnaround times and more precise, reliable specimen testing. Automation will allow lab staff to report analyzed results more quickly to our care providers, who can then evaluate and determine proper treatment for each patient.

The labs’ annual test volume increased 16 percent from 2.24 million tests in 2010 to 2.62 million in 2014, spurring the need for additional space and more advanced systems.

Core Laboratory, located on the third floor of the north campus hospital, provides testing services for programs across UF Health, including UF Health Shands, UF Health Physicians outpatient practices, the UF Health Davis Cancer Pavilion, the UF Health Medical Plaza, UF Health Shands Psychiatric Hospital and UF Health Shands Rehab Hospital. In 2018, the labs will also support the new UF Health Heart & Vascular Hospital and the UF Health Neuromedicine Hospital.The renovation team will replace equipment and install back-up support — if a system goes down, lab staff will still be able to retrieve all samples and testing will continue running on another instrument.

Service will continue as normal without interruption during this transition. The project will not impede other areas of the hospital: All work will take place inside the Core Laboratory operations and administrative space.

Construction will be completed in phases and is expected to finish in spring 2017. Follow renovation updates and other projects at blueprints.UFHealth.org.