What’s Hot In 2023: QC Microbiology Automation

Automation will help QC labs meet the increased demands on sample throughput and faster turnaround on results. 

Many companies are undertaking initiatives such as sustainability and data integrity improvements while looking to harmonise data management and techniques across their whole company. Importantly, regulatory expectations are only increasing, and this leads many QC labs to look for new ways to meet the increased demands on sample throughput, faster turnaround on results, and maintain or improve the quality of the results and integrity of the data generated. Microbiology is still mainly a human-based manual science so these increased sample volumes will continue to put pressure on already stretched labs. These laboratories will look to automated, rapid methods.

Whilst automated methods in Micro QC have existed for some time, the advantages they bring to meet the current industry drivers will encourage adoption through 2023. With the ability to improve operational efficiency and data integrity by automating the error prone elements of assays (humans), automation can also increase sustainability via less wastage and simplified training for easier global harmonisation. Automation of testing also can provide faster results meaning operational decisions can be made more efficiently and effectively

The ultimate in automation is outsourcing. Outsourcing allows staff to spend less time being trained on, and running assays, and more time analysing and interpreting results, and the impact these have on their production, products, and patient safety.

- Duncan Barlow, Technology & Market Development Manager, Charles River