Clinical laboratory automation

Streaking

Streaking in microbiology is an essential technique that allows for the distribution of microorganisms onto a culture medium. Using sterile loops, spreaders, or swabs, a sample is deposited on a Petri dish containing a suitable nutritive medium. Depending on the objective, various streaking methods can be used, such as the spread plate, drop, or line streaking. The purpose is to obtain isolated colonies, which facilitates the identification and study of specific microorganisms. Subsequently, the plates are incubated under optimal conditions, promoting microbial growth and the formation of visible colonies…) .

Antibiotic disc dispenser (ADD)

Antibiotic sensitivity testing (AST) or antibiograms are used to determine the most effective treatment against a bacterial infection. They determine the susceptibility of a microorganism (bacteria, fungi or viruses) to different antimicrobial medicines.

Aware of the importance of these tests, which represent one of the greatest clinical challenges of recent years, at Sener Diagnostics we personalise automated solutions, both for their use in routine tests and for rapid uses (Rapid-AST), ensuring that the tests are conducted in laboratories where the patient is offered the maximum quality, speed and safety. Our systems are developed according to the guidelines of EUCAST® (European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing) and CLSI® (Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute Inc.) .

Blood cultures

Blood cultures are performed to detect infections in the blood and to identify their cause. This is a laboratory test in which the blood extracted is inoculated in bottles with culture medium. These tests must be requested when an infection of the bloodstream or sepsis is suspected. Such infections are usually bacteremia (if caused by bacteria), fungemia (caused by fungi or yeasts) or viremia (caused by a virus).

Correct operation of the workflow, from extraction, transportation of the samples and incubation to interpretation of results, is crucial for a good diagnosis.

Sepsis is currently considered to be one of the principal public health problems around the world. This is why, at Sener, we develop new systems that enhance the workflow and lead to a swifter and more reliable diagnosis.

Analysis by software and Artificial Intelligence

Clinical microbiology labs are currently facing increased demand to reduce acquisition time and improve results. The integration of AI into these workflows as a complementary tool will improve the speed and quality of diagnosis, which is ultimately the aim of all laboratory automation. Both digital microbiology and telebacteriology are clear trends in the sector. Having access to all kinds of digital images markedly improves workflow traceability, increases the possibility of interconnecting the results with other processes, facilitates evaluation in remote locations and opens up new clinical opportunities.

At Sener, we develop and/or integrate specific algorithms for each application, both for clinical and industrial applications.

Sample preparation

Sample preparation is a critical step in clinical diagnostic testing. Automation in this phase streamlines the process, ensuring consistency and reducing human error. Automated systems handle specimens, aliquot samples, and even add reagents. By standardizing these procedures, it results in enhanced accuracy and reproducibility. Moreover, automation can handle high sample volumes swiftly, accommodating the growing demands of diagnostic labs. The integration of barcoding and software systems ensures traceability and correct sample identification. Ultimately, automating sample preparation enhances the efficiency of diagnostic workflows, ensuring timely and reliable patient results, and freeing up skilled technicians for more complex tasks.

Gram workflow

Gram staining is a technique for the identification of bacteria. It is one of the most common ways of diagnosing a bacterial infection in the body. These tests identify whether the bacteria are Gram-positive or Gram-negative, what shape they have, how they are organised…

A microbiology lab requires automatisms which will complement the culture workflow by making the tasks of preparation, staining and interpretation of the Gram stains easier to perform.

At Sener, we develop new systems – be these connected to routine culture flows or systems that can work independently without being connected – that add value to the traditional workflow, which is usually very manual, with processes that are not interconnected.

Sample carousels

There is a very wide range of consumables in the market. At present, there are a great many local and international sources of material supply, with numerous factories. This diversity, represents an enormous challenge for those of us who are engaged in the development of automatisms. The new systems must take this diversity into account, and systems must be designed that can integrate consumables of different origins and tolerances.

As part of our product culture, at Sener we are experts in the development of robust solutions with the capacity to integrate many consumables on the market. Thanks to this philosophy, laboratories can use the instruments more freely in comparison with other less flexible solutions.

Inoculation of enrichment media

An enrichment medium is a culture medium that contains the nutrients needed to support the growth of a wide variety of microorganisms. There are numerous types of enrichment media: Blood Agar, MacConkey Agar, Sabouraud Agar… each of which is used with specific objectives.

This type of culture medium requires automation systems that can inoculate the sample reliably. At Sener, we have developed systems for the inoculation of enrichment media which are subsequently cultivated and incubated, according to the protocol required in each case.

Transportation of samples

During the transportation and handling of samples throughout the laboratory process, it is vital to avoid contamination and errors of diagnosis. From the moment the sample enters the pre-analytical phase, as it undergoes the processes of culture, incubation, reading and staining, right through to the post-analytical phase, each sample must be handled in compliance with strict demands and with the utmost care. The prevention of errors is one of the most important objectives of every microbiology lab.

At Sener, we develop sample handling systems that cover the entire laboratory automation cycle. Our sub-systems can be interconnected to work together or they can work autonomously, in line with a modular model that can be adapted to the needs of the lab.

Microgravity

From the aerospace industry to instruments for microbiology and diagnostic products. Devices
for biological and biomedical research related with manned space flights and subsequent technology transfer to microbiology applications in clinical and industrial laboratories.

At Sener, we take a cross-cutting approach in order to transfer know-how and technology from the aerospace sector to the clinical and industrial microbiology laboratories sector. These new technologies, focused towards disruptive diagnostic systems and new automation systems, facilitate the development of new instruments adapted to the needs of microbiology labs.