High-Throughput Automated Urinalysis System

What is the High-Throughput Automated Urinalysis System?

A high-throughput urinalysis system processes 200 to 400 samples per hour with parallel chemistry and sediment lines and continuous loading. It suits large hospital and reference laboratories that report urinalysis in volumes comparable to other routine disciplines.

Overview

The configuration uses independent lines for strip chemistry and sediment analysis, each with its own loading, so throughput is not limited by the slower module. Continuous sample loading, large reagent and strip capacities, and automated waste handling allow long unattended periods. The software balances work between lines, applies review rules and manages quality control across the system, and the combined report is generated per sample with full traceability of strip and reagent lots. Because high throughput concentrates work on one platform, downtime has a wide impact, so laboratories should plan redundancy, keep critical consumables in stock and define how flagged and abnormal samples are handled when the system is unavailable.

How does it work?

The platform links two analytical modules through one sample and one worklist. The chemistry module dips a reagent strip, reads the pads by reflectance photometry at defined wavelengths, applies colour and ascorbate compensation and reports semiquantitative categories. The sediment module either uses flow cytometry with a nucleic acid stain and scatter signals to classify particles by size, granularity and fluorescence, or images a sediment chamber or centrifuged slide and classifies particles by pattern recognition. The software merges both result sets into one report, applies review rules such as reflex microscopy for flagged samples, and transmits results to the laboratory information system. Sample barcode reading, mixing before aspiration and automatic washing between samples reduce operator handling and improve traceability, while quality control records and reagent lot tracking support accreditation.

What are the key features?

• Independent chemistry and sediment lines operating in parallel
• Continuous sample loading with large reagent capacities
• Throughput of 200 to 400 samples per hour
• Automated waste handling for unattended operation
• Cross-line workload balancing with consistent review rules
• Full traceability of strip and reagent lots per report

What are the technical specifications?

A typical high-throughput automated urinalysis system configuration offers throughput of 200–400 samples/h combined, sample positions of 100–200 with continuous loading, strip capacity of Up to 400 strips onboard, sediment method of Flow cytometry or flow imaging, chemical parameters of 10–14 parameters per sample and quality control of Per-line controls with cross-line comparison. Values are indicative of the product class; the exact figures for each configuration are confirmed on the quotation and the calibration documents supplied with the instrument.

Which applications is it used for?

The High-Throughput Automated Urinalysis System is used in large hospital routine urinalysis, reference laboratory urinalysis services, screening programmes with high sample numbers and consolidated multi-site urinalysis testing. Across the wider Automated Urinalysis Systems class, laboratories also deploy it for hospital routine urinalysis with combined reporting, nephrology and urology outpatient testing and emergency department urine screening.

Which standards and certifications apply?

Relevant standards and methods include ISO 15189, CLSI GP16, CLSI EP05, CLSI AUTO10, CLSI POCT04, IEC 61010-1 and IEC 61010-2-101. Certification candidates for this model are CE, ISO 13485 manufacturing and NMPA class II registration; each is to be confirmed for the specific configuration before shipment, and certificates are supplied only where they have been issued.

Install the system on a level bench with controlled temperature, stable power and enough space for reagent and waste containers, and verify each module separately before validating the combined workflow with a set of normal and abnormal samples compared against manual microscopy. Define the review rules and test them before go-live, since rule errors affect which results are released automatically. Daily work includes running chemistry control strips and sediment control material, checking reagent and strip status and inspecting the flow cell or imaging chamber for deposits. Wash solutions, cuvettes and flow cells require scheduled cleaning, and results flagged by the system should be reviewed according to documented criteria. Treat all urine samples and waste as potentially infectious.

How do I select the right High-Throughput Automated Urinalysis System?

Specify a high-throughput system when daily urinalysis volume exceeds about one thousand samples or when several smaller analyzers currently run in parallel. In the RFQ confirm throughput on a realistic mix of normal and abnormal samples, capacity for strips and reagents per shift, and the redundancy plan for consumables and service.

How does it compare with other Automated Urinalysis Systems variants?

Choose an automated urinalysis system when sediment results are required routinely and the daily sample number exceeds a few hundred, or when manual microscopy cannot keep up with the workload. Compare systems by which sediment technology is used, the particle classes reported, whether a microscope image is available for review, and the review rules offered. Check the chemistry parameters, cross-contamination control between samples, barcode handling and the combined report format. Confirm the throughput on a realistic mixture of normal and abnormal samples, since flagged samples take longer, and the sample volume needed for both modules. Verify LIS integration and the traceability features, and plan a downtime procedure because a single platform carries both chemistry and sediment reporting.