Some of the newest equipment funded by our donors is being put to the test!
Over the last year, the support of our donors has helped bring new equipment to the Lab at Sault Area Hospital. The lab supports care across the entire Algoma District! Care providers rely on the lab to run tests and provide results. Test results help make diagnoses, set treatment plans and follow patient progress.
Upgrades to the lab can mean new tests, and improved speed, accuracy or detail of results. The faster our care teams have lab results, the quicker they can make decisions for your care. These are just a few of the important pieces of equipment our lab received this year, thanks to community support.
Centrifuge
Every tube of blood that goes to the lab takes “a turn” in the centrifuge. This special machine spins the sample to separate red blood cells and plasma. The lab has 3 of these machines, and together they process over 2 million samples each year! The newest centrifuge replaced one that was over 15-years-old. The new unit is much more efficient and quiet!
Specialized Freezer and Refrigerator
These medical-grade appliances don’t look like your kitchen fridge! They need to hold very steady temperatures to stop test supplies, blood products, and patient samples from spoiling. The fridge we replaced this year stores patient samples for a short period of time (a few days). This can save our care providers from having to collect new samples. This can also save patients from having blood drawn a second time!
Automatic Cell Washer
Like the centrifuge above, the cell washer spins blood – but it is most often used to test compatibility before a blood transfusion. As patients have more transfusions, they can develop antibodies. These antibodies can cause a serious allergic reaction if blood compatibility isn’t matched. The cell washer is used several times a day, every day. It is a key part of providing safe blood transfusions to patients at Sault Area Hospital.
It's thanks to community donations that our hospital can get the equipment it needs.
Our lab is a critical part of all care-planning at Sault Area Hospital. Because of community support, our lab professionals have the tools they need to provide millions of test results each year.
The support of local donors helps SAH stay up-to-date with the latest equipment, helping every patient receive the best possible care.
Comentarios