Automating sample transport and instrument control to improve inter-lab workflows

Good analytical support is crucial for chemists working in synthesis laboratories. In the Medicine Design department within Orion Pharma's R&D division, around 30 chemists and research assistants work across several synthesis labs and are supported by an analytical team that performs chromatographic analyses. Samples from the synthesis labs need to be transported to an analytical laboratory for analysis.

One of the main challenges faced by the department was around how to streamline sample transportation. The aim was to automate workflows to deliver results more rapidly to the synthesis labs from the analytical laboratory. In the process, Orion sought to make efficiency savings by removing manual steps, freeing up staff time and ensuring higher instrument utilization rates. The total time the department spent on transporting around 150 samples each day was equivalent to one FTE.

In search of a fully integrated solution, the team decided to install SPT Labtech's sample and data transfer system. The lab2lab system is a site-wide integrated sample transport and instrument control network that offers a unique pneumatic system for transporting samples in 2D-barcoded vials. The system transports the vials to the instrument, where lab2lab's combined mechanical and software integration initiates the analysis. Vials are registered in a standardized way regardless of the type of instrument required.

Following the successful installation of lab2lab at Orion's laboratories across two floors of the Espoo Research Center building, the system has significantly reduced the amount of human intervention required in the sample transport and analysis workflows. The automation has removed most manual steps and reduced error rates. Chemists and assistants working in the synthesis laboratories can send a single sample for several analyses at the same time, with only small amounts of sample required for multiple analyses.

As well as removing bottlenecks, lab2lab has enhanced the traceability of samples because each vial can be registered with a sample reference. The analytical results are formatted consistently, and their repeatability has been improved because of the tighter control over the instruments.

This has had a direct effect on the response times of all chromatographic analyses and sped up the progress of Orion's research projects. Tracking of the daily performance of the instruments has also been improved: the data is collected automatically, the statistics are always up to date, and so monitoring is straightforward. This poster sets out the various improvements to inter-lab analysis workflows at Orion as a result of the lab2lab installation.