Lincolnshire, Illinois, November 7, 2013 -- Sysmex America Inc., a global leader in medical diagnostic testing equipment and information systems technology, today announces a partnership agreement with Software Testing Solutions (STS) of Tucson, Arizona, to provide automated testing services for  Sysmex WAM™ Decision Support Software for the Clinical Laboratory.  Sysmex WAM is a hematology-specific middleware designed to enable clinical laboratories rules-driven auto-validation, management reporting and paperless hands-free processing of clinical diagnostic tests.  STS is a provider of high quality laboratory testing solutions that automates software testing processes.  This is the first collaboration between an in vitro diagnostic (IVD) instrumentation supplier and STS to provide a truly integrated testing suite specific for Sysmex WAM. It is expected to save labor and time during the hematology implementation process.

 

How it Works
The customized STS solution automates the testing of Sysmex WAM during the implementation phase to quickly and accurately validate WAM’s decision rules, application settings and workflow practices with Sysmex hematology analyzers and automation systems. 

“The key to a successful implementation of middleware is the testing of the middleware in conjunction with the LIS to verify accuracy between all systems,” said Anne Tate, MBA MT (ASCP), SC, Group Product Manager – IT Product Management and Automation, Sysmex America, Inc. “This integrated testing solution addresses the vital need to speed up this middleware testing process while reducing the potential for inadvertent errors that may be inherent in completing this process manually.”

 

Saving Labor and Time in a LEAN Environment
There is an aggressive, nationwide trend among clinical laboratories to cut costs due to decreases in reimbursement and shortages of licensed Medical Technologist staff.
Lean principles of operation, including intense measurement of staffing and efficiency, and adoption of Six-Sigma quality measures, are leading more clinical laboratories to implement auto-validation along with their automated hematology systems to boost productivity of their lab staff and reduce errors. 

 

Sysmex WAM enables this standardized, hands-free approach in hematology, offering enormous benefits of standardized result reporting.  But until now, the middleware implementation process has required manual rule testing steps. STS will automate this process, helping labs get live with WAM faster, with less effort and a greater degree of standardization. 

 

“Organizational performance is critical in today’s healthcare environment,” said Jennifer Lyle, Founder and CEO, Software Testing Solutions. “If we can help bring in new technology without taking away manpower, then it’s a benefit to hospital staff now and in the future.”
The offering is expected to reduce the time it takes to thoroughly test Sysmex hematology systems by 75% and provides the required proof that a Sysmex system is working the way the lab wants it to work in their environment.

The Sysmex WAM specific automated testing solution powered by STS is anticipated be included in every new system implementation in the U.S. and Canada beginning February 2014, providing a new industry model for standardization and predictability in testing prior to going live.

About STS
Software Testing Solutions LLC (STS) was founded in 1997 to fill a vital need within the industry – to create innovative solutions that automate the testing of healthcare software. Until the creation of STS, healthcare organizations tested their software solutions with time-consuming, labor-intensive and expensive processes that were prone to human error. In today’s industry, patient safety and organizational performance are dependent upon properly functioning software solutions. Validating that hospital applications are functioning correctly is vital to the mission of today’s healthcare organizations. For more information about STS, please visit www.sts-healthcare.com.

 

About Sysmex WAM
Sysmex WAM Decision Support Software is automated decision logic rules software that helps clinical labs maximize efficiencies in the area of data and sample management and labor utilization. Sysmex WAM™ v.5.0 is the latest middleware software. It includes an extended delta and previous checking module that helps reduce the number of unnecessary smear reviews or manual differentials.  Intelligent Automation fuses informatics, Sysmex WAM, with Sysmex hematology solutions to optimize quality and efficiency and to measurably reduce allocated resources and operating costs.