GUELPH – April 16 marked the start of a project that will transform laboratory services at Guelph General Hospital (GGH), with the launch of two new chemistry analyzers used to test for a wide range of analytes in the blood and other samples.
Over the course of the next year, the hospital will automate many of the steps in the lab processes from initial sample reception through to sample analysis, and post-analytical specimen storage.
With the demands for lab services increasing this is an exciting but also necessary project to ensure the hospital can continue to meet the growing needs of the community, officials state.
In 2024 alone 1,874,985 lab test were completed at GGH, that’s up from 1,672,897 in 2020.
“It is a great day in the lab – so much time, attention, and planning has gone into this initial step of many to come,” said director of laboratory medicine and medical device reprocessing Robert Clayborne.
“Other important milestones in this project will be the arrival and go-live of our automated hematology solution, digital pathology, and automation track that will modernize our core lab services.”
A key advancement is digital pathology, where a scanner is used to convert glass slides containing tissue samples into high-resolution digital images, which can be examined remotely.
This will improve quality by enhancing diagnostic accuracy and precision, efficiency, turn-around-time, communication, and collaboration.
Additional information about all of the equipment and changes underway to improve lab services can be found on the hospital website at www.gghorg.ca/redevelopment.
“All steps within the lab process will be transformed with this project. Both our patients and clinicians will have an enhanced lab testing experience. It is a huge step forward in the delivery of quality patient care at Guelph General Hospital,” said chief of pathology and laboratory medicine Dr. Chris Ma.
The anticipated project completion date is spring 2026 but that is dependant on securing the necessary funds for the equipment.
Funding for the digital pathology scanners and hematology cell counters has been donated through The Foundation of Guelph General Hospital by members of the Circle of Life giving collective.
Fundraising continues for the rest of the equipment needed for the full scope of the lab modernization, which is a necessary bridge to the future of care in Guelph-Wellington.
