Project Outlines

Greetings

Started adopting Laboratory Automation System (LAS which included automated pre-treatment, transportation and measurement) in the 1980s for laboratory testing performed to diagnose and monitor illnesses, one of the earlier implementations made among the other departments within the hospital. Since then, not only has LAS made testing operations more efficient and saved labor, it improved the practicality and investment effect as well as contributed to the prevention of in-hospital infections and sample mix-ups, and the ensuring and improvement of test data.
On the other hand, the drop in NHI points caused by the revision of medical treatment fees resulted in the decrease of test items, and a shift occurred from operating with large multi-item analyzers to using multiple number of single multi-line analyzers. The implementation of automated systems much effective and economically feasible that do not require a big capital investment has become the mainstream.
The Open LA21 Project began in 1999 by ALOKA CO., LTD., A&T Corporation and JEOL Ltd. with the aspiration to provide Integrated, Downsized, and Competitively Priced LAS Modules that would resolve the existing problems. Nippon Chemiphar Co., Ltd joined the project followed by Tosoh Corporation in 2000, and Techno Medica Co., Ltd. in 2001. As of June 2006, the number of participating corporations has increased to 6 organizations.

Open LA21 Project

Open LA21 Project is a project promoted by laboratory technicians and organizations that support Clinical Laboratory Automation System in an "open" and "user oriented" environment. The Project provides a "Highly Integrated Modular Automation System" while maintaining and improving testing quality with reduction in cost. Modules designed with Open LA21 Standards fulfill the demands of the users and enables up-grading of system performance and ability.
"Open" environment allows various manufacturers to take part in the consolidation of various types of analyzers: clinical chemistry, immunochemistry, coagulation, hematology, urinalysis, and others. Thus "user oriented" Integrated Modular Automation System which covers the whole range of clinical laboratory field can be realized. The Independent Track Line architecture contributes to the flexibility in construction and operation of of the system.
In addition, without the restriction to Open LA21 modules, Open LA21 Standards is highly connective to internationally available automation systems because of its compliance with NCCLS and HL7 Standards.

Progress of the Open LA21 Project

Open LA21 Standards consists of "Mechanical Standard (size, sample handling and etc.)" and "Electrical Standard (communication, data processing, power supply and etc.)". Details of the standards are listed in the Open LA21 Project website.
Based on the Open LA21 Standards, chemistry, highly-sensitive immunoassay, urinalysis, pre-analytic and conveyer modules have already been developed. Hematology and coagulation modules as well as newer models of existing modules are under development.

Participating Companies

ALOKA CO., LTD., A&T Corporation, JEOL Ltd., NIPPON CHEMIPHAR Co., Ltd,
TOSOH CORPORATION, Techno Medica Co.,Ltd.--- 6 Companies in total (As of June, 2006)