Newborn Screening Ontario (NSO) is implementing Track-Kit specimen tracking software from STACS DNA to all birthing hospitals and midwives across Ontario. Track-Kit will improve tracking and help reduce delays between specimen shipping at hospitals and delivery to the newborn screening laboratory to help prevent serious health problems and save babies’ lives through early detection of treatable conditions. Province-wide roll-out is expected to be complete by the end of 2018.
“Track-Kit provides us with essential information about specimen location throughout the newborn screening system,“ said Jennifer Milburn, Operations Director, Newborn Screening Ontario. “This saves our team hours tracking down specimens or requesting recollections, to ensure that babies are screened and diagnosed as quickly as possible.”
STACS DNA has been working with NSO since 2015 to develop and test the specimen-tracking solution designed specifically for newborn screening programs. The system is expected to save time and improve information-sharing for staff at both the hospitals and the laboratory. Track-Kit will provide NSO with a specimen lifecycle audit trail, which:
- Provides real-time status of specimens, not just packages, while transported by courier
- Sends alerts if specimen delivery is late to expedite locating or recollecting the specimen
- Provides the lab with a real-time, global view of all incoming specimens and shipments from hospitals across Ontario
- Notifies the hospital that the specimen has been delivered to the NBS lab
- Identifies if a specimen has been left in the hospital due to a missed courier pickup
- Documents specimen storage and destruction
- Optimizes blood spot card inventory management
“NSO identified an urgent need to track specimens that is a gap for every newborn screening program in North America,” said Jocelyn Tremblay, President and COO of STACS DNA. “We are delighted to help NSO improve the lives of babies by working with them to build on our Track-Kit platform.”
Responses to a recent satisfaction survey of hospital users showed that Track-Kit flagged lost samples quicker, made them easier to track, confirmed that specimens were received by the lab, expedited recollection to before a baby is discharged from the hospital, reduced paperwork, and was easy to implement and learn.
About Newborn Screening Ontario
Newborn Screening Ontario (NSO), located at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) in Ottawa, is the provincial program that coordinates newborn screening in Ontario, Canada. NSO is the most comprehensive newborn screening program in Canada and one of the most modern and advanced newborn screening laboratories in the world. Our multidisciplinary team provides a comprehensive program of analysis, follow-up, education, research and development. Since being was established at CHEO in 2006, NSO has tested over 1.6 million newborns and identified about 2000 babies who have been diagnosed with diseases through newborn screening. For more, visit www.newbornscreening.on.ca.
About STACS DNA
STACS DNA offers sample tracking software for timeliness, transparency and accountability. Track-Kit™ tracks samples from collection to storage, preventing delayed or lost tests, and keeping all stakeholders informed. STACS® software is the hub of integrated DNA labs, increasing productivity and quality. Our customers are federal, state, regional and local agencies, including many of the largest forensics DNA labs in North America. For more, visit www.stacsdna.com.
