User Testimonials

HNL chooses HELIOS for complete IFA Automation of ANA testing

Health Network Laboratories (HNL), a regional leader in laboratory medicine, provides high quality personalized laboratory services in Eastern PA and Southern NJ. 

The immunology laboratory at HNL is led by Kimberly Pacella, Director of Clinical Operations. Kim and her team decided to implement the AESKU HELIOS, distributed in the US by Grifols Diagnostics Solutions. The HELIOS, a revolutionary new platform that employs automated immunofluorescence (IFA) technology to process and analyze patient samples, is the first clinical platform to offer the highest level of automation.

Prior to implementing the HELIOS, HNL screened with ELISA and reflexed all positives to IFA for pattern and titer. “We realize IFA is still the gold standard for ANA, but because we could not automate IFA prior to the HELIOS, in order to keep up with our ever-increasing testing volumes, we had to switch to ELISA. We know that ELISA misses things because the recombinant antigens in an ELISA don’t represent everything that is present in a HEp-2 IFA,” acknowledged Pacella.

Pacella evaluated 4 different IFA systems for HNL and selected the HELIOS for two reasons: “One is smaller footprint, and two is the fact that we did not have to manually transfer the slides from the processor to the reader. Those were the two biggest things.”

The HELIOS significantly improves turnaround time, especially for positive results that need to be titrated. “It’s going to reduce the turnaround time by probably two to three days, and it has greatly reduced the hands-on time for setup,” said HNL Medical Technologist Kelly Buss. “There’s very little maintenance, the instrument’s just very straight forward and easy, and the software is easy to use.”

The HELIOS will also help HNL address increased volumes, as it can process up to 20 slides and 190 samples in one single run. “We are getting four additional hospital clients over the next few months and in order to absorb all that volume without adding staffing, we need to be able to do things more efficiently. This [HELIOS] will absolutely help with that,” said Pacella.

Pacella continued: “I think footprint is one of the biggest things that most labs struggle with, so the smaller footprint is definitely a bonus, and the fact that you don’t necessarily need to be standing there watching it. You can walk away – because it moves the slides over to the camera because it’s integrated. The other systems are separate units, so you have to take the slides off of the processor and then go put them onto the reader."

Original Article published in Clinical News Journal, August 2, 2017

 Direct Link to the article PDF (French Language)

Questionary for the laboratories that currently are using the automated HELIOS^® equipment

 

Laboratory:    Dinamica
User:    Dra. Adriana Londoño
Position:    Bacteriologist Immunology
Experience in years:    20 Years

 

Please answer the following questions based on your experience:

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1. Which are the main features that you would highlight of the performance of the Helios?
It is a functional, compact, fast, with a good design, a friendly software and comfortable machine.

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2. What are the main benefits that the laboratory has by having the Helios?
It allows the standardization on the reading and classifying of patients, of easy access of the information, the file of images offers competitive advantages, the possibility of communication between AESKU Diagnostics and the commercial house.  And reagents are of a very good quality.

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3. How does the Helios help to improve processing times in the section?
When the reading and sorting the photos of patients on a monitor and not on a microscope located in a dark room, the welfare of users end is improved by reducing eye fatigue.

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4. Is the area (size) that the Helios is using in the lab appropriate? Why?
The area that the machines take is suitable, the design and dimensions are ideal for a small room which facilitates the location.

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5. How has the Helios helped to standardize the results in the lab?
When the software makes the discrimination between positive and negative, it allows the user to have a consensus in order to define the result according to the already established criteria, and it makes it a more objective reading.

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6. Is the level of automation from the Helios the required one by the laboratory?
The level of automation of the system is appropriate.

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7. How do you think it helps the discrimination between positive and negative results on laboratory efficiency?
The discrimination results improves laboratory efficiency because low false positives are reduced, which before they were reprocessed, allowing a better use of resources and it improves the opportunity on results.

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8. With how many photos do you make the immunofluorescence pattern discrimination? Is it enough the photo capacity that the Helios can generate?
The discrimination of the pattern is made with three photos, and we believe this is an appropriate and sufficient number.

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9. What is the main utility of the library of patterns within the software Helios?
The library of patterns offers easy access information and good understanding, and it is educational.

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10. What do you like the most about working with HELIOS?
I like to work with Helios because the opportunity on the results is better, is easy to use, it makes bar codes readings and the results are reliable, reproducible and standardized.

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11. What is the main advantage that you have to recommend the HELIOS to other laboratories?
In Helios is possible to work with quality and comfort, improving processing times due to its design. The brand Aesku and commercial house offers tranquillity on the business side, scientific and engineering support.

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12. What would you like to be different on your equipment?
• I would like it better if it would discriminate anti DNA antibodies, anti-ASMA, anti-mitochondrial and ANCAS

• That all the reagents to have all the required controls, since the rLKS kit has anti mitochondria, and is lacking the ASMA control and the LKM control.

• I would also like to have a bidirectional communication with the operating system lab

• To keep in memory the dilutions that have to be continuing to the patient

•  And to be able to make the statistics of processed tests.

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Suggestions:
The volume of the conjugates and controls is not enough

Letter of Recommendation

" This is to indicate that the Division of Clinical Biochemistry of the Department of Laboratory Medicine at Eastern Health Authority, located at the Health Science Centre, in St. John´s, NL, Canada, do hereby confirm the we have an experience of over one year in using the below products developed and manufactured by AESKU.Diagnostics Germany:

• Fully Automated IFA Processing and Reading System HELIOS

• AESKUSLIDES IFA Kits (reagents): ANA (HEp-2-Cells)

As a final user we nave evaluated the system anf the kits and we consider the above mentioned AESKU products as an revolutionary and reliable diagnostic solution, providing a high level of performance and traceability.

We express the best opinion regarding both, the system and the scientific an technical support for the AESKU products.

On the basis of their proven competence an professionalism we unhesitatingly recommend the products and support of AESKU.Diagnostics."

Letter of Recommendation

"To Whom it May Concern,

As the Director of the Immunology Laboratory at Laverty Pathology, 60 Waterloo Rd, North Ryde, NSW, Australia, I am able to confirm that we have 10 month’s experience in using the following products developed and manufactured by Aesku Diagnostics, Germany:

• Helios^® fully automated IFA processing and reading system

• Aeskuslides^® IFA reagents: ANA-Hep-2 , ANCA, EMA, LKS (rat)

• AeskuLab^® middleware

Our pathology network, SDS Laboratories, has 9 Helios platforms installed in various laboratories throughout Australia. Our laboratories are large, high throughput, privately operated laboratories with a focus on quality and performance, including low turn-around-times.  We conducted an extensive evaluation of the Aesku system and the immunofluorescence substrates and reagents, as well as competing automated immunofluorescence systems, and we consider these Aesku products to be robust and and reliable diagnostic solutions, providing a superior level of performance and traceability, and major advantages in terms of workflow efficiency. Furthermore, the level of scientific and technical support offered with the systems has been exemplary and unparalleled in my years of experience in diagnostic pathology.

On this basis, I have no hesitation in offering my avid recommendation of the products and support of Aesku Diagnostics."