Decentralized but always connected — the future of hematology is here

Boule has recently launched its first cloud-based  connectivity solution to provide remote service and support for the user and its hematology analyzer. But that’s just the start — over the next year or two, the cloud solution will form a key part of the next-generation hematology platform that will transform decentralized blood testing for healthcare professionals and their patients.

New technologies can make healthcare more efficient

Implementation of diagnostic testing at point of care as complement to central laboratory services is on the rise. Where the central laboratory can offer a broader test menu, testing close to the patient offers speed to results that can be used in medical decision-making. As the panel of available tests expand, the number of applications that can benefit from short-turnaround test results increase. However, being closer to the patient often means a greater distance from the technical and clinical support available in a centralized setting.
Connectivity simplifies interaction between the central laboratory and its satellite testing facilities. Bidirectional communication between the testing device and a central data management system, such as a laboratory information system, removes redundant data entry steps, and patient test results and quality control data can be automatically stored in the data repository together with metadata such as consumable lot numbers. Electronic data transfer also eliminates transcription errors related to manual entry.
Novel technologies such as internet of things (IoT) and artificial intelligence (AI) can further contribute to a more cost-efficient healthcare. For example, laboratories risk failing accreditation if quality control is not monitored. Devices connected to the internet will support point-of-care coordinators in ensuring measurement quality of installed instruments by allowing remote monitoring of their performance. Large amounts of clinical data can be collected from multiple sources and assessed in statistical models to reveal patterns otherwise undiscovered. Transferring laboratory clinical data into Big Data repositories brings opportunities for both medical diagnostics and research, with the ultimate goal to improve patient care.

Connected and supported

A complete cell count (CBC) is typically requested in early disease investigations, as the results give implications for a range of patient conditions and therefore form the basis for a suggested diagnosis or for decision on further testing. For the same reason, a CBC is also among the tests often requested with short-turnaround time in urgent care.
Boule wants to make sure that customers, users, and patients get the full value of its products and solutions. The next generation hematology platform that is now in development will be supported by cloud-based data management software that allows customers to remotely monitor performance of installed instruments. At the end of December 2022, Boule released the first version of its cloud solution for the Swelab Alfa Plus and Medonic M32 product generation. Through connected services, Boule will increase customer value and create differentiated solutions, eventually including information exchange of clinical data and resource management. All with the beauty of a cloud-based solution that is scalable, accessible, cost-effective, and secure.

Doctors interacting with virtual interfaces online checking electronic medical records

Just getting started

With this first version, called BM850 Remote Service Basics, the infrastructure is now in place and functionality to upload instrument service and quality control information to the cloud is implemented. Instrument coordinators and service technicians can access uploaded information via a portal and provide technical support —wherever they are in the world.
This is clearly a big leap forward in terms of the service and support available for decentralized users and their analyzers. But it is only the first step of Boule’s journey from being a product provider to a solution provider. Healthcare professionals and specialists will increasingly be able to share and retrieve information from a variety of sources. All collected under Boule’s HemaVerse logged-in experience, supporting better patient outcomes and more personalized treatment strategies.

Swelab Alfa Plus and Medonic M32 hematology analyzers are IVDR certificated