Reducing Batch Size to Improve Slide Turnaround Time

Following a workflow assessment, it was determined that the large batch sizes in use were causing delays and creating large wait times in several steps of the Histology processes. It was recommended that the laboratory reduce the batch sizes from embedding to case assembly in order to decrease the wait times and result in slides being completed earlier.

Figure 1 shows the comparison between large batches and small batches. Using a large batch takes more time to complete, whereas the smaller batch allows work to move to the next step in the process more quickly.

Figure 1.

Figure 2 shows the average daily number of slides ready for QC by 7AM (embedding starts daily at 5AM). The Assessment data was collected during the on-site assessment in March 2018. The Pre-Batching data was collected by QEH staff in April 2018. The Post-Batching data was collected by QEH staff after the switch to smaller batch sizes in May 2018. That resulted in a 177% improvement in slides ready for QC compared to the assessment.

Figure 2.

During the initial assessment in March 2018, the Pathologists had complained that on most days they did not receive any slides until after 10AM. In the initial month after the switch in batch sizes, slides were ready for the Pathologist on average by 8:09AM.