Automating Urinalysis for Improved laboratory testing towards early detection of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs)

In Ghana, non-communicable diseases are increasing with the urban economic development., Hence, there is an increasing demand for early detection and early treatment. Thus, the importance of screening tests is increasingly growing.

Urinalysis is a simple and rapid test to assess systemic conditions and is utilized for early detection of renal diseases that often develop against a background of lifestyle‐related diseases. However, its usefulness and value are not fully recognized in emerging/developing countries. Additionally, testing is still primarily manual, performed by a limited number of technicians, posing challenges in terms of both quality of results and quantity of testing facilities.

A fully automated urinalysis modular system

Sysmex introduced a fully automated urinalysis modular system (UN-Series) at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) in Kumasi, Ghana's second-largest city, through a collaboration with the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). With the installation of the equipment, Sysmex also conducted training sessions for medical personnel (doctors, clinical laboratory technicians, etc.) to enhance their understanding of the clinical value and utility of automated urinalysis testing, as well as the utility of the products and technologies.

With the UN-Series series, the system automates all aspects of urinalysis workflow. It can perform urine chemistry tests (urine qualitative and semi-quantitative tests), as primary tests, urine sediment tests for detailed analysis of specimens with abnormalities, as well as fully automated imaging diagnosis of particles in urine specimens. The system also features an online maintenance management system that enables remote maintenance, external quality control, and provision of information via the Web.

Laboratory operation improvement

Conventional routine diagnostic techniques for urinalysis are time‐consuming (with a 48‐72-hour turnaround time), laborious (involving multiple procedures from sampling to confirmation), costly, and may produce subjective and less accurate results. This fully automated urinalysis modular system can significantly increase the number of test parameters, throughput, and with accuracy, thereby standardizing and streamlining laboratory operations. Sysmex also aims to promote the clinical value of urine testing automation and advance capacity development through academic symposiums and training programmes.

Raise awareness of the clinical value of automated urinalysis through academic symposium and training

Rolling-out nationwide in Ghana

The project began by installing one set of this UN-Series at KATH in the Ashanti Region, and then disseminated to other Teaching Hospitals, Regional Hospitals, District Hospitals, Military Hospital, and other private hospitals across Ghana. Sysmex will continue to support the hospitals by supplying reagents and providing Service & support, and capacity building programs to make the laboratory operation more sustainable and strengthened.

全自動尿検査総合搬送システムの譲与式

Urinalysis is invaluable in the diagnosis of urologic conditions such as calculi, UTI, and malignancy. It also alerts the physician to the presence of systemic disease affecting the kidneys. The Sysmex fully automated Urine fluorescence flow cytometers determine particles in a volume of native urine. With flow cytometry, a much larger number of particles can be examined than would be possible with the non-automated microscopy. Particles are automatically stained with fluorescent dyes, identified and classified by means of laser technology, based on their forward and sideward scattered light intensities as well as their fluorescent light signals. Accordingly, these modular systems can achieve a significantly higher precision and accuracy with short-turn-around time than conventional methods. Thus, these modular systems present a valuable contribution to the quality of individual results and have improved healthcare delivery in Ghana.

The project took off in 2018 with the installation of the complete UN‐Series at KATH and capacity building through trainings for laboratory scientists and physicians to reinforce urinalysis.

The project also held a scientific conference which was attended by medical scientists and clinicians from various health facilities in the Ashanti Region and beyond, thus contributing to their continuous professional development.

Elijah Cooper AGGREY
Sysmex West & Central Africa Ltd.