Olympus demonstrates new AU-CONNECTOR connectivity solutions

Olympus announced to visitors at the recent Euromedlab conference the exciting range of connectivity options offered by the new AU-CONNECTOR. This compact system enables Olympus AU chemistry and immunoassay systems to be connected to each other in various combinations and uses Intelligent Sample Management to create powerful consolidated testing areas.

The AU-CONNECTOR has been designed in response to a range of demands within laboratories for workstation consolidation, faster sample transfer between instruments and wider testing capabilities on individual samples. Example combinations are two AU2700 Clinical Chemistry systems, two AU3000i Immunoassay systems or one of each.

The AU-CONNECTOR uses its Intelligent Sample Management and tube pre-sorting capabilities to keep all the analysers working at full potential. Racks with pre-sorted samples are transported to a large rack buffer zone on the sorter which guarantees continuous sample loading even during peak workload situations.

According to Dr. Harm Vitzthum, Product Manager Labautomation at Olympus, the AU-CONNECTOR then selects each bar-coded sample tube from standard loading racks and directs it to the appropriate analyser, whilst monitoring all connected subsystems: “The software gives full control of all connected analysers via a single graphic user interface. Samples are automatically routed and re-routed to the most appropriate analytical systems – whichever are in operation or have the appropriate reagents. Overall the AU-CONNECTOR can handle more than 600 sample tubes per hour in the sorting area and still retain full STAT capability. This makes it ideal for use with high throughput analysers such as the AU3000i and AU2700.”