As health care systems around the world face challenges such as labor shortages, increased regulation and budget constraints, they rely on technology to help manage the impact. To assist in addressing these challenges, Abbott announced OneLab, a new, Web-based, integrated laboratory informatics solution. OneLab is a highly-configurable platform that allows labs of any size to standardize processes across multiple locations and automate routine procedures such as sample management and tracking, as well as test result review and approval. This new information management capability can improve efficiency and productivity while reducing errors, which is important for patient safety.

"The essence of diagnostic testing is accurate medical information and, most importantly, the ability to provide it to clinicians when, where and how they need it," said Brian Blaser, executive vice president, Diagnostics Products, Abbott. "Our customers are processing large volumes of tests for physicians. OneLab allows labs to address these operational challenges without sacrificing quality or efficiency."

Informatics refers to the processing, management and retrieval of information, which is critical for making clinical decisions. In the laboratory, clinical decision- making requires access to timely and accurate information. OneLab unites most of a laboratory's information and decision tools into one easy-to-use system, allowing labs to manage data with a single user interface. The solution is comprised of three applications: Smart Center, Inventory Manager, and Decision Center.

• Smart Center is a Web-based laboratory process management and control application and the heart of the OneLab platform. It provides robust connectivity to instruments and a single point for consolidated information. The built-in functionality enables the automation of complex clinical laboratory protocols, leading to greater productivity and standardization of best practices. Together, all these capabilities and benefits support the quality of care.
• Inventory Manager is an inventory tracking and order management system that utilizes Radio Frequency Identification (RFID). Inventory Manager provides an automated solution to improve the accuracy of order entry, inventory count and usage, while reducing labor required to track supplies.
• Decision Center is a business performance application that utilizes sophisticated tools to bring together data from different sources to optimize decision-making. Using advanced database technology, data can be integrated from multiple sources and quickly structured into visually accessible formats.

"No matter where they are located, laboratories around the world all share common challenges - increasing test loads, staff shortages and mounting pressure to do more with less while improving quality," said Ulf Oesinghaus, deputy pharmacy manager, laboratory director of strategic purchasing, University of Medicine Gottingen, Germany.

"To address challenges posed by cost pressures and staff shortages, labs want informatics solutions that help them expedite test result processing and transmit clinical information clearly and rapidly to physicians. A reliable and easy-to-use informatics system can achieve productivity, clear communication between the laboratory and clinicians, and cost and labor savings to improve the laboratory’s efficiency and performance within any health care setting," he said.

Abbott introduced OneLab in Australia, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and Spain. Additional launches, including the United States, are scheduled for later in 2012 and 2013.

About Abbott Diagnostics
Abbott is a global leader in in vitro diagnostics and offers a broad range of innovative instrument systems and tests for hospitals, reference labs, molecular labs, blood banks, physician offices and clinics. With more than 22,000 customers in more than 100 countries, Abbott's diagnostic products offer customers automation, convenience, bedside testing, cost effectiveness and flexibility. Abbott has helped transform the practice of medical diagnosis from an art to a science through the company's commitment to improving patient care and lowering costs.

About Abbott
Abbott (NYSE: ABT) is a global, broad-based health care company devoted to the discovery, development, manufacture and marketing of pharmaceuticals and medical products, including nutritionals, devices and diagnostics. The company employs approximately 91,000 people and markets its products in more than 130 countries.