Clinical Analysis Laboratory

In 2024 we completed the project to improve the Preanalytical area and the core of the Biochemistry area by incorporating new preanalytical equipment, a new analysis chain for spectrophotometric and immunochemical techniques, and a postanalytical system consisting of 2 automated refrigerators, with a storage capacity of up to 27,000 samples each. All this has allowed us to optimize the production and management of the core, personalizing workflows and sample management; increasing automation, minimizing tasks without added value and reducing human errors, as well as improving efficiency in the healthcare process with the results delivered to doctors and patients. This Video shows the facilities and the history of the change.

Catlab has achieved the "Green & Sustainable Laboratories" certification promoted by the European Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine (EFLM), becoming the first laboratory operating in the public sector in Spain to achieve this status and one of the few in all of Europe. This certification contributes to a sustainable healthcare system and ensures that laboratories are environmentally friendly, ensuring that resources are used efficiently from ecological, social, and economic perspectives, while providing high-quality services to patients. To achieve this certification, Catlab must: ✅ Adequate control of hazardous chemical products and reagents ✅ Manage energy and water to reduce consumption ✅ Proper management of waste generated in the laboratory from a sustainability perspective ✅ Involve suppliers throughout the entire process to reduce the carbon footprint. With this certification, we reinforce our commitment to excellence and social commitment, demonstrating that analytical quality and innovation can go hand in hand with respect for the environment and sustainability.

There are 2 new readings of these newsletters available: -February: Procalcitonin and sepsis in the critically ill patient (click here) Sepsis is a life-threatening organ dysfunction caused by a dysregulated host response to a bacterial infection. Each hour of delay in diagnosis, attributable to lack of recognition during patient admission, is associated with a 7% reduction in survival. Procalcitonin (PCT) has revolutionized the management of sepsis, allowing for more accurate diagnosis and more efficient antibiotic management. The determination of PCT helps us to predict bacterial infection, distinguishing it from viral infections and other inflammatory processes, and differentiating between localized and systemic bacterial infections. -January: Multiple Myeloma Genetic Analysis (click here) Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological cancer that affects the plasma cells of the bone marrow and detection of chromosomal alterations is essential for its diagnosis and prognosis. Genetic abnormalities include primary changes such as IGH gene rearrangements and secondary changes such as TP53 deletion, which influence survival and response to treatment. A key tool for identifying these alterations is the fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) technique, which allows the detection of specific chromosomal abnormalities in plasma cells. At Catlab we perform the MultiFISH technique that facilitates the analysis of the most relevant genetic alterations in one go, improving the diagnosis and personalization of the treatment.

Last April, the external certification audit for the UNE-EN ISO 14001:2015 standard was successfully passed at the "Laboratori Central de Viladecavalls". With the implementation of this standard, constant improvement in environmental management is promoted.

Society's expectations for sustainable development, transparency and accountability have evolved in the context of increasingly stringent legislation, increasing pressure on environmental pollution, inefficient use of resources, mismanagement of resources, climate change, ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss.This has led organizations to take a systematic approach to environmental management through the implementation of environmental management systems.It is in this context that the international standard ISO 14001 "Environmental Management Systems - Requirements with a focus on its use" aims to provide organizations with a frame of reference to protect the environment and respond to changing environmental conditions, in balance with socio-economic needs.