Carrier uses IoT solution to provide sample traceability to customers

, Mai 3, 2018

SCENARIO

One of the largest telecommunication operators in Brazil started a work focused on building a portfolio of innovative solutions to complement its connectivity offer. Among the various possibilities studied, the carrier noted that, in the healthcare sector, more specifically in the clinical analysis laboratories segment, there was a great interest in solutions for tracing test samples.

To ensure data reliability and the safety of all involved - both patients and laboratories - the samples must be correctly secured and controlled at all times, from collection to delivery, to ensure no manipulation.

Thus, the carrier chose Logicalis to develop together, at four hands, a project to offer laboratories with a sample tracing solution.

SOLUTION

The first step is to build a solution demonstration kit. In this way, the client will be able to present the technology, the concept, and the benefits to potential stakeholders.

To develop the solution, Logicalis is partnering with UNITEC, a company specialized in the development of semiconductors, which has designed a specific RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) tag to be used in sample tubes. One tag characteristic is that it can be twisted, so it fits any type of sample tube used. Also, antennas will be used to read the RFID tags and sample tubes’ temperature.

To treat collected data, Logicalis is developing a specific EUGENIO-based application to receive and correlate the data from each tube with patient’s and physician’s data.

The connection between sensors and antennas and the EUGENIO platform will be made by the carrier, which will provide GSM chips for data transmission.

With the solution demonstration kit, it’s possible to simulate samples’ route in several stages:

  1. The collection is when the sample leaves the collection center with information about the patient and the medical requests to forward the material for specific analysis.
  2. Samples are stored and separated based on the type of material for transportation, storing data about temperature, transportation time, and localization. It’s the second stage, the preparation.
  3. Then comes the transportation, when information is collected for tracing, controlling the temperature, and time to be stored on the route.
  4. The fourth stage is the control, which comes from car connectivity’s ability to provide information on localization, temperature, stored time, and infectious residue control.Afterward comes real-time monitoring of all shipments, from collection to delivery.
  5. The last stage is a receipt, which gives real-time information on samples’ localization, stored time, transportation time, and temperature.

Through the demonstration kit, the carrier will be able to assess prospect clients in the healthcare sector who wish to use this type of solution. The final solution suitability for each customer will be a further step, which should require a consultative approach from Logicalis to identify the best alternatives for each implementation case.

BENEFITS

For the carrier, this solution should change the sales concept, as it should expand the connectivity services portfolio to introduce an IoT product to customers and exercise the idea of demonstration sales.

As for the carrier’s customers, after acquiring the solution, the benefits include fewer chances of losing samples, greater precision in results, by knowing how the sample was treated from collection to analysis, and the possibility of offering patients with a better experience.

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