High-Tech Diagnostic Equipment For Waitakere

Waitakere Hospital

- high-tech diagnostic equipment will benefit West Auckland patients

The new Waitakere Hospital will have some of the world’s most high-tech laboratory equipment, thanks to a special partnership arrangement with Bayer Healthcare’s New Zealand diagnostics division.

Under the partnership, Bayer will install $1 million worth of diagnostic equipment at the hospital, including immunoassay, chemistry, blood gas and urinalysis machines.

The equipment has been delivered to the hospital this month to allow for set-up and staff training before the hospital, which has been undergoing a $60 million redevelopment, opens acute services in February 2005. It will be the first time West Aucklanders have access to a local hospital-based laboratory service and this type of advanced diagnostic equipment locally.

Bayer Diagnostics New Zealand manager Kylie Head says the partnership is a “win-win” situation for both organisations.

“The Waitemata District Health Board, which also runs North Shore Hospital, has Bayer VIP customer status, including 24-hour engineering and technical support.

“The hospitals are also reference sites for other Bayer customers who may want to see our laboratory equipment in a working hospital environment. No other laboratories in the country have as much Bayer equipment, so it’s great for us to be able to demonstrate our machines live in a working situation.”

Waitemata DHB’s laboratory manager Andrea McLeod says the partnership is good news for the health board’s hospitals.

More… “Having similar laboratory equipment across both hospital sites means staff training will be easier and ensure there will be continuous back-up if any technical problems occur at either site.” Kylie Head says Bayer’s diagnostics division is also one of the world’s largest diagnostic businesses with an extensive range of laboratory equipment.

“As research advances and becomes more sophisticated our customers are able to tap into the latest technology through our partnership arrangements.”

Bayer diagnostic equipment used by Waitemata DHB includes Bayer’s ADVIA® range of analysers, which are among the most sophisticated on the market. The ADVIA 120 measures full blood counts while the 1650 measures electrolyte balance, renal and liver function, bone metabolism and blood sugar levels allowing doctors to detect a range of illnesses. They can process 120 and 1650 samples an hour respectively, which makes them ideal for large hospitals that need fast turnaround times for patient management.

Another important machine is the Centaur® immunoanalyser, the fastest of its kind on the market, which is used for a wide range of tests, including cardiac markers that indicate whether a patient has had a heart attack, and the PSA marker for prostrate cancer.

Bayer also supplies data management systems that link gas blood systems from around the hospital to the laboratory, allowing laboratory staff to monitor instrument performance remotely.

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Bayer HealthCare in New Zealand

Bayer HealthCare is an integral arm of Bayer, the international, research-based group. Bayer HealthCare combines the global activities of the Animal Health, Biological Products, Consumer Care, Diagnostics and Pharmaceuticals divisions. Providing innovative diagnostic systems, modern prescription pharmaceuticals, world-renowned over-the-counter drugs and animal health products, Bayer HealthCare is enhancing wellbeing and quality of life for all New Zealanders.
In New Zealand, Bayer aims to make a positive contribution to the community, not only by providing innovative healthcare solutions, but also through our educational partnerships. For example, Bayer HealthCare supports ongoing clinical research and educational initiatives in the treatment of haemophilia. On a broader scale, we believe social commitment also extends to the environment. We support initiatives to preserve and protect New Zealand’s native flora and fauna, such as the Bayer Kiwi Incubation Unit in Whangarei, and have established a unique plant sanctuary at our East Tamaki warehouse where rare native plants are grown.

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