Our blood test system at Queen’s Hospital is helping patients get their blood test results quicker.

Our pneumatic tube (POD) system sends bloods to be tested, taking under 10 minutes to arrive to the lab.

The blood samples are placed in a pod and are transported by a chute, travelling securely to colleagues who test them.

Previously, porters would carry samples to the lab which on average took 15 minutes, but could take hours at busy times. This change has given our porters 375 hours back each month, allowing them more time to help move patients across our hospitals where necessary, such as for tests and scans.

Getting samples to the lab quicker also helps ensure more accurate tests as blood is better tested in under 15 minutes as it starts to congeal after long periods. This helps to reduce the need for retaking patients’ blood.

Facilities Manager Annie-Mae Brockman said:

The POD chute system is an amazing resource for the clinical teams to get their blood samples to the lab in under 10 minutes, meaning we could be testing and receiving results in under 30 minutes.

"In the first month of the POD project, we saw an almost 40% reduction in the time spent by porters transporting blood. We are still working hard to continue to improve those numbers so we can provide even better care to our patients.