Siemens Showcases New Innovations in Clinical Diagnostics, Automation, and IT at IFCC-WorldLab Berlin 2011

BERLIN, May 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics is showcasing a broad spectrum of its clinical diagnostics portfolio, including a focus on scalable lab automation solutions, at the IFCC (International Federation of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine) WorldLab 2011 in Berlin, Germany, May 16 – May 18, 2011 (Booth #14-01). The exhibit – themed "Innovation. Powered by You." – reflects how Siemens (NYSE: SI) puts the power of innovation in its customers' hands and features an in-depth display of customizable workflow options, breakthrough systems and assays, next-generation diagnostic IT products, and new customer care solutions.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20070904/SIEMENSLOGO )

To help create a unique hands-on experience for customers, interactive touch screens are "connected" to an automation track and showcase valuable information about Siemens' performance-driven systems and comprehensive assay menu. Siemens experts are on hand to provide visitors with a customized learning tour tailored to their specific interests.

"At Siemens, innovation is our passion. It drives our advances in developing diagnostics solutions that will maximize our customers' operational efficiency and help them achieve their business goals," said Michael Reitermann, CEO, Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics. "This year's IFCC-WorldLab gives us an excellent platform to showcase our ideas, new products, and personalized services in an exciting way."

Flexible Automation Solutions

Siemens is utilizing IFCC-WorldLab to reinforce its strength in laboratory automation. Through dedicated touch screens, visitors can learn more about ADVIA® LabCell®, ADVIA® WorkCell® and StreamLAB® automation solutions. These systems deliver a wide range of throughput and lab-configuration requirements, with expanded features such as the Refrigerated Storage Module for StreamLab with automated sample archiving – from tray tracking to full automation. Also featured in the automation area is the VersaCell™ System, offering flexible connectivity options across the Siemens analyzer portfolio, as well as consolidated sample management, refined sorting capabilities, and archiving benefits.

As a global leader in clinical laboratory automation, Siemens has also unveiled a new vision for total lab automation. Represented via a distinctive track configuration positioned centrally in the booth, this next-generation automation solution(1) provides complete flexibility by easily adapting to a laboratory's connectivity requirements.

Performance-Driven Systems and Comprehensive Assay Menu

Through the interactive touch screens, Siemens is also demonstrating its broad portfolio of clinical laboratory systems – immunoassay, chemistry, hemostasis, hematology, molecular, microbiology, diabetes, urinalysis, and blood gas – combined with an extremely comprehensive test menu.

Highlights include the new Dimension EXL® 200, complete with automated, productivity-enhancing features that promote unparalleled performance. Representatives are also there to discuss the new Siemens Vitamin D Total Assay on ADVIA Centaur® Systems(2) — a fully automated assay that measures the total 25-hydroxyvitamin D level (~100% D(2) and D(3)) to ensure patients are correctly evaluated for deficiency, sufficiency and toxicity with results in a little as 18 minutes. Additionally, Siemens is displaying the latest information on its new hemostasis instrument and assay technologies that help drive efficiencies and set a new standard in automated VWF activity determination.

Diagnostics IT

IFCC-WorldLab is also serving as an important stage for the latest in Siemens Diagnostic IT solutions, including syngo® Lab Data Manager. This new robust data management system offers advanced capabilities for auto verification of lab results, quality control, and seamless connectivity of lab instruments to the laboratory information system (LIS), automation and remote services. Visitors can also use this opportunity to learn more about the ADVIA CentraLink® Data Management System, which provides current ADVIA system customers with a central platform for consolidating lab data and automating workflow activities, ensuring faster, more accurate data delivery.

Laboratories' continuing focus on cost efficiency and quality also reinforces the need for a new category of IT—process management, which integrates process control with data management to deliver real-time information that can prompt proactive action. Now in development, Siemens syngo® Lab Process Manager intends to make this vision a reality.

Siemens Diagnostic IT experts are also showcasing information on the PRISCA 5.0 Prenatal Risk Calculation Software Shared Database(2) – a maternal screening software that delivers the industry's first Shared Database supporting inter-laboratory data comparisons and demographic factor analysis to improve the accuracy of prenatal risk assessments.

Customer Care

The company exhibit also includes a dedicated space for Siemens' latest technologies and solutions in customer care to help laboratories reach their full potential. Its Personalized Education Plan (PEP)(3) is the only fully customized, competency-based education software in the diagnostics industry built on knowledge, skills and job-specific laboratory responsibilities that can be accessed anywhere at anytime.

Educational Workshops

In addition to the booth exhibit, Siemens is hosting several educational workshops. Topics include:

• The Value of Improved Workflow Solutions
  Monday, 16 May, 13.00–14.00 h, Hall 9 (ISW 5)

• Diagnostic and Clinical Importance of Measuring Vitamin D Total
  Tuesday, 17 May, 14.15–15.15 h, Hall 4/5 (ISW 25)

• New High-Performance Assays for the Determination of Free Light Chains Kappa and Lambda—adding Consistency to Monitoring and Screening of Multiple Myeloma
  Tuesday, 17 May, 16.45–17.45 h, Hall 9 (ISW 33)

For more information about Siemens at the IFCC-WorldLab Berlin 2011, please visit www.siemens.com/IFCC-WorldLab.

(1) This product is currently under development and not yet available for sale.

(2) Not available for sale in the U.S.

(3) Patent pending.

The Siemens Healthcare Sector is one of the world's largest suppliers to the healthcare industry and a trendsetter in medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, medical information technology and hearing aids. Siemens offers its customers products and solutions for the entire range of patient care from a single source – from prevention and early detection to diagnosis, and on to treatment and aftercare. By optimizing clinical workflows for the most common diseases, Siemens also makes healthcare faster, better and more cost-effective. Siemens Healthcare employs some 48,000 employees worldwide and operates around the world. In fiscal year 2010 (to September 30), the Sector posted revenue of 12.4 billion euros and profit of around 750 million euros. For further information please visit: www.siemens.com/healthcare.

SOURCE Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics