TLDR:
- A.I.-driven robots named Tarzan and Jane are being used to process microbiology samples at St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver, Canada.
- The robots handle about 70% of the hospital’s microbiology samples, freeing up lab staff from repetitive tasks.
- The robots are capable of unscrewing specimen tubes, streaking samples onto bacterial culture plates, and sorting and assessing the plates.
- The use of A.I. for lab automation is a first for Western Canada.
Lab automation is not a new concept, but the use of artificial intelligence (A.I.) for lab automation is a “first for Western Canada,” according to St. Paul’s Hospital in Vancouver. The hospital uses A.I.-driven robots named Tarzan and Jane to process up to 70% of its microbiology samples. The robots are capable of unscrewing specimen tubes, streaking samples onto bacterial culture plates, and sorting and assessing the plates. The robots handle about 145,000 microbiological samples each year. The use of A.I. has allowed lab staff to focus on more complex work, as the robots take care of routine tasks.
The introduction of the robots has been met with excitement and some apprehension from lab staff. However, it has been noted that the robots are not infallible, with occasional errors occurring. Human supervision is still required to correct mistakes. A spokesperson from the hospital stated that Tarzan and Jane have a specific role to play in the healthcare setting and will not completely replace medical professionals. The spokesperson predicted that A.I. would instead free up the next generation of physicians from simpler work.
The hospital plans to set up another A.I.-driven lab when the new St. Paul’s Hospital opens its doors in 2027. The spokesperson emphasized that A.I. is a big part of the future of healthcare, but it is not the be-all and end-all. While automated systems generally work well, there are cases where human intervention is necessary to provide a definitive answer. The spokesperson also mentioned that the level of patient acuity and complexity is increasing, which poses challenges for A.I. in making accurate assessments. A balance between A.I. and human intervention is key in the future of healthcare.
Original Article: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/st-pauls-hospital-ai-driven-robots-microbiology-samples-1.6399194