ODIN Introduces EasySpecimen RFID-Based Lab Tracking Solution

ODIN has released EasySpecimen – healthcare-specific RFID solution today designed to automate tracking and data entry in pathology labs. EasySpecimen is a passive RFID-based solution designed using patented developments, business processes and best practices refined over the last four years by Mayo Clinic.

Mayo Clinic has licensed the patent and know-how exclusively to ODIN for RFID-based specimen tracking. The solution uses ODIN’s patented RFID operating system software, off-the shelf passive RFID hardware and RFID tags. This offers medical centers an integrative, ubiquitous RFID tracking solution for pathology specimen management.

Mayo’s Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology has been working for four years developing an RFID system for specimen tracking within the GI/Colorectal Surgery Endoscopy Practice. In 2010, the Mayo team selected ODIN as its RFID software collaborator to replace and upgrade its legacy RFID system and commercialize the patented technology. Mayo is implementing the EasySpecimen RFID solution across its 42 GI/Colorectal Endoscopy suites and Anatomic Pathology Laboratory on the Rochester, MN campus.

ODIN estimates that pathology labs deploying EasySpecimen RFID tracking can expect a significant reduction in specimen labeling errors, as well as benefit from resource and staffing savings. ODIN anticipates seamless integration with most laboratory information systems (LIS) and an expected return on investment for the system to be under 12 months for a typical lab.

“ODIN’s dedication to RFID in healthcare continues to grow and this collaboration with the world’s premier health care provider is another testament to that commitment,” said Patrick J. Sweeney II, founder of ODIN. “We have successfully incorporated best-practices and 21st century technology transforming what has traditionally been a very manual, wasteful process. EasySpecimen enables error reductions, increased speed and cost savings and is a technology that can improve health care across the globe.”

“Pathology labs almost universally receive paper requisition forms with accompanying specimens for accessioning into the LIS. These paper requisition forms are typically filled-in by hand from nursing staff/clinical providers. This practice represents a major source of specimen labeling errors (sometimes as high as 10%), all of which have the potential for sentinel event occurrences and adverse outcomes for patients,” commented Dr. Schuyler Sanderson, the pathologist who has been championing the RFID technology for AP specimen management at Mayo.