New FC 500 Driver for Data Innovations’ Instrument Manager Enables Bidirectional Information Flow

Beckman Coulter, Inc., announces a specially designed device driver for the widely-used Data Innovations Instrument Manager (IM) 8.05 that enables bidirectional information delivery to and from the FC 500 Flow Cytometer. Data Innovations’ middleware links various instruments with the laboratory information system (LIS). The new, specialised FC 500 driver allows automation of the entire process, from sample receipt to reportable result. The system creates an external work list (EWL) that includes test requests and patient demographic information.

The IM 8.05 tracks each sample throughout the process to reduce labour requirements and errors and helps users meet CAP and JCAHO patient safety goals. The software features advanced decision rules capabilities that significantly increase lab productivity and graphics that can be reviewed and transferred to the LIS along with relevant results.

“Data management is a key decision factor in flow cytometry purchases,” explains Willy Gutierrez, marketing manager for Beckman Coulter. “Bidirectional information flow saves time, reduces errors and is very important to customers. The combined offering of our FC 500 with the IM 8.05 software delivers clear advantages over what is available from other suppliers.”

Customers who are already using Instrument Manager can download the upgrade free of charge. The complete off-the-shelf hardware and software solution for the FC 500 is available directly from Beckman Coulter.

The FC 500 and IM 8.05 software are part of Beckman Coulter’s Integrated Cytometry Solution (ICS), which standardises and streamlines sample processing in clinical labs. The ICS also includes Beckman Coulter’s FP 1000 Sample Processing System and TQ-Prep and PrepPlus™ 2 Workstations along with a broad line of consumables. The solution simplifies workflow and tracks samples throughout the testing process – from receiving and preparing samples, to acquiring and analysing data, to reporting results.