Image source: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
News • Laboratory Information Management System
Blood transfusion service receives LIMS upgrade
Health board adopts new Laboratory Information Management System (LIMS) to support transfusion laboratory testing and blood component distribution
The Blood Transfusion service at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board (ABUHB) has implemented Clinisys WinPath, marking the first deployment of this system in Wales.
The service has used Clinisys Laboratory Information Management Systems for some time, but its previous LabCentre LIMS had reached end of life. Clinisys worked with ABUHB to ensure the new version would support local workflows, leading to the launch of WinPath 2023.3 late last autumn.
The use of user-definable rules adds flexibility that our previous LIMS had limited scope for. These rules help guide users through the steps they need to take for different tests and scenarios. This improves efficiency and reduces errors
Jennifer Summers
Stacey Wetherell, haematology department manager, said: “Clinisys is the leading LIMS in the UK, and we knew that other laboratories were using it with the software that we use to remotely issue and track blood and blood products. We serve four hospitals, but we only test blood transfusion samples on one site, so integration with our tracking system was vital for us. Clinisys committed to further developments and enhancements to incorporate the required NHS Wales workflows, and following much testing we took WinPath version 2023.3. Now, we have a modern, robust, and future proof solution that has been well-received by our staff and is good for our patients.”
The latest release of Clinisys WinPath not only supports NHS Wales’ unique requirements but also delivers enhanced functionality that can benefit blood transfusion laboratories across the whole of the United Kingdom. Jennifer Summers, blood transfusion laboratory manager, thanked the health board staff for their help in the extensive testing that was required to adopt the new system. “The go-live was very smooth,” she said, “but that was a testament to the extensive testing that was carried out prior to go-live (over 120 separate test scripts) and to the training package that the laboratory developed following the Clinisys superuser training. Staff have taken to the new system really well. It’s very user-friendly and we’re confident it has given us a great platform for the future.”
Simon Hoad, pathology directorate manager, said “The Blood Transfusion IT system at ABUHB had reached end-of-life, requiring a secure replacement to ensure patient safety and support clinical needs. The project team successfully delivered the new system within exceptionally tight timeframes, exceeding expectations.”
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board is a key organisation in South East Wales. It provides its services through a number of hospitals and health centres, including The Grange University Hospital in Cwmbran. The Grange has a state-of-the-art laboratory that was built and equipped just five years ago and handles centralised transfusion sample testing, blood issuing and the onward distribution of blood and blood products for the whole health board.
Image source: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board
Clinisys undertook development work to make sure Clinisys WinPath could handle the way blood stock orders are receipted from the Welsh Blood Service. As a result, it now has a LIMS that can support Welsh requirements.
Jennifer Summers said other benefits of Clinisys WinPath over earlier systems are that it is Windows rather than character based, which means it has the same user interface as other, modern IT systems. “The use of user-definable rules adds flexibility that our previous LIMS had limited scope for. These rules help guide users through the steps they need to take for different tests and scenarios. This improves efficiency and reduces errors,” she said. Quick guides were developed by the laboratory for the deployment project to provide additional support to staff.
Dr Sarah Lewis, consultant haematologist and laboratory lead, said: “WinPath has streamlined our laboratory processes, delivering results that support timely clinical decisions. Its strong data management and audit capabilities enhance patient safety. ABUHB now has a reliable, efficient system that truly provides a robust and future-proof transfusion service which supports improved patient care."
Craig Hayes, head of domain for blood transfusion at Clinisys, said: “We were delighted to work on this project, which was a true collaboration with the health board. On our side, there was some development work to be done, so we worked closely with them to make sure their needs were met. We were also impressed by their approach to testing, which undoubtedly contributed to the smooth go-live and adoption of the new system. Now we have developed our system to support Wales, it is undoubtedly something that other health boards could consider, subject to the roll-out of the national solution.”
Source: Clinisys
27.01.2026
