CASE STUDY
Cambridge Hospital Clinically Validates New PTS with VitalQC
Cambridge Memorial Hospital
Cambridge, ON, Canada · 1.2 million tests processed annually · View Website
Collaborators:
Hayley Hamilton, BSc, MLT
Manager of Laboratory Medicine
“Using VitalQC gave us objective, clinical confidence in our new PTS system— without needing to rely on blood-based testing. This helped us streamline our validation process, increase efficiencies, and reinforce our commitment to quality patient care.”
Hayley Hamilton, BSc, MLT
Cambridge Memorial Hospital
Challenge
In 2023, Cambridge Memorial Hospital (CMH) commissioned an expanded laboratory,doubling its capacity to support growing diagnostic demands. To optimize workflow andreduce pre-analytical delays, CMH implemented a Pneumatic Tube System (PTS) designed to facilitate rapid, secure transport of specimens, medications, and clinicaldocuments throughout the hospital.
However, CMH recognized a critical challenge: blood samples transported through PTS can be at risk of hemolysis. To meet the highest pre-analytical standards and ensure safe transport of both blood samples and blood products, CMH needed a scientifically robust, repeatable method to validate the PTS without relying exclusively on blood-based testing.
Solution
To validate the new PTS and safeguard sample integrity, CMH adopted VitalQC - the only non-blood-based solution for clinically validating and continuously monitoring pneumatic tube systems.
VitalQC’s VitalVials measured vibration, shock, and impact across major transport routes, with data uploaded to the VitalApp. Patented algorithms analyzed the results to provide immediate insight into the likelihood of clinically significant hemolysis and rejection probabilities, calibrated to CMH’s specific chemistry analyzer. This offered a more accurate and reproducible validation method—without live blood samples.
CMH conducted three types of validation using VitalQC:
• Initial Validation – traditional blood sample testing performed alongside VitalQC
• Phase 2 Validation – routine sample routes validated using VitalQC only
• Blood Product Validation – performance confirmed for transfusion-related transportroutes
Results
Blood Samples Tested
CMH validated each PTS line as it went live. The initial validation (October 2024) paired blood-based testing with the VitalVials, confirming VitalQC’s accuracy and reliability. A second validation (January 2025) used only VitalQC. In both cases, results confirmed PTS performance was well within clinically acceptable thresholds across all routine sample routes, with rejection probabilities far below critical levels.
Blood Products Tested
Blood product transport routes were also validated with VitalQC. While variability was slightly higher on longer or more complex routes, all lines passed validation standards. No evidence of clinically significant hemolysis or temperature fluctuations was observed, ensuring blood product safety for transfusion and diagnostics.
About Cambridge Memorial Hospital
Cambridge Memorial Hospital is a full-service acute care facility in Cambridge, Ontario, serving the Waterloo Region and surrounding communities. With a strong focus on innovation, patient safety, and quality care,
CMH processes over 1.2 million tests annually and is accredited under ISO 15189 and IQMH.
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