The Impact of Clinical Sample Transportation by Unmanned Aerial Systems on the Results of Laboratory Tests

Abstract

Transport by unmanned aerial systems (UASs) (e.g., drones) could save time and personnel. Our study aimed to assess the effect of drone transportation on the clinical laboratory results of biological samples by examining its impact on pre-analytical and analytical processes. We performed a cross-sectional study of healthy volunteers from Sha’ar Menashe Mental Health Center between July and November 2022. Blood and urine samples were transferred to the central laboratory at Hillel Yaffe Medical Center. Overall, 40 healthcare workers aged 21–67 years (57.5% females) with a mean age of 45.8 (SD = 11.3) years from Sha’ar Menashe Mental Health Center were recruited in the study. There were no significant differences between transportation modes in the complete blood count levels. We found a significant difference between the transportation modes for GGT (p = 0.01) and PT (p = 0.04), despite the very similar mean results of these tests. In Bland–Altman plots, GGT and PT samples fell within the 95% limits of agreement and were indicated as not clinically relevant; however, glucose and LDH did not meet the 95% acceptance criterion and showed a potential clinical effect. There was full agreement between the two types of transportation for urine glucose, nitrites, and urine cultures. UAS transport is an appropriate method for maintaining the quality of most routine clinical laboratory specimens, similar to the routine procedure of using a vehicle. For the 34 biochemistry, hematology, and coagulation assay parameters, only glucose and LDH did not meet the 95% acceptance criterion and showed a potential clinical effect.