Abstract:
Background: Clinical laboratory automation has been widely implemented in every modern
laboratory with different automation level. Though automation has many advantages, still
many challenges affect its utilization in clinical laboratories of developing countries which in
turn limited the capacity of health institutions to deliver adequate health care. So identifying
challenges relating to clinical chemistry automation utilization faced by laboratories is
important to work on and resolve those obstacles.
Objective: To assess status and challenges of clinical chemistry automation utilization in
public hospital laboratories of selected zones of Oromia region, Ethiopia from January 28 to
March 15, 2019.
Method: This study was conducted in 15 public hospitals found in Southwest Shoa, Jimma,
Ilubabor and Buno-Bedele zones. Cross-sectional study using both quantitative and
qualitative research approach was conducted from January 28 to March 15, 2019. A total of
68 key informants were included purposively for in-depth interview. In addition, 93
laboratory personnels who were working in the clinical chemistry section were included in
the study. Data were collected by in-depth interview guides, questionnaires and checklists.
The quantitative data were analyzed by simple descriptive statistics using SPSS version 23
whereas qualitative data were analyzed thematically.
Results: In the assessed hospitals, almost all non-analytical activities of clinical chemistry
tests were not automated. There were 14 different brands and models of clinical chemistry
analyzers. More than two-thirds of analyzers found in the studied hospitals were out-ofservice during the study period. In other way, only 14 (15.1%) of the laboratory personnels
had received user training of clinical chemistry analyzers. Majority of the laboratories were
suffered from clinical chemistry reagents shortage. There were also inappropriate
procurement process of the analyzers, misuse and underuse of clinical chemistry tests in the
studied hospitals, which affect the clinical chemistry automation utilization.
Conclusion and recommendations: Clinical chemistry automation was not utilized
appropriately due to a series of barriers in the study areas. Barriers hindering automation
utilization should be acted up on by the facilities and other stakeholders.
