(WASP: Plano, TX) -- KDL Pathology specializes in dermatopathology and is trusted by physicians, patients, and other laboratories for the most accurate and reliable pathology services. Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, KDL has expertise in inflammatory and neoplastic skin disorders, ocular disease, and surgical pathology. Additionally, KDL consistently scores highest in client satisfaction for diagnostics and client support.

The state-of-the-art laboratory strives to provide timely, accurate results for its clients. However, with the amount of biopsies sent to KDL to be processed, employees often felt it was difficult to keep up. KDL wanted to provide better patient care and accurate results while addressing errors proactively.

“We faced a variety of issues with our labeling system,” says Roddey Coe, systems administrator for KDL. “We were having problems maintaining lab tests with the proper data. We had to double- or triple-check to make sure paperwork didn’t get lost or mixed up. If we had a melanoma tested, we had to ensure that the paperwork and melanoma were associated with the correct patient. We manually wrote the patient’s name on the bottle, then on the requisition, but unfortunately, errors still occurred.”

Concerned about mixing up specimens and the applicable paperwork, KDL Pathology searched for a solution to improve the company’s labeling system, reduce errors, and increase efficiency.

With an end goal of providing better patient care and accurate results, Coe sought a tracking solution that provided number serialization and stored the number in a database. Another priority was the ease of use. With multiple people using the system, Coe wanted a system that could be used by all employees, regardless of technological proficiency.

KDL reviewed a variety of solutions, but most options required buying a specific database, something the lab wasn’t interested in purchasing. Having previously used Wasp Barcode Technology for another project, Coe evaluated solutions offered by the company. After doing some research, he found that WaspLabeler +2D, a software solution that allows businesses to create custom barcodes, provided database flexibility and allowed KDL to save serial numbers, which other solutions did not allow.

“We selected WaspLabeler +2D because it had all of the features we were looking for at a cost that was well within our budget,” says Coe. “The best feature was the ability to store serial numbers for labeling in a database to be reviewed at another time. Other options provided serial numbers when you printed the label, but once you closed the program, you lost the number.”

Since KDL Pathology has begun using the new labeling system, Coe finds it hard to imagine working without it. “It was easy to use right from the beginning,” he says. “I remember thinking that it would take an IT guy to use it successfully. Fortunately, that isn’t the case, and employees with all levels of technology experience have been able to grasp the process and use [the labeler] successfully.”

KDL Pathology has reduced errors by 60 to 70 percent due to the significant reduction in human error. Additionally, the new system has saved at least 20 hours a week that was previously used for tracking paperwork and double-checking results. This saved time has enabled the KDL Pathology team to continue focusing on tests and high-quality client services.

KDL now has barcode options that permit the company to switch to 2-D barcode scanning and will also allow it to grow to QR codes in the future.