Epredia’s new SlideMate Thermal Slide Printer delivers on-demand slide printing and enhanced traceability for pathology laboratories.
Epredia, a provider of precision cancer diagnostics solutions and a subsidiary of PHC Holdings Corporation, has launched its new SlideMate Thermal Slide Printer (TSP). SlideMate TSP is the newest addition to the company’s SlideMate portfolio of slide printers, which are used in pathology laboratories to identify and help track tissue samples.
Building on the technology of its award-winning SlideMate Laser printer, Epredia has engineered the SlideMate TSP to help clinical laboratories of any size to protect tissue samples, strengthen sample traceability, and streamline workflow efficiency during cancer diagnosis.
The SlideMate TSP creates crisp, permanent thermal transfer printing on microscope slides with modernised features designed to maximise product performance and reduce laboratory workflow interruptions. Print speed is less than four seconds per slide, keeping pace with today’s busy laboratories.
Printing directly on to slides assists in minimising traceability errors due to label transfer. Notable features include enclosed slide hoppers to protect samples from potential dust contamination, coupled with mechanical slide movement that offers smoother handling than gravity-fed solutions. While lateral slide movement helps slides avoid being chipped or damaged during the printing process.
The two hoppers have space for up to 144 slides within the printer, which also has a manual front-loading option for true on-demand printing.
The thermal transfer technology means that SlideMate TSP is compatible with a wide selection of slide types. It is fully validated for use with Epredia’s own SlideMate, SlideMate PLUS, SlideMate Laser and SlideMate Laser PLUS ranges of slides.
The printer’s main feature is its sizeable eight-inch touch screen, displaying an intuitive and easy to use digital interface. There’s also a slide input/output channel, above a collection chute with the capacity to hold 13 newly-printed slides. Twin LED indicators are at the base of the unit.
The unit’s small footprint takes up reduced space on the benchtop and also enables placement at the microtome. The SlideMate TSP screen is also adjustable, allowing different users to choose their own angle for comfortable working.
Integration
In addition to its modernised features, the SlideMate TSP’s compact size allows for seamless integration into any histopathology, cytology, or other pathology workflow. When used in conjunction with Epredia LabWriter software, it can easily interface with a laboratory information system.
The SlideMate TSP is the latest addition to Epredia’s world-class portfolio of precision cancer diagnostics products and services that provide a seamless end-to end laboratory workflow. Epredia also offers optimised slides designed for use with the SlideMate TSP, including non adhesion slides with Superfrost technology and adhesion slides with Superfrost PLUS technology to maximise tissue adherence. Slides are available in a range of colours, which laboratories can use to coordinate downstream activities.
SlideMate TSP is manufactured in Italy, and is the newest technology to come out of PHC Group’s San Benedetto del Tronto facility.
Award-winning background
Epredia’s other slide printing technologies boast an enviable pedigree, with the SlideMate Laser winning not one, but two prestigious industry accolades.
In 2024, MedTech Breakthrough, an independent market intelligence organisation that recognises the top companies, technologies and products in the global digital health and medical technology market, selected Epredia’s SlideMate Laser slide printer as the winner of the ‘Best New Pathology Solution’ award in the 8th annual MedTech Breakthrough Awards. The mission of the MedTech Breakthrough Awards is to honour excellence and recognise the innovation, hard work and success in a range of health and medical technology categories, including Telehealth, Clinical Administration, Patient Engagement, Electronic Health Records (EHR), Virtual Care, Medical Devices, Medical Data & Privacy, and many more. The annual awards attract thousands of nominations from more than 18 countries around the world.
Also in 2024 – shortly after it was introduced – the SlideMate Laser printer received an Innovative Technology designation for improving laboratory efficiency and sample traceability from Vizient, the largest healthcare provider performance improvement company in the USA. Epredia exhibited SlideMate Laser at the Vizient Innovative Technology Exchange in Las Vegas, which took place in September of that year. Each year, healthcare experts serving on Vizient provider-led councils review select products and technologies for their potential to enhance clinical care, patient safety, or healthcare worker safety or to improve business operations of healthcare organisations. Innovative Technology designations are awarded to previously contracted products to signal to healthcare providers the impact of these innovations on patient care and the business models of healthcare organisations.
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Epredia is a global leader in the anatomical pathology field, providing comprehensive end-to-end solutions for precision cancer diagnostics.
From patient to diagnosis, Epredia provides a single source for sample collection, cassette printing, tissue processing, embedding, slide printing, microtomy, cryotomy, staining, coverslipping, cytology, tissue microarray and digital slide scanning.
With over 85 years supporting anatomical pathology and world-class service, customers put their trust in Epredia over a billion times every year.
Epredia has manufacturing sites in the United States, the United Kingdom, Italy, France and China with a total of around 1,200 employees.
For further information on Epredia and its products, please visit the website.
W: www.epredia.com