Laboratory of Clinical Analysis of The Asociación Española
A Push for Better Laboratory Services

Asociación Española (ASESP) is the first mutualist founded in the American continent, with more than 160 years of serving the healthcare of its members and the entire community.

It provides care coverage to more than 190,000 members, with a team of almost 8,000 medical and non-medical workers.

“In the clinical laboratory of ASESP, an average of 2.5 million samples are processed in a year, positioning us as one of the largest in Uruguay,” says Julio Martínez, general manager of ASESP.

It is made up of a Central Laboratory Unit (CORE) and specialized areas such as Bacteriology, Mycology - Parasitology, Specialized Immunology, Cytology, Flow Cytometry, Cytogenetics, and Molecular Biology, acting as a reference for the country in many of these areas. Finally, the Quality Control Area establishes quality standards for all areas, ensuring the correct performance of laboratory processes.

The CORE laboratory began to operate in 2019 to enhance workflows, reduce response times, provide a high degree of quality of processes, and optimize service costs, achieving complete integrated automation of more than 70 percent of the laboratory’s studies. CORE Laboratory presents its own characteristics since it is a robotic area that, along with traditional preanalytical and immunochemical tests, incorporates hematimetry, hemostasis, and a ‘storage’ area to the automated chain. This constitutes an avant-garde laboratory in Uruguay and an exception in Latin America.

With regard to specialized areas, ASESP also has last-generation technology.

For example, the Microbiology area is equipped with a mass spectrophotometer (MALDI-TOF) for the rapid identification (in minutes) of the different microorganisms that cause bacterial and fungal infections, accompanied by automated equipment for the study of antimicrobial susceptibility and integrated through a specific software that quickly and efficiently manages result interpretation and detects bacterial resistance.

The specialized Immunology area is equipped with technology (automated equipment, microscopy, and its own software) that integrates the performance, reading, and interpretation of autoimmunity studies.

As the laboratory with the most experience in cytogenetic diagnosis and a national reference, the Hematological and Constitutional Cytogenetics area is equipped with a karyotyper and state-of-the-art software and receives 70 percent of the country’s samples.

The Molecular Biology area has modern, automated, and highly specialized equipment, including thermal cyclers and sequencers, accompanied by highly trained staff. This made it possible to respond quickly and efficiently and provide quality service during the COVID-19 pandemic, adapting to the needs of the institution and the country.

The role of the molecular biology laboratory was highlighted during the pandemic. By setting it up with trained personnel, it was possible to rapidly implement molecular biology techniques for the diagnosis of SARS-COV-2. The incorporation of automated equipment also increased the volume of samples, processing a maximum of 2,000 samples per day with a response time of 24 to 48 hours and a total of 260,000 PCRs in 2020-21.

ASESP’s work, in conjunction with the laboratory, made it possible to establish outpatient diagnostic centers (including AUTOTEST) in various areas of the country for processing Ag tests and taking samples for PCR, participating from the laboratory in the active form and being able to decentralize the diagnosis.

In the evolution of the pandemic, when sanitary measures allowed it, the ‘responsible pass pilot plan’ began, which allowed public performances to be held and expanded capacity within the framework of COVID-19. This plan began in June 2021 at the Sodre National Auditorium, with the participation of the Laboratory of Asociación Española, carrying out antigen tests on the actors and the invited public to the show. The pilot plan was managed by the Presidency of the Republic with the Public Health Ministry, the Education and Culture Ministry, and ASESP.

The ASESP Laboratory is characterized by maintaining the highest quality standards, being at the forefront, having advanced equipment, and up-to-date professionals.

The laboratory’s automation and robotization have led to a modern laboratory with traceability of results, easy access to information, a biosafe work environment, improved response times, and reliable and timely results with the optimization of human resources.