WASPLab® FAQ

WASPLab® is a highly efficient, modular, scalable, and customizable agar plate incubation, imaging, and Digital Microbiology platform for Clinical Microbiology. This system integrates automated specimen planting and streaking, smart incubators, and digital culture imaging, and can be integrated with PhenoMATRIX®  Artificial Intelligence software to fully automate the microbiology workflow from specimen processing, to result sorting and interpretation.

WASPLab® streamlines specimen processing, plate handling, sorting, screening, and image management for faster review and workflow progression. It automates and standardizes laboratory practices. The system can load/unload up to 180 plates per hour per incubator and requires less hands-on time throughout the process.

This system automates the time-consuming aspects of microbiology testing, allowing staff to focus on more complex tasks, thereby optimizing labor utilization. A recent multicenter study published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology found that implementing Full Laboratory Automation in a Microbiology Laboratory can lead to significant improvements in productivity, specimen volume handling, and total labor savings.

WASPLab® uses an industry-leading 48 megapixel imaging system with telecentric optics and 9mm depth of field to capture high resolution images of each plate, including tiny colony details. Over 1,000 lighting combinations ensure optimal image capture. This allows our software to assist in the interpretation of culture results

WASPLab® integrates with Copan’s PhenoMATRIX® AI software, which includes algorithms for automated culture interpretation, sorting, resulting and colony selection based on laboratory-defined rules.

WASPLab® is part of Copan’s suite of Full Laboratory Automation. It can link directly with WASP® for front-end specimen processing, as well as Radian® for automated AST plate set-up and reading. The Colibrí™ instrument enables automated colony picking for ID and AST.

A recent multicenter study published in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology found that converting from manual to fully automated with WASPLab® resulted in an 18-93% increase in productivity, 24-64% increase in specimen volume, and $268,000-$1.2 million in annual labor savings across four different laboratories^*.

To obtain an individualized estimation of the potential efficiency gains for your laboratory, it is recommended to contact Copan for a full assessment conducted by a trained Laboratory Workflow Optimization Specialist, who can take into account your laboratory’s unique characteristics and requirements.

_{*The level of integration between WASPLab® and a laboratory’s information system (LIS) can vary depending on the specific LIS platform and the laboratory’s IT infrastructure. Some customization or middleware may be required to achieve full integration and data exchange. The extent of data exchange, such as patient demographics, specimen details, and test results, may also differ based on the LIS capabilities and the laboratory’s preferences. It is recommended to consult with Copan representatives to discuss the specific integration requirements and possibilities for your laboratory.}

_{** The efficiency gains reported in the multicenter study are based on the specific laboratories included in the research and may not be representative of all laboratories. Individual results may vary depending on factors such as the laboratory’s initial setup, imaging protocols, workflow, and the specific combination of WASPLab® components and integrations implemented. To obtain an accurate individualized estimation of the potential efficiency gains for your laboratory, it is recommended to contact COPAN for a full assessment conducted by a trained Laboratory Workflow Optimization Specialist, who can take into account your laboratory’s unique characteristics and requirements.}