ARTICLES & CASE STUDIES
Discover our ever expanding knowledge base in supply chain for the healthcare sector
Are your sharps containers compliant to the new Australian Standards?
Safety in healthcare and laboratory settings is of paramount importance, not only for patients but also for clinicians and researchers. One aspect of safety that...
The Impact of AI on Healthcare in 2023
AI has the potential to revolutionize the way healthcare is delivered, with its ability to analyze large amounts of patient data and identify patterns and...
The Top 5 Healthcare Procurement Trends of 2023
As we head into 2023, the healthcare industry continues to evolve at a rapid pace, with technology playing a significant role in transforming the way...
5 Benefits of Automatic Retractable Devices
Infection control is an essential aspect of healthcare that involves preventing the spread of infections within healthcare facilities. The Retractable Technologies Inc. (RTI) automatic retractable...
How to sustainably dispose of rapid antigen tests
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented surge in the use of rapid antigen tests for detecting the virus. These tests have become...
The trend towards Hospital in the Home
In recent years, there has been a growing interest in the concept of hospital in the home (HiTH) as an alternative to traditional hospital care....
Why healthcare groups are moving towards DEHP-free consumables
DEHP, or di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, is a chemical plasticizer commonly used in medical consumables such as IV bags, catheters, and blood bags. However, concerns over the...
Benchtop Hotplate/Stirrer
Westlab were engaged by a university in Australia to handle a full scale rollout of a customized equipment package. In line with their budgetary objectives,...
Customised Collection Containers
Westlab worked with a large Canadian laboratory that was having consistent stockouts with its primary vendor for sterile urine collection containers. How we helped to...
Disposable Tourniquet
Westlab worked with a large Canadian pathology company requiring an alternative to reusable tourniquets which would address two significant challenges: Cross contamination with reusable tourniquets...
Swab & Tube Kit for Viral Testing
Westlab worked closely with the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services to develop and engineer a reliable viral sampling kit which could be used...
What is Strep A?
Strep A is a bacterial infection that is highly contagious and dangerous among young people and can cause enormous complications when untreated. It affects people...
Will home-based care be the finish of collection centres?
Collection centres are expensive, and often constitute the largest single overhead cost for pathology companies. The trend towards home-based healthcare, including home-based specimen collection for...
The 5 benefits of home-based specimen collection
Home-based specimen collection is a growing trend in healthcare that allows patients to collect their own samples at home and send them to a laboratory...
The shift to at-home care in 2023
2023 brings a unique trend, a model of healthcare that was once fundamental during the 19th Century. The trend towards at-home care is becoming increasingly...
Benefits of Vape Detectors
Vape detectors are becoming an increasingly popular tool for schools, businesses, and public spaces to help prevent vaping. Vaping has become a significant problem in...
Global impact of the Chinese Covid-19 outbreak
The Covid-19 outbreak in China has had significant impacts on the global supply chain. As the epicentre of the outbreak, China has implemented measures such...
Benefits of Point of Care Testing for Bovine FMD
Bovine foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is a highly contagious and debilitating viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, swine, and sheep. FMD is characterized by...
Tools to prevent the spread of Bovine FMD
There are several tools that can be used to prevent the spread of Bovine Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD): It is important to note that...
The Impacts of Bovine FMD on the Australian Community.
Foot and Mouth Disease (FMD) is a highly contagious viral disease that affects cloven-hoofed animals, including cattle, sheep, pigs, and goats. It is caused by...
Can Rapid Antigen Tests be disposed of sustainably?
As with most products, there are considerable issues and risks associated with overstocked goods, including financial risk of having to clear surplus stock below cost...
How to tackle vaping at school
In recent years, vaping has become a major problem in schools. Students are vaping everywhere, from bathrooms to classrooms, creating disruptive and dangerous situations. Not...
Bifurcated needles – how they can increase monkeypox vaccination efficiency
Smallpox was eradicated in the 20th Century by vaccination – but not the typical injection as you would probably know it. Typically, injections take place...
Best Practices for a Healthy Building in the 21st Century
John Snow, a leader in medical hygiene, is best known for implementing a sewerage system in Great Britain in the mid-1800’s. What Snow did drastically...
Australian Government – Supply of Rapid Antigen Tests
Client Need The first SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus case in Australia (nCoV-19) was reported in Victoria on the 25th of January 2020. On the same day, 3...
Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning
Client Need The Victorian Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) are a large government organisation employing over 3,000 people through out the state...
What is the difference between plasma and serum?
Plasma and serum are two elements of blood that are commonly thought to be the same thing, however, they are indeed different substances. In this...
Tools for early flu diagnosis – Rapid SARS-CoV-2, Influenza A/B...
Australia is seeing its worst flu outbreaks in years, with influenza case numbers exceeding those of the last two years combined. It is a virus...
How ABC testing can maintain productivity in the workforce –...
Rapid antigen testing doubtlessly helped the world through the greatest public health crisis since the Spanish flu of 1914. This took an estimated 50 million...
How Westlab saved 400 local jobs through manufacturing medical equipment...
The Challenge In early 2020, with the Covid-19 virus presenting a massive threat to the economy and the healthcare system, institutions across Australia required a...
The Last Mile of supply chain is the hardest
Procurement professionals have had their fair share of challenges since the first major supply disruptions hit in 2020. Never has it been more important than...
Why Westlab is leading the global supply chain for blood...
2022 brings some of the worst supply chain conditions ever seen in the world. Combined with struggling global economies is a brutal war which has...
Medical Devices: What is CGM (Continuous Glucose Monitoring)?
You may have heard this acronym mentioned in the medical field from time to time – and no doubt you will hear it more and...
Blood Collection Shortages – What this means
Yet another supply chain issue from the pandemic has arisen from the main suppliers of vacuum blood collection serum tubes. Working with our largest pathology...
Ramsay Health Care
Client Need Ramsay Health Care, a global private healthcare organisation and renowned for its world-class care, required urgent provision of N95 respirators for Covid protection...
Australian Federal Government
Client Need The National Medical Stockpile despite huge reserves in PPE in early 2020 being made, required a fast and reliable solution for a face...
BHP
Client Need With many remote communities thriving off mining, especially in Western Australia, and thousands of mining workers running a highly expensive operation, BHP required...
Australia Post
Client Need AusPost is the largest domestic postal service in Australia. With thousands of staff in both retail settings and distribution, AusPost required clean air...
Medical Devices – Reusable vs Disposable Tourniquets
“Tourniquette” or “Tourniquay”? Whether you’re British or American in your English-speaking, the tourniquet is an item that is highly utilised in the medical field. A...
The Top 4 Supply Chain Challenges in 2022
Supply chain has been disrupted heavily during the pandemic, and not solely because of the pandemic. Historically, sourcing has been heavily regimented and siloed, with...
Webinar – Dr Simon Joosten on why we need HEPA...
Doctor Simon Joosten has been working on COVID wards in large Melbourne hospitals since the beginning of 2020 and presents research conducted over the course...
Air Purifiers in the Hospitality Industry
As the global tourism industry steps up in 2022 with some of the least restricted travel in over two years, people are enjoying travel significantly...
Supply Chain Series Article 1 – Procurement Criteria in 2022...
When we’re looking into the healthcare procurement sector, there are several factors that stand out as being important to the professionals. Starting with some context...
Mould – the airborne killer
How mould invades your lungs When you think mould, you probably thing about the soft furry spots on the leftovers you forgot about in the...
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT)
Client Need DFAT’s humanitarian aid program has led them into many benevolent programs with our Indo-Pacific neighbours. With a raging Covid-19 situation in Indonesia and...
CARA
Client Need CARA (Community Accommodation Respite & Aged Care) works closely with disabled and aged persons needing close personal assistance. In order to protect staff...
Bolton Clarke
Client Need With the onset of Covid-19, Bolton Clarke’s close work with aged and vulnerable clients presented increased infection risk. PPE such as nitrile gloves...
Monash Health
Client Need HPV ran dangerously low on PPE of medical grade nitrile gloves due to the high demand on supply chains of gloves across the...
Diocese of Parramatta
Client Need In the third quarter of 2021, recommendations came from several bodies for the need for clean air. Studies, e.g., from University of Melbourne,...
NSW Government, Department of Education
Client Need The NSW Department of Education, since the beginning of 2020, has been implementing innovative programs to improve infection control indoors for schools. After...
Health Purchasing Victoria
Client Need Department of Health Victoria required urgent supply of a high quality, globally recognized N95 mask. Core requirements included Level 3 Fluid Resistance and...
Department of Health and Human Services Victoria
Client Need As part of the rigorous and extensive testing program, DHHS Victoria needed a quality tube and swab package to conduct reliable testing. The...
Q&A: Can HEPA Filters Be Fitted Into a HVAC System?
As part of our air filtration series, we have spoken a lot about HEPA filtration and HVAC systems and we get a lot of inquiries...
Top Considerations When Choosing The Location For Your Air Purifier
When it comes to our health and wellbeing, we take into account almost everything; food, water, exercise, daily lifestyle, and UV exposure. But somehow, we...
How to Operate your air purification system effectively
HEPA-grade air purifiers are the most effective means of purifying the air in your workplace of dust, particles, pollen, bacteria, mould and even some viruses...
How to safely bring your employees back to the office
After almost two years of working from home, it’s finally time to return to the office. But not everyone is rushing back to the office....
How to Improve Ventilation to the Entire Building
In February 2021, Melbourne plunged into its third lockdown after a COVID-19 outbreak started within a hotel quarantine facility. How did the virus spread when...
Q&A: Should we run HEPA filters all the time?
Genuine HEPA (High-efficiency particulate air) filters are one of the gold standards for air filtration. HEPA-grade filters can be installed into air purifiers. HEPA-grade filters...
Improving ventilation: Are you working in a high-risk area?
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the way we think about things like airflow and ventilation. Whilst ventilation has always been valued in medical settings,...
How to Choose a Medical Gown
Medical gowns for healthcare workers have come a long way since their inception about 100 years ago. The gowns for patients, surgeons and nurses have...
Why masks will still be needed beyond the COVID-19 pandemic
Fingers crossed; the world might finally be turning the corner with the COVID-19 pandemic. But despite the pandemic potentially becoming an endemic in the long...
Everything you need to know about sharps containers
The importance of having accessible sharps containers in your workplace is highly underrated. It is predicted as many as 18,500 healthcare workers experience sharps injuries...
What is Included in a PCR Test Kit?
Praised for their convenience and speed, Rapid Antigen Testing (RATs) have become the preferred testing method for COVID-19 but PCR tests remain the “gold standard”...
How to Assess Your Air Quality Needs
2021 brought a paradigm shift in terms of indoor air quality. In a similar fashion to the nineteenth century where the need for water quality...
Why RAT tests are becoming best practice in 2022. What...
Is 2022 the end of the COVID-19 global health emergency? With borders reopening and large events resuming, all is hopeful for Australia to transition to...
Why Face Shields are important in high-risk settings
What are face shields? At the start of the pandemic, there was much confusion about wearing face shields and masks and the difference between them. Two years...
Making Sure You Buy the Right N95 Masks
There are a lot of different types of masks being used to stop the spread of COVID-19; cloth/reusable, face shields, surgical and N95 respirators. All...
Global Insights: Rolling Out Air Purification in the Workplace
Introduction Current trends, as caused and effected by the pandemic, are moving us into newterritories of compliance, requirements and support for human factors. There are...
How to protect your business from Airborne Contaminants
Australia’s Omicron wave of COVID-19 has highlighted how easily airborne particles can spread and make us sick. However, quality air filtration has been used long...
How to roll out a program for pure air in...
Pure air has suddenly been recognised as a highly important measure to minimise infection from airborne pathogens. Proper filtration of air cannot be underestimated in...
5 Benefits of HEPA Filtration
Say goodbye to outdated HVAC systems, and hello to portable, pure HEPA-filtered air! This fresh innovation is taking over the market, and for good reason....
What to look for in educational HEPA filters
HEPA Filters are becoming a large part of our lives, just like rapid antigen tests and masks. Here’s what to look for in a HEPA...
All you need to know about HEPA air purification
HEPA filtration units are a buzz word right now, as the World Health Organisation makes recommendations for them in a post-pandemic world. Despite common perceptions,...
Pfizer, Moderna, Johnson & Johnson, AstraZeneca – what’s the difference?
2020 threw a genuine proverbial curveball at the global economy. A deadly pathogen seemingly erupting from nowhere spread from the heart of China and made...
What is Happening With Pipette Tip Shortages?
Science – a very broad department of the world’s functioning and continuation, had a slap in the face through 2020. With no negative connotation on...
Vertical Integration – CSL Behring Leads an Australian First in...
Vertical Integration is an important message to any manufacturer – whether large or small one element manufacturing firms, facilities or personnel all desire is control....
PPE – The Correct Procedures
PPE is perhaps the most important aspect of health and safety within the laboratory, whether it is viral research in containment laboratories or dissection in...
Low Dead Space Syringes: Huge Advantages
Efficiency and high return on investment is an important factor in running a healthcare enterprise, particularly if it is in the public sector where healthcare...
The benefits of nitrile gloves
Nitrile gloves have proven over time to be the most suitable and ultimately the best in most practices, notably in the healthcare sector. Why is...
Post-COVID-19 Procurement Insights to the Global Healthcare Market
We heard from 250 procurement specialists from around the globe. We witnessed unprecedented, multi-sector supply chain breakdown. An unrecognised fragility was exposed. Associate director, procurement...
Feature Product: SARS CoV-2 Antigen Test Kit
Westlab’s rapid lateral flow antigen test kit offers great benefit to the user as a fast, efficient, effective and convenient virus testing kit. The simplicity...
SARS CoV-2 LAMP Testing: Efficiency, Accuracy and Reliability
As the SARS CoV-2 infection diminishes in its intensity and prevalence, governmental health departments stay at the ready in preparation to attack any outbreaks—be they...
What is the Difference Between Level 1, 2 and 3...
Choosing the right type of face mask has never been more crucial than now in your purchasing processes in the lab. While face masks may be hard...
Vital Criteria to Fulfil When Purchasing Hand Sanitisers
The current Covid-19 global health crisis has alerted us to the fact that regular hand washing and use of sanitisers is a critical component in...
Tips for keeping your lab sanitised and COVID-free
Clean and sterile laboratory equipment is now paramount in protecting students and staff. At Westlab we’ve created some lab sanitisation guidelines, taking learnings from Australian lab...
What to Look For When Buying a Face Shield for...
Buying face shields and PPE amidst COVID-19 is a challenging task as there are many aspects that are important to consider and can be potentially overlooked due...
How to Disinfect
Disinfection is one of the most important processes in ensuring a safe process in today’s medical/health workspace. Here are a few steps on how to clean...
All you need to know about N95 Respirators
The N95 respirator has fast become the face mask of choice for many Healthcare professionals and is widely considered to be the ultimate in protection...
5 key considerations when purchasing your PPE
Being probably one of the most crucial elements to the fight against COVID-19, PPE has become a product of unparalleled demand in the last 12...
Looking Back: The Changing face of Manufacturing
You can probably guess what’s coming. “2020 was probably the most difficult year in history.” Yes, 2020 was unparalleled in its circumstances and the changes...
Changes in Clinical Involvement in 2021
The world is seeing unparalleled changes in socio-economic interaction, chiefly catalysed by the onset of a global pandemic which continues to galvanise change. From shifts...
Westlab Canada: The Benefits of Locally Made Isolation Gowns
In the current climate more than ever, consumers are looking for a secure and reliable supply chain that guarantees volume, quality and sustainability. Westlab’s scheme...
Today’s clinicians: expectations and experiences from suppliers
Westlab have collaborated from a very healthy cross-section of clinicians, pathologists, doctors and specialists, and there are distinct themes to which their expectations and experiences...
Knock-on Effects of COVID-19 on our Health System
As the COVID pandemic ebbs and flows after its initial tidal onslaught at the beginning of 2020, authorities and intellectuals alike are considering and speculating...
Westlab AU – Automated local isolation gown manufacturing leading the...
The many benefits of local PPE manufacturing In the current climate more than ever, consumers are looking for a secure and reliable supply chain that...
The Dangers of Fraudulent Products
The Concerns Frequent collaboration with personnel of the health sector in procurement and supply positions is revealing a wide concern for fraudulent products, particularly from...
The Concerns Around COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery
Having risen above the pandemic of 2020, 2021 promises the imminent delivery of vaccination options. Westlab Health has unique insight into what delivery options will...
What is SARS CoV-2 LAMP Testing and Why is it...
COVID-19 Testing Methods: Efficiency, Accuracy and Reliability As the SARS CoV-2 infection diminishes in its intensity and prevalence in Australia, governmental health departments stay at the ready...
Newsletter – October
In this edition OUR PEOPLE An introduction to some of our healthcare team. MANUFACTURING IN AUSTRALIA Update on our Australian Made initiatives. ARTICLE, SUPPLY...
Update on Our Australian Made Initiatives
The global health crisis (Covid-19) was an instant shock to supply chains globally and has made the provision of essential medical products increasingly difficult. That’s...
Westlab and Australian Federal Government Supporting Front-line Workers
In March this year, Westlab engaged with the Australian Federal Government for a five weeks delivery program where we developed the Australian made reusable face...
Westlab Healthcare Bulk PPE: Avoiding The “Bullwhip Effect” In The...
The bullwhip effect phenomenon refers to increasing inventory swings in response to shifts in customer demand as we go up the supply chain. The concept...
How Supply Chains are Being Forced to Adapt to COVID-19...
Dealing with an unprecedented moment in time As the world is being forced to adapt to the continuing threat of the COVID-19 virus and subsequent...
Re-imagining and Healing Links in the Supply Chains During COVID-19...
Getting humanitarian supplies where they need to go is a game of precision and meticulous planning under normal circumstances. Try adding a global pandemic to...
Westlab Develops Locally Made Face Shields
In March 2020 the Westlab team worked through numerous designs and clinical trials to develop and manufacture a locally made face shield that could be...
Webinar – Dr Simon Joosten on why we need HEPA filtration
Doctor Simon Joosten has been working on COVID wards in large Melbourne hospitals since the beginning of 2020 and presents
Air Purifiers in the Hospitality Industry
As the global tourism industry steps up in 2022 with some of the least restricted travel in over two years,
Supply Chain Series Article 1 – Procurement Criteria in 2022 (healthcare)
When we’re looking into the healthcare procurement sector, there are several factors that stand out as being important to the
Mould – the airborne killer
How mould invades your lungs When you think mould, you probably thing about the soft furry spots on the leftovers
Australian Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT)
Client Need DFAT’s humanitarian aid program has led them into many benevolent programs with our Indo-Pacific neighbours. With a raging
CARA
Client Need CARA (Community Accommodation Respite & Aged Care) works closely with disabled and aged persons needing close personal assistance.
Bolton Clarke
Client Need With the onset of Covid-19, Bolton Clarke’s close work with aged and vulnerable clients presented increased infection risk.
Monash Health
Client Need HPV ran dangerously low on PPE of medical grade nitrile gloves due to the high demand on supply
Diocese of Parramatta
Client Need In the third quarter of 2021, recommendations came from several bodies for the need for clean air. Studies,
NSW Government, Department of Education
Client Need The NSW Department of Education, since the beginning of 2020, has been implementing innovative programs to improve infection
Health Purchasing Victoria
Client Need Department of Health Victoria required urgent supply of a high quality, globally recognized N95 mask. Core requirements included
Department of Health and Human Services Victoria
Client Need As part of the rigorous and extensive testing program, DHHS Victoria needed a quality tube and swab package
Q&A: Can HEPA Filters Be Fitted Into a HVAC System?
As part of our air filtration series, we have spoken a lot about HEPA filtration and HVAC systems and we
Top Considerations When Choosing The Location For Your Air Purifier
When it comes to our health and wellbeing, we take into account almost everything; food, water, exercise, daily lifestyle, and
How to Operate your air purification system effectively
HEPA-grade air purifiers are the most effective means of purifying the air in your workplace of dust, particles, pollen, bacteria,
How to safely bring your employees back to the office
After almost two years of working from home, it’s finally time to return to the office. But not everyone is
How to Improve Ventilation to the Entire Building
In February 2021, Melbourne plunged into its third lockdown after a COVID-19 outbreak started within a hotel quarantine facility. How
Q&A: Should we run HEPA filters all the time?
Genuine HEPA (High-efficiency particulate air) filters are one of the gold standards for air filtration. HEPA-grade filters can be installed
Improving ventilation: Are you working in a high-risk area?
The COVID-19 pandemic has drastically changed the way we think about things like airflow and ventilation. Whilst ventilation has always
How to Choose a Medical Gown
Medical gowns for healthcare workers have come a long way since their inception about 100 years ago. The gowns for
