#Netherlands #Utrecht #Vitestro #Robotic Phlebotomy #Aletta®

Vitestro's Revolutionary Clinical Study

Vitestro, a frontrunner in the field of medical robotics, has made a significant leap forward in automated diagnostic blood collection. The company recently published a multicenter clinical study in the prestigious journal Clinical Chemistry, detailing the effectiveness of its Aletta® Autonomous Robotic Phlebotomy Device™ for blood collection in routine clinical settings. This study is a landmark contribution to healthcare as it represents the first peer-reviewed evaluation of a fully autonomous robotic phlebotomy system.

Conducted across several leading healthcare facilities in the Netherlands—including Amsterdam University Medical Center, St. Antonius Hospital, and OLVG Lab—the multicenter Autonomous Blood Drawing Optimization and Performance Testing (ADOPT) study evaluates the performance and patient experiences associated with robotic blood draws. The results are promising, with 1,633 patients enrolled across three outpatient departments, showcasing impressive metrics in both safety and efficacy.

The study reported a remarkable overall first-stick success rate of 94.5% when suitable veins were located, a figure that reached 97.4% among high BMI patients, 92.7% for those with difficult venous access, and 93.4% for elderly participants. Furthermore, the hemolysis rate was only 0.3%, a figure that significantly undershoots conventional rates reported for manual blood draws. Adverse events were minimal, with only a 0.6% occurrence rate, with all mentioned events classified as mild.

The patient experience also highlighted positive feedback. A remarkable 90% of patients noted experiencing less or similar pain compared to manual phlebotomy and 82% expressed a preference for future blood draws with Aletta®. In parallel, a study conducted at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, discovered that 86% of participants were willing to opt for the use of Aletta® in their blood draws, indicating strong acceptance for this innovative technology.

Robert de Jonge, PhD, who leads the Laboratory Medicine Department at Amsterdam University Medical Center, emphasized the clinical significance of the study, stating that strong performance and safety data are essential for instilling confidence in autonomous systems within laboratories. As healthcare systems evolve with automation, technologies like Aletta® will form the foundation for standardized and integrated care delivery.

Vitestro's Chief Medical Officer, Luuk Giesen, MD, conveyed the company's satisfaction with the publication, marking it as a milestone that encapsulates years of committed research and technological advancement. This pivotal publication sets the stage for Vitestro’s objective to normalize automated phlebotomy as a common practice in blood collection.

According to Thijs van Holten, a Clinical Chemist at St. Antonius Hospital, the preanalytical phase remains vital yet notoriously inconsistent in terms of execution. The use of Aletta® introduces a standardized method for blood collection, which could reduce variability and enhance sample quality and diagnostic reliability. Many patients reported comparable or reduced discomfort during procedures, further supporting the device's potential for widespread clinical adoption.

About Aletta® ARPD™

The Aletta® ARPD™ is engineered to autonomously perform blood draws by employing advanced multimodal imaging technologies, notably near-infrared vein visualization, real-time ultrasound, and Doppler imaging. These sophisticated imaging techniques enable the device to accurately differentiate veins from arteries, ensuring the right vein is targeted for blood collection with maximum precision. With its embedded robotics and artificial intelligence, Aletta® is designed to alleviate the challenges faced by phlebotomy departments, especially in high-volume outpatient environments.

By addressing staffing issues, minimizing human error, and simplifying workflows, the Aletta® device aspires to significantly improve patient experience and operational efficiency in the clinical landscape.

Vitestro continues to lead the charge in innovating medical robotics for blood collection. Headquartered in the Netherlands, the company combines expertise in engineering and artificial intelligence to transform diagnostic blood collection, having established Aletta® as the world’s first CE-marked Autonomous Robotic Phlebotomy Device™. Currently, Aletta® is being integrated into clinical settings across Europe, while regulatory processes in the U.S. are underway to facilitate its future rollout.

To learn more about Vitestro and Aletta®, visit vitestro.com.