--- title: Will Drones Impact Your Laboratory Testing?  description: Find out how drones can impact your laboratory testing. image: https://blog.cola.org/hubfs/Drone%20flying%20at%20sunset-1.jpg --- ISO 9001:2015 - [Careers](http://www.cola.org/careers/) - [A Great Place to Work](http://www.cola.org/careers/a-great-place-to-work/) - [Current Openings](http://www.cola.org/careers/current-openings/) - [Press Room](http://www.cola.org/press-room/) - Member Login - [COLAcentral](https://www.colacentral.com) - [Board of Directors](http://board.cola.org/) - visit related COLA sites - [GiveBack365](http://www.GiveBack365.org) - [Lab Testing Matters](http://www.LabTestingMatters.org) - [MyConsultantCentral](http://www.myconsultantcentral.com/) - 1-800-981-9883 ![ColaUpdatedLogoStackedWhiteBackground-1](https://blog.cola.org/hs-fs/hubfs/ColaUpdatedLogoStackedWhiteBackground-1.png?width=306&height=111&name=ColaUpdatedLogoStackedWhiteBackground-1.png)   ![ColaUpdatedLogoStackedWhiteBackground-1](https://blog.cola.org/hs-fs/hubfs/ColaUpdatedLogoStackedWhiteBackground-1.png?width=210&height=76&name=ColaUpdatedLogoStackedWhiteBackground-1.png)   ISO 9001:2015 - [Careers](http://www.cola.org/careers/) - [A Great Place to Work](http://www.cola.org/careers/a-great-place-to-work/) - [Current Openings](http://www.cola.org/careers/current-openings/) - [Press Room](http://www.cola.org/press-room/) - Member Login - [COLAcentral](https://www.colacentral.com) - [LabUniversity](https://cola.absorbtraining.com/default.aspx#/login) - [Board of Directors](http://board.cola.org/) - visit related COLA sites - [COLA Resources, Inc.](http://www.criedu.org/) - [GiveBack365](http://www.GiveBack365.org) - [Lab Testing Matters](http://www.LabTestingMatters.org) - [LabUniversity](http://www.labuniversity.org) - [MyConsultantCentral](http://www.myconsultantcentral.com/) 1-800-981-9883 [![2021_newest_logo_cola-footer (1)](https://blog.cola.org/hs-fs/hubfs/2021_newest_logo_cola-footer%20(1).png?width=261&name=2021_newest_logo_cola-footer%20(1).png)](http://www.cola.org/) - [About COLA Inc.](http://www.cola.org/cola-clia-certification-accreditation-application/) - [Overview](http://www.cola.org/lab-testing-accreditation-quality/) - [History Mission and Values](http://www.cola.org/cola-clia-certification-accreditation-application/) - [Joint Commission Affiliated Labs](http://www.cola.org/lab-testing-accreditation-quality/joint-commission-affiliated-labs/) - [California](http://www.cola.org/lab-testing-accreditation-quality/cola-accreditation-in-california/) - [Board of Directors](http://www.cola.org/cola-clia-certification-accreditation-application/board-of-directors/) - [Executive Team](http://www.cola.org/cola-clia-certification-accreditation-application/executives-of-cola/) - [News Releases](http://www.cola.org/cola-news/) - Additional COLA Sites - [GiveBack 365](http://www.cola.org/giveback-365/) - [Lab Testing Matters](https://www.cola.org/lab-testing-matters/) - [Near Patient Testing Matters](https://www.cola.org/near-patient-testing-matters/) - [MyConsultantCentral](https://www.cola.org/myconsultantcentral/) - [Our ISO Certification](http://www.cola.org/lab-testing-accreditation-quality/iso-certification-quality-control/) - [Apply for COLA](http://www.cola.org/lab-testing-accreditation-quality/clia-application-clia-accreditation/) - Quality Accreditation Services - [Accreditation - Clinical Laboratory](http://www.cola.org/lab-testing-accreditation-quality/what-is-cola/) - [Mobile Laboratory Accreditation for EMS](https://education.cola.org/mobile-laboratory-accreditation) - Laboratory Experts - [Surveyors](http://www.cola.org/cola-clia-certification-accreditation-application/cola-surveyors/) - [CDC LOCS Updates](https://blog.cola.org/updates) - [Insider Blog](https://blog.cola.org/blog) - Additional Resources - [Patient Safety Program](https://www.cola.org/patient-safety/) - [HIPAA Information](https://www.cola.org/hipaa-information/) - [Lab Tests Online](https://www.cola.org/lab-tests-online/) - [Apply for COLA](http://www.cola.org/lab-testing-accreditation-quality/clia-application-clia-accreditation/) - Training & Development - [Individualized Quality Control Plan](https://education.cola.org/individualized-quality-control-plan-course) - Laboratory Enrichment Forum - [Attendees](https://education.cola.org/2023-laboratory-enrichment-forum) - [Sponsors](https://education.cola.org/en-us/2023-sponsor) - [Laboratory Director Course](https://www.cola.org/laboratory-director-course/) - [Waived Testing Toolkit](https://education.cola.org/colas-waived-testing-toolkit) - [Lab Link](https://www.cola.org/lab-link/) - [COLA Primers/Ebooks](https://www.cola.org/education-resources/cola-primers-ebooks/) - [COLA's Insights](http://www.cola.org/education-resources/laboratory-education/) - [Webinars](http://www.cola.org/webinars/) - [Workforce Action Alliance](https://education.cola.org/2023-workforce-action-alliance) - FDA Services - [Third Party Review](http://www.cola.org/third-party-review/) - [Contact Us](https://education.cola.org/contact-us-page) # Will Drones Impact Your Laboratory Testing?  - [Home](http://www.cola.org/) - Will Drones Impact Your Laboratory Testing?  [January 17, 2018](https://blog.cola.org/insider/archive/2018/01/17) [Laboratory Operations](https://blog.cola.org/insider/topic/laboratory-operations) [lab tests](https://blog.cola.org/insider/topic/lab-tests) [Dr. John Daly](https://blog.cola.org/insider/author/dr-john-daly) [![](https://blog.cola.org/hubfs/Drone%20flying%20at%20sunset-1.jpg)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/will-drones-impact-your-laboratory-testing) - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) Times sure are changing!  I recently read in the American Journal of Clinical Pathology a study comparing final hematology and chemistry testing results from hematology and chemistry samples transported by drones for 3 hours vs. more traditional specimen transportation.  --- --- ##### Study Methodology Paired samples were obtained from 21 healthy volunteers.  Half the samples were held stationary in an air conditioned automobile and the other half were transported in a cooling box mounted on the drone.  The stationary samples were held at 27.3 degrees C while the drone specimens were maintained at 24.8 degrees C. ##### Study Findings After the flight, 19 hematology and chemistry parameters were examined using four performance criteria.  The hematology specimens, both stationary and drone transported, showed appropriate correlation.  The seven drone transported chemistry samples exhibited an 8% positive bias for glucose and a 6.2% positive bias for potassium.  The other five chemistry analytes met all four performance criteria.     Further analysis of the glucose and potassium to evaluate the possible reasons for differences obtained with the stationary and the drone transported specimens seemed to indicate that the differences observed were the result of the 2.5 degree C temperature differences in the transport temperature between the sample groups.    Finally, it was also stated that the most significant limitation of the study is that the volunteers were healthy individuals so their results were in the relatively narrow normal range rather than spread across the full assay range (low to high) for each test.    ##### Implications for the Future We will be reading more such studies as the availability of drones will enable our more rural areas to transport specimens more rapidly to reference laboratories to obtain testing results more expeditiously, particularly in emergency situations. Resources:  [https://academic.oup.com/ajcp/article/148/5/427/4104555](https://academic.oup.com/ajcp/article/148/5/427/4104555) [Laboratory Operations](https://blog.cola.org/insider/topic/laboratory-operations), [lab tests](https://blog.cola.org/insider/topic/lab-tests) ### Related posts [The Right Tests Through Utilization Management - Part 3 ](https://blog.cola.org/insider/the-right-tests-through-utilization-management-part-3-) January 11, 2018 [The Right Tests Through Utilization Management - Part 2](https://blog.cola.org/insider/the-right-tests-through-utilization-management-part-2) December 08, 2017 [The Right Tests Through Utilization Management - Part 1](https://blog.cola.org/insider/right-tests-through-laboratory-utilization-management-part-1) November 15, 2017 [Newly Approved Clinical Laboratory Test To Help You Detect Brain Injuries](https://blog.cola.org/insider/newly-approved-test-to-help-you-detect-brain-injuries) March 14, 2018 [Effective Laboratory Utilization - Part 2](https://blog.cola.org/insider/effective-laboratory-utilization-part-2) October 25, 2017 [Effective Laboratory Utilization - Part 1](https://blog.cola.org/insider/effective-laboratory-utilization-part-1) October 18, 2017 About the author ### Dr. John Daly ![](https://blog.cola.org/hubfs/John%20Daly%20-%20COLA_Headshot37.jpg) John T. Daly, M.D. received his MD degree at Weill Cornell University Medical College, performed his internship and residency in Anatomic and Clinical pathology at Duke University Medical Center and a residency in Forensic Pathology at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner in Chapel Hill, N.C. He is board certified in anatomic, clinical and forensic pathology. Through the course of his career, Dr. Daly has had extensive experience directing and advising laboratories of all sizes including physician office practices, Federal Health Clinics, surgical centers, Community Hospitals and the integrated academic health system clinical laboratories of Duke Medicine. He retired as Director of Laboratories of Duke Medicine, and continues his affiliation as a member of the emeritus staff. - [The Continued Rise in Cost of Healthcare](https://blog.cola.org/insider/the-continued-rise-in-cost-of-healthcare) February 06, 2020 - [Declining Reimbursement in the Clinical Laboratory](https://blog.cola.org/insider/declining-reimbursement-in-the-clinical-laboratory) January 30, 2020 - [The A to Z of Testing for Folate Deficiency](https://blog.cola.org/insider/the-a-to-z-of-testing-for-folate-deficiency) January 16, 2020 - [The Next Big Thing in Diagnosis of Ebola](https://blog.cola.org/insider/fda-warning-potential-false-negative-cardiac-tests-0) December 04, 2019 - [FDA Warning: Potential False Negative Cardiac Tests](https://blog.cola.org/insider/fda-warning-potential-false-negative-cardiac-tests) November 14, 2019 Advertisement ### Posts by Tag - [accurate test results (20)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/accurate-test-results) - [bitcoin (1)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/bitcoin) - [cancer (1)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/cancer) - [clia (1)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/clia) - [clia 1988 regulations (1)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/clia-1988-regulations) - [clia accreditation (1)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/clia-accreditation) - [clia guidelines (1)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/clia-guidelines) - [clia regulations (1)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/clia-regulations) - [clinical laboratory (57)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/clinical-laboratory) - [cms clia (1)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/cms-clia) - [colon (1)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/colon) - [cost effective lab management (2)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/cost-effective-lab-management) - [health care costs (1)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/health-care-costs) - [health care trends (2)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/health-care-trends) - [healthcare finance (1)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/healthcare-finance) - [lab equipment (1)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/lab-equipment) - [lab test (5)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/lab-test) - [lab test utilization (7)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/lab-test-utilization) - [lab tests (7)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/lab-tests) - [lab utilization (2)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/lab-utilization) - [Laboratory Management (9)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/laboratory-management) - [laboratory medicine (23)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/laboratory-medicine) - [Laboratory Operations (10)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/laboratory-operations) - [laboratory test utiliazation (3)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/laboratory-test-utiliazation) - [News (56)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/news) - [patient outcomes (1)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/patient-outcomes) - [patient satisfaction (1)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/patient-satisfaction) - [Personnel Competence (1)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/personnel-competence) - [reference laboratory (1)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/reference-laboratory) - [test utilization (2)](https://blog.cola.org/insider/tag/test-utilization) See all   Search Blog: [Careers](http://www.cola.org/careers/) | [Press Room](http://www.cola.org/press-room/) ![ColaUpdatedLogoStackedWhiteBackground-1](https://blog.cola.org/hs-fs/hubfs/ColaUpdatedLogoStackedWhiteBackground-1.png?width=175&height=64&name=ColaUpdatedLogoStackedWhiteBackground-1.png) 9881 Broken Land Pkwy Suite 200 | Columbia, MD 21046-3016 Phone (800) 981-9883 | Fax (410) 381-8611 | Email [info@cola.org](mailto:info@cola.org) [Privacy Policy](http://www.cola.org/privacy-policy/) | [Terms Of Service](http://www.cola.org/terms-of-service/) | [Interested In Advertising?](https://education.cola.org/cola-adnetwork) - follow us: - - - - Visit: [Near Patient Testing Matters](http://www.nearpatienttestingmatters.org/) [Lab Testing Matters](http://www.labtestingmatters.org/) [My Consultant Central](http://www.myconsultantcentral.com/) Member Login: [COLAcentral](https://www.colacentral.com) [Board of Directors](http://board.cola.org/) site development by [![](https://blog.cola.org/hubfs/COLA-Jun2017/images/NL_bug.png)](http://www.nextlogik.com) © 2004 - 2017 COLA All Rights Reserved ![](https://dc.ads.linkedin.com/collect/?pid=169932&fmt=gif)