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Just what the doctor ordered

Project scope

64 staff members, one building that has been expanded extensively, four Sagem MA 200s, two Sagem OMA 200s, one Sagem MEMS Enrolment station and a T&A solutions from Biometrics.co.za

The history

Toga is a subsidiary laboratory within the Ampath Group. Toga Laboratories, which specialises in saliva and blood testing at the initial assessment stage and following through into the ongoing management of the patient. Toga's capacity to participate in HIV clinical trials is enhanced by facilities available at Toga Laboratories.

Facilities available include a clinical service unit, highly qualified, experienced staff and state-of-the-art equipment.

Even though Toga is an independent laboratory, it is associated with Ampath Laboratories. Ampath is one of the largest private pathology laboratories in South Africa.

Ampath affiliated pathology practices serve approximately 50% of the private health care market in South Africa.

In August 2002, Toga Laboratories reached a landmark in its ability to offer substantially reduced cost of HIV monitoring tests (viral load, CD4 and full blood count).

Security of such a facility is of paramount importance. Patient records need to be protected and that only trained researchers gain access is critical. For this reason Toga is incorporating IDtek's biometric verification technology at the site.

"It is imperative that access to this facility be closely monitored," said Dr Desmond Martin. "There is no better way to do this than by individually identifying people, using their fingerprint biometric, granting the users access at prescribed points at prescribed times and recording what took place. The lab will play a key role in developing effective HIV monitoring. Therefore, the use of the most advanced security technology at the access points of the lab is a vital measure."

The existing system did not provide any positive identification-based control of persons entering the facility. A solution was needed which would be independent of access cards/tags and PIN numbers.

The solution

SAGEM Outdoor IP65 MorphoAccess 200 and MorphoAccess 200 readers and controlled by Sagem Morpho Enrolment and Management System (MEMS), which provides accurate control and monitoring of staff as well as a high level of security required in a facility dealing with sensitive and highly confidential medical testing. The benefits of this solution include drastically increased security and accurate identification-based monitoring of staff.

Implementation

Management decided upon a biometric solution in consultation with certain technology experts. A few questions quickly revealed that IDtek were industry leaders in fingerprint installations. At the time, IDtek was protecting the process trial area at Nissan and the nerve centre at MTN head office. One telephone call to a responsive company representative and the rest soon fell into place.

Management worked in close consultation with IDtek to agree the system design. Practically speaking, IDtek enquired as to the business processes and objectives and the areas that needed to be protected soon became apparent to all parties.

Measuring progress

In the initial installation IDtek gave an indication that provided certain project precedents were met the installation would take five days. In fact the initial installation was quicker. In the subsequent upgrade the installation had to fit in with the expansion of the building and IDtek fitted well into the overall project plan.

Fact file

Key service providers, products and solutions:

Fingerprint and proximity card access control solution and time management: IDtek Solutions, Julian Thorrold, 011 706 6649, [email protected]

Sagem Biometric products distributed by Ideco Group, Gary Jones, 011 840 7800, [email protected]

IMS Toga, Dr Desmond Martin, 011 453 5066.

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