Project reference CDC - blood card dispensing and drying equipment

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is a key agency responsible for public health in the United States, operating under the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

The CDC focuses on controlling and monitoring infectious diseases, preventing chronic diseases, promoting health security, and responding rapidly to health threats.

For example, the CDC supports newborn screening programs in the U.S. and over 80 other countries to ensure the accuracy of screening tests and promote early disease diagnosis.

The CDC’s Newborn Screening and Molecular Biology Branch (NSMBB), located in Atlanta, is responsible for ensuring that newborn screening tests for diseases are conducted reliably throughout the United States.

The NSMBB provides quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) materials, performance evaluation services, and technical support for newborn screening programs to ensure the analytical accuracy and effectiveness of the screening tests.

Newborn screening tests have been in use in the United States for over 60 years, identifying treatable genetic conditions early, which significantly improves newborn health and development prospects. Healthcare professionals collect dried blood spot (DBS) samples from over 98% of newborns.

Newborn screening has become one of the most successful preventive health programs in the United States.

Collaboration between Kaptas and the CDC

The NSMBB has faced challenges as the number of screened diseases has increased over the years and the testing process has become more complex, creating a greater need for reliable quality assurance materials.

Additionally, the screening technology has become outdated. The NSMBB has been using dried blood spot (DBS) cards for blood sample analysis, a method where a blood sample from a newborn is absorbed onto a card. The equipment used for quality control of these cards has been in operation for decades, and manual work related to the cards has slowed down the actual work.

To automate blood card processing and replace outdated equipment, the NSMBB required a new, modernized equipment. However, there was no ready-made equipment on the market specifically for this purpose.

Kaptas won a public tender in autumn 2024 to design and produce this new equipment. Kaptas will deliver blood card dispensing and drying equipment to the CDC in 2026.

The unique equipment developed by Kaptas, equipped with machine vision and three robots, manages the dispensing of blood samples onto the cards, drying of blood cards, and quality inspection of the cards. The system can process approximately 6,000 blood spots per hour, or about 12 million blood spots per year.

The new system equipment will improve accuracy and speed in quality control for newborn screening, meeting the increased demand for screening and enhancing its quality.

Kaptas and the CDC have also signed a maintenance agreement for the equipment, meaning Kaptas will be responsible for its upkeep following delivery.

Dispensing and drying equipment for newborn blood cards for the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Collaboration between Kaptas and the CDC

Customer facts