Tackling Lab Burnout with Smarter Technology
How Fast MDx’s NGX 124 Can Help Protect Your Most Valuable Laboratory Resource
Burnout in healthcare isn’t new, but for laboratory professionals, the pressure is mounting. The aftermath of the COVID pandemic, combined with rising caseloads and staffing shortages, has left many labs stretched to the limit. The consequences are serious: emotional exhaustion, reduced performance, and high staff turnover.
In a recent study reported in The Pathologist, Dr Alae Kawam, Surgical Pathologist at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School, explored the drivers of burnout in lab medicine and proposed practical interventions to reverse the trend.
At Fast MDx, we believe smarter diagnostics technology can and must be part of that solution.
Burnout in the Lab: More Than Just Fatigue
Dr Kawam’s research identified six major causes of lab staff burnout:
- Lack of autonomy
- Excessive workload
- Bureaucracy
- Problems with lab information systems
- Professional isolation
- Disruption from mergers and acquisitions
Most notably, over 80 percent of lab professionals reported symptoms of burnout, with excessive workload and understaffing named as the most common drivers.
One example highlighted in the study was a histotechnologist who spends hours every week troubleshooting faulty equipment. This kind of repeated frustration, combined with pressure to meet unrealistic testing targets, creates a toxic cycle of exhaustion and emotional disengagement.
“Burnout doesn’t stem from individual weakness, it reflects systemic dysfunction,”
– Dr Alae Kawam
Freeing Up Your Most Valuable Resource
Fast MDx is proud to be launching the NGX 124 in the UK in October 2025 – a compact, mobile, fully automated molecular diagnostics platform built on ultra fast qPCR technology. The NGX 124 is a truly open platform, meaning it can run any validated qPCR assay, giving labs far greater autonomy compared with closed systems from multinational manufacturers.
But what does this mean for burnout?
- No need for constant human oversight – the NGX 124 reduces manual handling and minimises the risk of user error
- Operable by an entry level technician – routine testing no longer needs to tie up your most highly trained biomedical scientists
- BMSs are freed up – enabling them to focus on more complex, interesting, and valuable tasks such as assay development, troubleshooting, or research
In short, the NGX 124 helps labs boost efficiency, reduce pressure, and retain talent – all while maintaining high quality diagnostic output.
Meeting the Needs of a Changing Workforce
Dr Kawam also explored the generational shift happening across lab medicine. Where older professionals may have accepted long hours as part of the job, younger generations are rightly demanding better boundaries and wellbeing.
“Millennials and Gen Z are reshaping lab culture. They’re more open to talking about mental health, and more willing to demand change.”
Institutions that ignore these evolving expectations risk losing staff to burnout or early career exits. But by investing in tools that automate repetitive tasks and empower skilled staff, labs can foster a culture that values wellbeing, innovation, and sustainability.
A Call to Action for Laboratory Leaders
Dr Kawam’s research recommends a four step approach to tackling burnout:
- Measure it – use validated surveys to understand its prevalence
- Understand it – dedicate resources to identifying root causes
- Act on it – plan and fund meaningful solutions, including staffing
- Listen to your team – frontline professionals know what needs fixing
Smart automation, such as the NGX 124, should be part of that strategy. When laboratories combine modern technology with staff-centred leadership, everyone benefits – from technicians and scientists to patients and health systems.
Let’s Build a Sustainable Future for Lab Medicine
Burnout is not inevitable. With the right tools and cultural mindset, laboratories can become environments where talented professionals thrive, not just survive.
The Fast MDx NGX 124 is more than a diagnostics platform. It’s part of a smarter, more sustainable model for lab operations – one that puts people and performance on equal footing.
“Burnout isn’t just a personal experience, it’s a signal,”
– Dr Alae Kawam
We’re listening, are you?
Interested in trialling the NGX 124?
Contact us today to reserve a free, no obligation one week trial of the NGX 124 in your lab. Experience first-hand how this compact, intuitive platform can streamline your workflow, reduce staff pressure, and unlock new capacity for your team.
Take the first step toward a more efficient, resilient, and future ready laboratory.
4th August 2025
