ACS is situated directly opposite Auckland City Hospital on two purpose-built, access controlled floors covering 800 square metres
The ground floor comprises reception, open plan and closed offices, a dedicated monitor/auditor office, patient/volunteer screening rooms, study initiation/seminar room, temperature/humidity controlled and monitored archives room and dispensary
The dispensary is access controlled and monitored for humidity and temperature. It contains a drugs fridge and freezer both temperature logged and monitored. The dispensary has a pass-through hatch to a state-of-the art positive pressure clean room containing an Esco Class II biosafety cabinet
The first floor contains a 20-bed ward and amenities area with a central 6-position nurses’ station. An electronic nurse call system links patients to nurses’ station and all areas of the unit
A series of 12 GPS-driven digital clocks can be viewed from each bed and other areas of the unit to allow on time dosing and sampling
A fully equipped laboratory includes monitored -30oC and -86oC freezers, three Eppendorf 5810R variable-speed refrigerated centrifuges and one Eppendorf 5702 non-refrigerated centrifuge
Study catering is provided by the University of Auckland’s Human Nutrition Unit ( www.humannutritionunit.auckland.ac.nz ). HNU provides expert dietetic advice to ACS and ensures study meals meet stringent protocol requirements at the same time as being attractive to volunteers and patients.
Volunteers have same-floor access to a 20-seat dining room, quiet room, telephone, computer facilities, Playstation, pool table and wide-screen TV
GE MAC 3500 ECGs are located in screening rooms and ward area
An integrated IT system includes ability for Electronic Data Transfer and top-of-the-range Canon facsimile machine meets the requirement for high resolution paper transmission
A 56 kVa Heimer emergency generator is capable of running all essential services of the Unit in the event of mains supply power failure