Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Which systems have e-Connectivity®?
A. e-Connectivity® is available for VITROS® 5600 Integrated System, VITROS®  3600 Immunodiagnostic System, VITROS® ECi Immunodiagnostic System, VITROS® ECiQ Immunodiagnostics System and VITROS® 5,1 FS Chemistry System. From this point forward these systems will be referred to as “e-Connected”.

Q2. What is e-Connectivity®?
A. e-Connectivity® Interactive System Management provides the capability of a real-time, secure, two-way interactive connection between e-Connected Systems and Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Technical Support.

Q3. What features does e-Connectivity® provide?
A. e-Connectivity® features the following:

Q4. What will e-Connectivity® do for my lab?
A. e-Connectivity® will enhance your laboratory’s productivity and workflow and help increase your system up-time by providing the following:

Q5. How is e-Connectivity® different from competitive offerings?
A. e-Connectivity® goes well beyond remote diagnostics. It adds automated, real-time transfer of system performance data for analysis by Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Technical Support, remote control operation for troubleshooting, and system software downloads. In addition, e-Connectivity® provides for confidentiality and security using state-of-the-art encryption technology.

Q6. How does e-Connectivity® operate for my e-Connected Systems?
A. Using a broadband connection with access to the Internet, a Virtual Private Network (VPN) router establishes a secure connection between an enabled system and Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Technical Support.

Q7. What will I need to provide to enable my VITROS® Systems for e-Connectivity®?
A. You will need to provide a broadband connection with access to the Internet at a speed greater than or equal to128kbps. The Internet connection can be DSL, cable or provided through a Local Area Network (LAN). Ortho Clinical Diagnostics provides the hardware and software necessary for e-Connectivity®.

See the links to the left for further information on network connection specifications.

Q8. What additionally is required to enable my VITROS® Systems for e-Connectivity®?
A. Your VITROS® System requires a standard on-site service call for installation or configuration of the components necessary for e-Connectivity®.

You will need to provide local network information so that the Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Service Representative can configure the e-Connected Systems. An e-Connectivity® Network Specification Form can be completed and returned to Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Technical Support.

Q9. Will e-Connectivity® interfere with the performance of my e-Connected Systems?
A. No. e-Connectivity® is fully integrated into your system so that routine system operation is maintained. For example, Automatic Two-Way Data Exchange, including software downloads, can occur without interruption to continuous system operation, including during sample and assay processing.

Q10. How will Ortho Clinical Diagnostics use the collected data?
A. Our Technical Support centers and field engineers will analyze it for current and potential issues on individual systems, so service can be performed as quickly and conveniently as possible. In addition, aggregated data from multiple systems may point to needed software updates, as well as feature development needs for future systems.

Q11. Can my e-Connected Systems initiate a connection with support personnel such as when the system flags an issue?
A. VITROS® 5600 and VITROS® 3600 Systems: e-Connected VITROS® 5600 and VITROS® 3600 Systems can continuously monitor onboard data and flag events that indicate a developing service need. When this occurs, the system can then establish a connection between the e-Connected System and Ortho Clinical Diagnostics technical support and send related data. The operator can also establish a connection between the e-Connected systems and Ortho Clinical Diagnostics technical support. Ortho Clinical Diagnostics cannot initiate a connection to the system. However, once the secure connection has been established, any data indicating a possible issue can be transmitted. VITROS® 5,1, VITROS® ECi and VITROS® ECiQ Systems: No. Only the operator can establish a connection between the e-Connected Systems and Ortho Clinical Diagnostics technical support. Ortho Clinical Diagnostics cannot initiate a connection to these systems. However, once the secure connection has been established, any data indicating a possible issue can be transmitted.

Q12. Does e-Connectivity® include inventory management functionality?
A. Inventory management has limited availability on VITROS® ECi and VITROS® ECiQ systems. We are committed to developing more functionality in future releases.

Q13. How will e-Connectivity® be priced?
A. Currently there is no charge for e-Connectivity®.

Virtual Private Network (VPN)

Q14. Will I need a VPN?
No. Ortho Clinical Diagnostics provides the VPN hardware and software for e-Connectivity®.

Q15. Will I need to configure the Virtual Private Network connection?
A. No. An Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Service Representative will configure the e-Connected Systems with local network information provided by you.

Q16. What VPN standards are used by the e-Connected System?
A. The VPN utilizes ISAKMP/IKE IPSec architecture and protocols, 3DES encryption and can accommodate NAT T (Network Address Translation Traversal). The firewall is an ICSA (International Computer Security Association) certified dynamic firewall.

The Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) formal defines the above standards on their website at www.ietf.org:

Local Area Network Connection Configuration

Q17. Will I need to configure my firewall(s)?
A. Possibly. You will need to ensure that the e-Connected System on your network can communicate with our VPN router (148.177.0.108) on port 500 and port 4500 for inbound and outbound traffic utilizing protocol 50 . These are standard ports used for VPN ISAKMP/IKE IPSec traffic. If you have multiple firewalls, this configuration must be done for each firewall involved in the route.

It is extremely important that these ports are open for a timely and successful install of e-Connectivity® to your System.

Q18. Will I need to configure my router(s)?
A. Possibly. If you have a router providing Network Address Translation (NAT), you will need to ensure that it supports NAT Traversal (NAT-T). NAT-T is used by the IPSEC protocol to allow for the traversal of encrypted packets across NATed environments. If you have multiple routers, you must do this for each router involved in the route. If you are using Cisco equipment, it is important that Portfast is disabled.

DSL/Cable Configuration

Q19. How can DSL/Cable be installed in my laboratory?
A. You will need a local service provider (typically the telephone company or cable company) to install the DSL/cable line into your laboratory. The provider should supply the equipment necessary to connect the Systems to the Internet. Please note that the equipment must support an Ethernet connection (i.e. not USB only).

Q20. Will I need to ensure that the DSL/Cable line is functioning?
A. You should communicate with the service provider regarding how best to determine that the DSL/Cable line is functioning correctly. Several providers will perform all of the necessary work. Other providers will deliver the equipment and you will be required to make the connections and configure the equipment. If the service provider does the latter, then follow their instructions to install, configure and test it before Ortho Clinical Diagnostics connects the System.

Q21. How do you configure the connection if it requires a login to the Internet Service Provider?
A. The Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Service Engineer can enter the appropriate information into the e-Connected System VPN Device. Some hardware (DSL and Cable modems) can support the configuration of this information. If this is the case, Ortho Clinical Diagnostics would prefer that the information is stored in the hardware supporting the connection.

Operating System

Q22. What operating system is used on the e-Connected Systems?
A. VITROS® 5,1 FS, VITROS ECi/EiQ, VITROS® 5600 and VITROS® 3600 Systems -- A QNX® Neutrino® RTOS. This is a real-time POSIX-compatible operating system designed for use in embedded devices. These systems do not contain any Microsoft® components.

“QNX” and “Neutrino” are registered trademarks of QNX Software Systems, Ltd. “Microsoft” is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

Confidentiality, Security and Privacy

Q23. How secure and private is e-Connectivity®?
A. Ortho Clinical Diagnostics Technical Support cannot change results, information or data. The operator has full operational control for allowing access and retrieval of potential patient information used in Sample Programming and used in keyboard entries on system software screens. Operators should configure the system so that patient information is excluded in data logger files retrieved during a data exchange.

Q24. What data is transmitted through the VPN router?
A. e-Connected systems transmit logged System information including results and Intellicheck® Technology verification data that can assist in insuring your system is operating within specification. The system may also be capable of receiving software upgrades and assay information. All of this data is encrypted during transmission through the VPN tunnel.

Q25. Will an e-Connected System be able to access any other computers on my Network?
A. No. The e-Connected systems are connected through a VPN device and with built-in VPN/firewall capabilities that are pre-configured to build a single VPN tunnel to a VPN router located in Raritan, NJ. Other than the tunnel, the e-Connected systems are completely isolated from any other local or Internet network traffic. Interfaces to Laboratory Information Systems (LIS) and printers are supported through the serial ports and do not support network traffic communications or transmissions. VITROS® 5600 and VITROS® 3600 systems also support LIS connections via TCP/IP with ASTM/IP and HL7 when port forwarding has been enabled by local IT.

Q26. Is a firewall in place to prevent unauthorized access to the VITROS® 5,1 FS, VITROS® ECi/ECiQ, VITROS® 5600 and VITROS® 3600 Systems?
A. Yes. The Ortho Clinical Diagnostics VPN device features an ICSA (International Computer Security Association) certified dynamic firewall. This device prevents any unauthorized access to the VITROS® 5,1 FS, VITROS® ECi/ECiQ, VITROS® 5600 and VITROS® 3600 Systems. It only allows communication from the VITROS® Systems through the VPN tunnel to the Ortho Clinical Diagnostics VPN router. The system is not exposed directly to the Internet.