PATTERNS IN CLINICAL CHEMISTRY. LOW SERUM SODIUM AND CHLORIDE IN HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS

Experience with off-line processing by computer of chemical laboratory data

This paper reviews experience extending over 18 months obtained with the Elliott Automatic Laboratory Analysis (A.L.A.) system, coupled with a Teletype link for communicating with a computer situated half-a-mile away. The system has been used for the off-line processing by an Elliott 803 computer of data collected from AutoAnalyzers carrying out urea and electrolyte determinations.

The A.L.A. equipment itself has proved reliable, apart from faults in the translator-timers occurring mostly during the first 3 months of routine operation, but the Teletype link has been subject to frequent breakdowns. The advantages of using the A.L.A. system of data-collection and computation have been confirmed, but disadvantages of this off-line system are discussed and reasons given why an on-line system of data-collection from AutoAnalyzers is preferred. The importance of reliable performance of laboratory data-acquisition and data-processing equipment in routine operation, and the need for good servicing arrangements, are stressed. The system described in this paper has been deficient in back-up servicing arrangements in respect of the A.L.A. equipment itself and of the Elliott 803 computer, but most of all in respect of the Teletype units.

Alphabetical coding patterns have proved of little value as a means of reducing the number of reports requiring detailed scrutiny, but they have served to draw attention to markedly abnormal results.