A Study of Automated Clinical Laboratory Systems.

摘要

Part One reviews automated clinical laboratory instruments and systems. Twenty-seven instruments,nine systems,and four specimen identification techniques are evaluated. Instruments reported are: 18chemistry laboratory instruments,eight hematology instruments,and one electrophoresis instrument. Of the nine systems reported,five are commercial and four are special. The total of 37automated instruments and systems represent those making a major contribution to the automation of health care services. Part Two, a consultant's review performed by Berkeley Scientific Laboratories,Inc.,reviews the status of clinical laboratory instrumentation and laboratory data processing systems. An overview of the clinical laboratory functions and the requirements that the laboratory must satisfy are given. Part Three presents an economic analysis of the impact of laboratory automation on medical care and costs. An analysis of patient care costs is presented and the economic merits and disadvantages of laboratory automation is presented.