Use of a minicomputer for storing, reporting, and interpreting arterial blood gases/pH and pleural fluid pH

Blood gas/pH data, like any other laboratory information, are amenable to computerization. This has become more feasible in recent years with the advent of manufacturer-designed blood gas/pH analyzer interfaces and relatively inexpensive mini- and microcomputers. The interface makes possible on-line transmission of data; the computer allows manipulation of the data in virtually any way desired. We have implemented such a system. This system, in continuous use for more than 3 years, permits transmission of blood gas/pH data as soon as the test has been performed, allows storage of the data on floppy disks, and allows reporting of the data in an automated fashion with a printed interpretation. In addition, because our laboratory determines pH in pleural fluid, the latter test has been computerized to provide a separate report and interpretation. Using the computer language BASIC, we programmed this system in-house ourselves. Declining costs of small and powerful personal computers and the use of languages such as BASIC now make it feasible for similar reporting systems to be implemented in many laboratories.