[Building bridges toward the 21st century]

Area of Science:

• Medical Laboratory Science
• Biotechnology
• Health Informatics

Context:

• Post-World War II Japan saw the introduction of American medical advancements.
• Clinical laboratory testing was imported and subsequently developed in Japan.
• The mid-20th century marked a pivotal period for medical technology adoption.

Purpose:

• To trace the historical development of laboratory automation in Japan.
• To summarize the expansion of clinical laboratory automation in the latter half of the 20th century.
• To provide context for the current state of automated laboratory testing.

Summary:

• The paper reviews the historical trajectory of laboratory automation in Japan, starting from post-WWII medical imports.
• It details the maturation of clinical laboratory testing and its automation.
• The focus is on the period from 1945 through the end of the 20th century.

Impact:

• Highlights the evolution of prompt and fully automated testing in Japanese hospital laboratories.
• Provides a historical foundation for understanding current advanced laboratory capabilities.
• Aims to inform and inspire the next generation of clinical laboratory professionals.