Routine operation of an Elliott 903 computer in a clinical chemistry laboratory

Area of Science:

• Clinical chemistry laboratory automation
• Computer systems in healthcare

Background:

• Four years of experience with an 8K Elliott 903 computer.
• The computer system was designed as a total solution for laboratory operations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the capabilities and limitations of the Elliott 903 computer system.
• To review mistakes made during the project and warn future users.

Main Methods:

• Routine operation of a clinical chemistry laboratory.
• Data acquisition and process control functions using the computer system.

Main Results:

• Routine operations were limited to data acquisition and process control due to hardware limitations.
• The project provided valuable lessons on computer system implementation in laboratories.

Conclusions:

• Early hardware choices significantly impacted the system's capabilities.
• Lessons learned highlight critical pitfalls for computer users in laboratory settings.