Iterpretation of clinical chemical data with the aid of automatic data processing

I summarize conventional applications of computers in clinical laboratories and discuss the possible role of the computer in providing assistance in interpretation of laboratory data through the use of data bases. The data bases include effects of drugs on the results of laboratory tests, factors influencing references values, and conversion factors for converting data from conventional units to SIunits. Reported diagnostic applications of the computer are discussed with reference to both clinically oriented and laboratory oriented programs.