A computer program for the derivation of non-parametric reference ranges from patients' results.

A computer program to derive the reference range from patients' results is presented. It separately modifies the two halves (separated by the peak) of the frequency distribution curve of patients' results by extending a para-apical portion by linear regression and thus derives the frequency distribution curve representing results unaffected by disease. The reference range is then calculated non-parametrically. The ranges obtained for most of the common chemistries were very close to the ones in use in the laboratory. Advantages and limitations of the method are discussed.