Automation of a Flow Cytometry Clinical and Research Laboratory.

We developed a system to automate a Flow Cytometry Clinical and Research Laboratory. Five major functions are accomplished: 1) patient demographic data entry, 2) specimen results data transfer, 3) procedure transcription and reporting, 4) data query, and 5) data backup and archiving. These are achieved by inter-linking two computers with dissimilar operating systems with a Fluorescence Activated Cell Analyzer (FACScan), several commercially available software systems, an IEEE-488 GPIB parallel cable interface using IEEE protocol and Hewlett Packard User Group software (HPPCLINK), and a customized in-house developed laboratory automation system for integrated database management. The system consists of data entry and editing, procedure results reporting, data query, and data archiving modules. The system design ensures data integrity, quality, and confidentiality.