History of computer-assisted data processing in the medical laboratory.

Computer-assisted processing of medical laboratory data started in the sixties. The earliest systems, which arose in English- and German-speaking laboratories, pointed the way for the development of laboratory data processing. The significance and evolution of the fundamental components of a laboratory information system, such as the placing of the request to the laboratory, identification of patients and samples, recording of data, quality control, plausibility control and results, are presented. The subject is given a wider perspective by the inclusion of a comprehensive (chronological) literature index.