A simple numerical discriminant in the follow-up of lung cancer.

Statistical analysis of laboratory data obtained during a study on a group of patients with lung cancer suggests that a simple numerical discriminant may have value in the follow-up of such patients. The discriminant is based on six common laboratory tests and is rapidly derived in the consulting room using a simple pocket calculator.

Data processing of the output from a Vickers M300 clinical chemistry analyser. Principles and implementation.

A suite of data processing programs is described, which takes the results' log from a Vickers Medical LTD M300 clinical chemistry analyser; corrects phasing errors; allows various types of recalibration (recalculation) of the data; and delivers the results to a general purpose laboratory data filing system (PHOENIX-ACHILLES). An important problem with the data is that results may be unphased with respect to their identification data for mechanical reasons. The principles underlying rephasing, and other requirements for handling the M300 data are described, together with the processes used by the operator. Deliberately, no ammendments were made to the supported software for the integral computer in the M300 analyser. The new software supplements the analyser by allowing the operator to summarise the corrections to the data which would have been made under manual conditions: the required corrections are then completed by the computer. About 70 working days were required to complete the program: this was much more than has been required to program data handling for several other analysers which do not have phasing problems.

Linear study of medical undergraduate performance.

The examination performance of a cohort of clinical undergraduates has been scrutinized. The cohort was notable for a high failure rate at the university preclinical examination, but this failure rate did not reappear consistently in all four final clinical subjects. The assaying examinations were not only valid for their objectives, but also measured a range of other attributes. Multiple choice question papers scores detect both quantitative and qualitative differences in knowledge between the high and low fail risk candidates. The effect of A-level grade is variable but is carried up to the final qualifying examinations. High performers tend to have good A-levels. The contribution of the preclinical course to the clinical qualifying examination was small, varied between the preclinical subjects and also between the clinical subjects and two streams of students. It is shown that lack of an adequate standard in science subjects before entry to university is associated with subsequent disadvantage in clinical training. Such disadvantage could be reduced by an introductory premedical course. The contributions made by the differing educational experiences within the cohort could be detected in many of the examinations; in particular, poor performance at the end of first clinical year pathology multiple choice questions paper examination was associated with poor performance at finals. Failure in the first part of finals indicated a likelihood of furhter failure, factors such as sex and motivation are shown to affect multiple choice question performance whilst others such as work overload do not. The high risk fail candidates can be detected 2 years before finals and might be given special educational treatment designed to improve their chance of first time success as there is no efficient way of identifying them before acceptance into the medical school.

Introduction of a Vickers M300 analyser into the routine service of a hospital laboratory. 1. Installation, staffing, logistics.

A Vickers M300 analyser has been successfully installed in a busy hospital laboratory. A permanent team of operators is used, but this introduces problems for staff rotation, particularly for educational purposes. The vials used for the collection of samples are an essential feature of the system, but they present many difficulties and are no longer used for collecting samples from outpatients, or at remote sites. Direct costs during 1974, excluding staff and depreciation, amounted to approximately pounds 0-45 per patient sample: this is assessed on the rising workload during implementation. An increased workload could still be handled with existing staff. The siting of such high-capacity analysers constitutes an important policy decision.

Introduction of a Vickers M300 analyser into the routine service of a hospital laboratory. 2. Tests, methods, evaluation.

A Vickers M300 analyser has been introduced into a busy hospital laboratory; a profile of 13 biochemical tests is currently provided. Analytical performance has been assessed over one year of routine service operation, and mechanical performance has been assessed over two separate three-month periods. At its best, the M300 achieves high standards of precision and accuracy and has the advantage of unrivalled speed. Enzyme assay methods are less satisfactory than the kinetic assays in current use. Random analytical errors occur and are difficult to detect. The restricted facilities of the integral process-control computer are inadequate for effective quality control.