Knowledge-based test result in interpretation in laboratory medicine.

The medical interpretation of laboratory test results aims for an optimization of the diagnostic decision process to improve the quality of medical care. It is of growing importance in Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine. Interpretation is an active process that depends on patient history, experience of the interpreter and local disease prevalences. For the field of Laboratory Medicine the tool Pro.M.D. was developed that enables the medical expert to formulate his knowledge and experience in a knowledge-based system. Nine Pro.M.D. systems are in routine use for knowledge-based test result interpretation at several hospital laboratories today. Our experience in providing clinicians with interpretive reports shows that a medical dialogue on individual findings can be established or improved. With the development of a new, highly differentiated and extensive knowledge base our group introduced a concept called NOTABENE as the basis for new maintenance tools.