The value of battery testing in the clinical laboratory: a PERT network case study.

This paper presents procedures for battery testing for the diagnosis and monitoring of treatment of patients' bleeding disorders. Specifically, it describes the testing performance for a group of bleeding disorders, disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC). The value of three battery-testing procedures is examined by using a PERT technique, based on the clinical data obtained from the Saint Louis University Hospitals. The study reveals that a grouping of test procedures provides better patient care and improved utilization of clinical laboratory, while reducing the operational costs.