Patent ID: 7860727
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: G01N,G06Q,G16H

Abstract:
1. A method for performing processing in a laboratory comprising: configuring, using a computer, a host to have at least one local data element associated with a first staining protocol used only by said host, said at least one local data element having a data definition and data value used only by said host; configuring, using a computer, said host to have global data elements each having a common data definition and data value used by said host and by one or more other hosts connected to said host; providing a template including a first set of one or more erroneous test patterns and, for each of said erroneous test patterns in the first set, an associated action that is performed upon detection of an occurrence of said each erroneous test pattern, each of said erroneous test patterns specifying results and processing parameters for a plurality of slides; staining a set of slides and producing first results, said staining performed in accordance with the first staining protocol using a first reagent and a stainer controlled by the host; performing first processing by the host using the template, said first processing including determining a match between a first of the erroneous test patterns and the first results, and in response to determining the match, determining a testing failure and performing an associated action specified in the template for the first erroneous test pattern, wherein said associated action includes performing lockout processing, said lockout processing comprising: wherein, after said updating, said plurality of global data elements are communicated to said one or more other hosts and each of said one or more other hosts disallows further processing using the second reagent.