Patent Publication Number: US-2010125589-A1

Title: Method for graphically processing displayed data records for minimizing a selection error rate

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Embodiments of the invention relates generally to displaying and processing data, and in particular to a method and a user interface for preventing errors in selecting data records from a displayed selection list comprising data record representations. The method may for example be applied in displaying and processing clinical data to be selected in the use of a laboratory instrument for performing an analysis of a sample with respect to a medical significant parameter, in particular a method for displaying and processing patient medical information. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Such a laboratory instrument and a laboratory information system is usually used in a clinical or research laboratory for analyzing large amounts of samples, e.g. in a laboratory system of an analytical chemistry processing center. The instrument may be useful in the performance of a single or numerous chemical, biochemical and biological assays and reactions. 
     Modern research and clinical laboratory procedures include biological and chemical analysis of specimen-substances that require extensive fluid manipulations. Many of the routine applications used for analysis are bioassays, immunoassays, viral assays, mitogen assays, serology, protein assays, lymphokine assays, and sample aliquoting. Experimental biological and clinical research includes the use of photometric analysis of chemical reactions after the reactions have reached equilibrium or a fixed end point. Certain enzyme assays require a two-point or multi-point analysis embodying kinetic assays. 
     An important field is analyzing samples with a nucleic acid amplification technique. The purpose of the analysis is the detection (presence or absence of an analyte) and/or the quantification of the concentration of an analyte in samples. The analyte may be a nucleic acid: RNA or DNA or derivatives there off. The derivatives (Nucleic Acids, NA) mentioned include molecules which are accessible directly or indirectly (e.g. after chemical modification) to a NA amplification method (e.g. DNA-polymerase, Transcriptase, Reverse-Transcriptase, etc.). The target analyte can be e.g. genetic material with biological origin e.g. for genetic testing, in case of infectious diseases the analyte can be nucleic acid material from a virus or bacteria, in case of gene-expression the analyte can be m-RNAs, the analyte can also be methylated DNA. 
     The analysis is performed by a laboratory instrument for processing samples, e.g. by conducting thermocycled amplification of polynucleotides, including polymerase chain reaction. 
     Such a laboratory instrument is usually part of a laboratory system comprising a laboratory information system which is connected to a plurality of laboratory instruments. The laboratory instrument and optionally the laboratory system for performing such laboratory procedures require management of data related to the use of the laboratory instrument and the analysis result obtained therewith, e.g. management of sample data, process liquids and reagents used in the analysis, analysis data and patient data. These data are usually stored in a repository data base of the laboratory system. Although these data are managed to an extent as far as possible in order to save costs and to increase the reliability of the process, it is in many cases required that a user selects for further processing a data record of several data records which are displayed to him, e.g. for selecting a specific patient or a specific analysis process he wants to have performed by the instrument. 
     In standard methods for displaying and processing data to be selected in the use of a laboratory instrument for performing an analysis of a sample with respect to a medical significant parameter, in particular a method for displaying and processing patient medical information, the data are stored in a repository database of the instrument or of the laboratory system, which database may be located at an instrument itself and/or a database located externally on a server which is accessed by a network. The data are searched or filtered according to a query to the repository database in order to retrieve a number of data records from the data stored in the repository database. Such a data record comprises a number of data record attributes, wherein a data record attribute is an instance of a data type stored in the repository database, wherein the data type is given by data type qualifiers. An instance of a data type is for example a specific data of a specific information data type stored in the repository database, wherein the information data type is given by data type qualifiers that are representative of the specific information data types recorded in the repository database. E.g. an attribute of a patient or person record could be their first or given name, their last or family name, etc. A selection list comprising at least some of the preselected data records is displayed to a user for enabling the user to select one of the displayed data records, wherein the displayed selection list comprises a record representation for each of the selection record candidates. That record representation is typically constructed from one or more of the record attributes; e.g. first and last name (most common), ID number, etc. The data record representation can also be constructed partly or overall from derivations of data record representations. Derivations of data record representations are attribute values calculated from record attributes, like when age is calculated from date of birth, postal code from town, last name length truncated, etc. In particular, the displayed selection list may comprise at least some of the data record attributes which are available overall. 
     However, in the process of selecting a data record from a displayed selection list comprising several data records the user may undertake a selection error resulting in the selection of an erroneous data record instead of the correct one. In many cases, users of data management systems select data records from a repository data base. Typically, this is done by selecting a data record from a displayed selection list. The displayed list of “candidates” of which one has to be selected comprises several data records retrieved from the database as a result of a request to the database by a search of filtering for providing the display. In some embodiments the search may be of the type “display all the data records”. 
     In many cases similar data records appear next to each other in the selection list, especially since most selection lists are sorted by name or a similar attribute (data type qualifier). It is then not inconceivable that the user might select the wrong data record, e.g. by pointing it with a cursor. 
     Prior art systems do not provide means to prevent errors of this type. A handling of patient data is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,775,670 and U.S. Pat. No. 7,165,221. However, these references are not related to the preventing of errors in selecting data records from a displayed selection list comprising data records. At the most, when a risky selection is made which is identified in that the chosen selection would cause a risky action, a prior art system provides a confirmation form to the user. In contemporary systems the user get used to fixed pattern interactions of the interface and will confirm their selection “automatically” often, rendering this known measure of error rate reduction not very effective. Beyond this simple measure, current systems do not provide any measure to prevent selection errors. This situation is exacerbated by the time stress under which data is often entered and selected in actual clinical lab operation and many similar situations. Accordingly there is a noticeable error rate in data record selection, especially when data records with similar representation or data record attributes are displayed in the selection list. Reduction of this error rate at an acceptable cost will result in benefits in reduced health care errors and cost and all the way of saving lives. 
     SUMMARY 
     It is therefore against the above background that the embodiments of the present invention provide a method and a user interface for preventing errors in selecting data records from a displayed selection list comprising data record representations and or at least to reduce the error rates involved in such a selection process. 
     In one embodiment, a method for displaying and processing data is disclosed and comprises storing data in a repository database, and searching or filtering the data according to a query to the repository database in order to retrieve or preselect a number of data records from the data stored in the repository database, wherein a data record comprises a number of data record attributes, and a data record attribute is an instance of a data type stored in the repository database. The method also includes displaying a selection list comprising at least some of the retrieved data records&#39; representation to enable selection of one or more of the data records represented in the displayed selection list, wherein a record representation comprises at least some of the record&#39;s attributes or derivations thereof, and automatically checking the displayed data record representations that are displayed in the displayed selection list for similar data record representations, wherein a similar data record representation comprises at least one data record attribute of a data type that is identical or similar to the data record attribute of the data type of another data record. The method may also include additionally graphically processing the display of the similar displayed data record representations upon displaying the selection list. 
     In another embodiment, a user interface of a laboratory instrument or a laboratory system supporting displaying and processing clinical data to be selected for displaying and processing clinical information is disclosed. The user interface comprises a processor for searching or filtering data that are stored in a repository database according to a query to the repository database in order to retrieve a number of data records from the data stored in the repository database, wherein a data record comprises a number of data record attributes, and a data record attribute is an instance of a data type stored in the repository database. The data type is given by data type qualifiers. The user interface also includes a display for displaying a selection list comprising at least some of the preselected data record representations to enable selection of one or more of the displayed data records, wherein the displayed selection list comprises at least some of the data record attributes of the data records which are displayed in the selection list. The processor automatically checks the displayed data record representations that are displayed in the displayed selection list for similar data records, wherein a similar data record comprises at least one data record attribute identical or similar to the data record attribute of said data type of another data record, and additionally graphically processes the display of the data record and/or of a similar data records. 
     In still another embodiment, a laboratory system is disclosed and comprises an analytical instrument, a terminal for displaying data to a user and a repository database and a user interface according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     In yet another embodiment, a computer-readable storage device containing a set of instructions that causes a computer to perform a method for displaying and processing data according to a embodiment of the present invention is also disclosed. 
     Further details and advantages of the present invention are illustrated in the following based on exemplary embodiments making reference to the attached drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The following is depicted in the figures: 
         FIG. 1  shows a system according to an embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows a first selection list of data records with patient data; 
         FIG. 3  shows a second selection list of data records with patient data; 
         FIG. 4  shows a data record selection warning according to an embodiment of the invention comprising a highlighted data record differentiation representation; 
         FIG. 5  shows a first selection list of data records with patient data according to an embodiment of the invention comprising a highlighted data record differentiation representation; 
         FIG. 6  shows a second selection list of data records with patient data according to an embodiment of the invention comprising a dynamic data record representation; 
         FIG. 7  shows a third selection list of data records with patient data according to an embodiment of the invention comprising another dynamic data record representation; and 
         FIG. 8  Hierarchy of a typical data management system. 
     
    
    
     REFERENCE NUMERALS 
     
         
         
           
               1  laboratory system 
               2  clinical instrument 
               3  terminal 
               4  database 
               5  repository database 
               6  user interface 
               7  display 
               8  laboratory instruments 
               9  laboratory information system 
               10  communication processor 
               11  display processor 
               12  data record 
               13  selection list 
               14  data record attribute 
               15  data type qualifier 
               16  cursor 
               17  pointed data record 
               18  similar data record 
               19  data record selection warning 
               20  confirmation prompt 
               21  data record differentiation representation 
               22  dynamic data record representation 
               23  additional data record attribute 
               31  Laboratory information system 
               32  Work area manager 
               33  Laboratory analyzer data system 
               34  Input/Output device 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following description of the embodiments is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses. For example, the embodiments of the present invention may find utility in a wide variety of applications of laboratory instruments. In particular embodiments of the present invention, a method and a user interface for preventing errors in selecting data records from a displayed selection list comprising data record representations and or at least to reduce the error rates involved in such a selection process are disclosed. In one embodiment, the displayed data records that are displayed in the displayed selection list are automatically checked for similar displayed data records&#39; representation, wherein a similar displayed representation comprises at least one displayed data record attribute that is identical or similar to the displayed data record attribute of said data type of another displayed data record. The display of the similar displayed data records and/or a cursor pointed to data record is additionally graphically processed upon displaying the selection list to provide visual differentiation of similar record representations for the selection about to be made. For example, this may be carried out by a processor via statically OR&#39;ing the data records either automatically and/or when a cursor is set by the user to a displayed data record representation pointed by the cursor for preparing selection of the pointed data record representation from the displayed selection list. Furthermore, an embodiment of the invention specifies a method for calculating and recording selection confidence level and records similar to the selected one for downstream verification in case further processing detects conflicts created by erroneous selection. 
     In other embodiments, a method for displaying and processing data, e.g. clinical data to be selected in the use of a laboratory instrument for performing an analysis of a sample with respect to a medical significant parameter, and in particular a method for displaying and processing general or clinical information are disclosed. In such methods, data is stored in a repository database, and the data is searched or filtered according to a query to the repository database in order to retrieve a number of data records from the data stored in the repository database, wherein a data record representation comprises a number of data record&#39;s attributes, and a data record attribute is an instance of a data type stored in the repository database as part of or linked to the data record. A data record attribute is a data element of a record; e.g. first name, last name, age, gender, etc. The data type may be given by data type qualifiers that are representative of the data types recorded in the repository database. A selection list comprising at least some of the retrieved data records&#39; attributes as their representation is displayed to a user for enabling the user to select one of the data records. The displayed selection list comprises record representations, each data record representation comprises at least some of the data attributes which are stored in the repository database. Data record representations which are displayed in the displayed selection list are automatically checked for similarity, wherein a similar data record representation comprises at least one data record attribute of a data type that is identical or similar to a data record attribute of said data type of another data record or creates a similar appearance that makes them difficult to distinguish, by evaluating the text distance or preferably weighted distance between representations. 
     The text distance is the number of characters that are different between two strings, compared for each location of the strings. 
     The weighted text distance is a string distance, where a difference between two characters is weighted by the visual similarity of the characters. E.g. the distance between the visually similar letters “I” and “l” is counted as half a point, while the distance between the visually distinct letters “I” and “X” is counted as one point. This method produces a better assessment of strings distance or similarity for the purpose of this invention. 
     The display of similar displayed data records is additionally graphically processed upon displaying the selection list. Graphically processing can e.g. be achieved by changing the graphical attribute of displayed data record attributes. The graphical attribute of displayed text is e.g. font, color, reversed color, underscore, and any combination thereof. The graphical processing can be initiated in any suitable manner. If for example a last name is queried all other data records having the same last name can be automatically graphically processed. 
     According to a preferred embodiment the display of the similar displayed data record representations is additionally graphically processed upon displaying the selection list. A cursor may be set by the user to a displayed data record pointed by the cursor for preparing selection of the pointed data record from the displayed selection list. The selection of the pointed data record may be done e.g. by clicking or double clicking a button, e.g. of the mouse used for moving the cursor, when the representation of the data record to be selected is pointed by the cursor. 
     Additional processing of the selection list may be done by the database server through database programmed functions, by business logic layer between the database and the client or by the client. Additional processing includes the detection of similar and potentially confusing representations in the selection list, the identification of the similar or confusing parts (similar strings). The graphical differentiation of the similar part can be determined by processing at the server side or at the client, all depending on system architecture, and all in accordance of this invention. 
     An embodiment of the invention is based on the finding that it is possible to prevent errors in selecting data records from a displayed selection list comprising data record representations and to reduce the error rates involved in such a selection process by affecting the presentation of data selection menus and providing distinctive graphical differentiation of those representation to the user. 
     An embodiment of the invention further concerns a user interface of a laboratory instrument or a laboratory system supporting displaying and processing clinical data, e.g. clinical data to be selected in the use of a laboratory instrument for performing an analysis of a sample with respect to a medical significant parameter, in particular for displaying and processing patient medical information. The user interface comprises a processor for searching or filtering data that are stored in a repository database of the instrument or system according to a query to the repository database in order to retrieve a number of data records from the data stored in the repository database. A data record comprises a number of data record attributes. A data record attribute is an instance of a data type stored in the repository database and the data type being given by data type qualifiers. The user interface further comprising a display for displaying to a user a selection list comprising at least some of the preselected data record representations for enabling the user to select one more of the displayed data records. The displayed selection list comprises at least some of the data record attributes of the data records which are displayed in the selection list. A processor automatically checks the displayed data record representations that are displayed in the displayed selection list for similar data records. A similar data record comprises at least one data record attribute that is identical or similar to the data record attribute of said data type of another data record, and the display of the data record and/or of the similar data records is additionally graphically processed. 
     An embodiment of the invention is also directed to a system comprising an analytical instrument, a terminal for displaying data to a user, a repository database and a user interface as described above. 
     Further, an embodiment of the invention is directed to a computer-readable storage device containing a set of instructions that causes a computer to perform a process according to an embodiment of the invention. 
     According to a further embodiment a downstream verification can be performed. If down the road, i.e. in processing the data record selected and performing an analysis, a test result is reported that doesn&#39;t quite agree with the selected record e.g. patient&#39;s data or demographics, like his age or gender, this could point to an error in patient selection when the order was created by the selection. A couple of actions which are described in more detail in the following paragraphs can be taken to remedy this situation. 
     According to an embodiment of the invention displayed data records that are represented in the displayed selection list are automatically checked for one or more similarly represented data records, wherein a similar represented and displayed data record comprises at least one displayed data record attribute of a data type that is identical or similar to the displayed data record attribute of said data type of another displayed data record. 
     According to a method according to an embodiment of the invention upon confirming the selection of a specific data record by the user a confidence level of the selection is recorded together with the selected data record for enabling a downstream verification, wherein a higher confidence level is assigned to the selected data record the more different the data record representations in the displayed selection list have been when the data record was selected and wherein a lower confidence level is assigned to the selected data record the more similar the data record representations in the displayed selection list have been when the data record was selected or the higher the number of similar data record representations has been when the data record was selected. The confidence level can be checked if a plausibility check is not passed upon performing the analysis with the selected data record and the user is prompted an error message when the confidence level assigned is low. If the data record was selected out of very different ones, like in normal cases, it is assigned a high confidence level. If it was selected from a few similar record representations, its confidence level is lower. 
     Various models and formulae can be used for assessing the confidence level according to the above description. For example, in one embodiment, the following is used: 
       SCL=1−1/( K *( RD/RT )* DH*UC ) 
     where: SCL stands for Selection Confidence Level, K is a proportion factor, RD is the text distance or weighted text distance between the records, (see definitions), RT is the total representation string length, DH is the level that distance is highlighted, and UC is a user dependent factor as some users will tend to make more errors than others under the same conditions. It is to be appreciated that DH=1 if the differentiating parts of the records&#39; representation are displayed with the same graphics attributes as the equal parts or as the rest of the selection list. It is further to be appreciated that DH&gt;1 if the discriminating text is highlighted in a way that helps the user distinguish between the records and identify the one for which the user is looking. 
     When a data item having a selection confidence level below a selection confidence threshold is encountered a warning may be issued for the user to reconsider the selection. The selection confidence threshold may be set by the producer of the software or may be set by an administrator. 
     According to another method, upon confirming the selection of a data record by the user, similar data records, e.g. similar data records which are displayed in the selection list, when a data record was selected, are recorded together with the selected data record for enabling a downstream verification or correction. The recorded similar data records can be displayed to the user and an error message can be prompted to the user if a plausibility check is not passed. A plausibility check can be made by comparing an analytical result with stored reference data for patients of e.g. same gender, age and so on. Later on, when conflicting data is encountered, it can be checked against those data records recorded together with the selected one, and alternative selection from these data records may be offered to the user for reconsideration. 
     Reference is now made to the figures, in which various illustrated embodiments are discussed in greater details. 
       FIG. 1  shows a laboratory system  1  comprising an analytical instrument  2 , a terminal  3  for displaying data to a user and a repository database  4 , a further optional repository database  5 , and a user interface  6  according to an embodiment of the invention. The terminal  3  comprises a display  7 . Further the laboratory system  1  may comprise several laboratory instruments  8 . Such a laboratory instrument  8  is usually used in a clinical or research laboratory for analyzing large amounts of samples, e.g. in a laboratory system  1  of an analytical chemistry processing center. The laboratory instrument  8  may be useful in the performance of a single or numerous chemical, biochemical and biological assays and reactions. 
     The laboratory system  1  comprises a laboratory information system  9 , and the terminal  3  is connected to the laboratory information system  9  and/or directly to one or several analytical instruments  8 . The user interface  6  comprises a communication processor  10  and a display processor  11 . 
       FIG. 2   a  illustrates a table/grid embodiment for the selection of a patient data record  12  to be assigned to a specific analysis order performed or to be performed by a laboratory instrument, wherein the record of the patient from whom the sample for analysis was taken has to be selected and assigned to the order. Such a selection is a common task, and a critical one. Selecting and assigning the wrong patient to an order creates a potentially dangerous situation as the patient selection affects the operation of the analytical instrument. 
     In a typical workflow a user selects a patient at a terminal of the laboratory information system and links this patient to a test order. When samples arrive in the lab they are identified (e.g. by reading a barcode or an RFID label) and processed. Often samples need to be prepared for the tests to be done. This preparation may include dilution, aliquoting, centrifugation, adding of substances, thermal treatment and so on. It has to be understood that this sample preparation is not necessarily the same for all samples. A test for hCG, for example, requires dilution of the sample if the patient is pregnant. In general the sample preparation depends on the ordered test which in turn is determined on the patient identified. 
     It has to be understood that analysis of the samples even more depends on the identified patient as the tests are performed which are assigned to the selected patient. Further a wrong selection of a patient from a list would mean that the analysis results on a sample are assigned to the wrong patient so that the medical doctor does not receive the tests he has ordered for a certain patient. 
     From another viewpoint it can also be said that patient selection influences operation of the instrument or even the overall system, as this selection determines the tests which are conducted on the sample. 
     The selection list  13  displayed in  FIG. 2   a  is used for displaying and processing medical data. Such data is typically selected in the use of a laboratory instrument  8  for performing an analysis of a sample with respect to a medically significant parameter or for retrieving medical data. The data are stored in a repository database  4  and the data are searched or filtered according to a query to the repository database in order to select a number of data records  12  from the data stored in the repository database. 
     The selection list  13  shown comprises at least some of the selected data records&#39; representation, wherein a data record  12  in the representation of  FIG. 2   a  is a line in the selection list  13 , and is displayed to a user for enabling the user to select one of the displayed data records  12 . Therein the displayed selection list  13  comprises at least some of the data record attributes  14  of the data records  12 , e.g. of the data records  12  which are displayed in the selection list  13 . Not all data record attributes relating to a data record  12  have to be displayed in the selection list  13 . 
       FIG. 2   b  depicts a menu type list (like in a drop down menu) embodiment, both types, table/grid and menu type list are commonly used for record selection. The data type qualifiers  15  are patient ID, last name, first name, age and gender. Four data records  12  are displayed in the selection list  13 B, namely the data records of four patients Larry David, John Doe, Jeff Doe and John Eckerman. The data record entries comprise patient or clinical data according to the data type qualifiers  15 . The data record  12  of Jeff Doe is preselected by a pointer or cursor  16  placed on his data record  12  by the user of the laboratory system  1 , laboratory information system  9  or analytical instrument  8 . Therefore the data record  12  of Jeff Doe can be named a pointed data record  17 . The preselection can also be performed in another suitable manner, e.g. by querying a last name. 
     Generally it may be useful if at least some of the data type qualifiers  15  of the data record attributes  14  displayed in the selection list  13 ,  13 B are displayed together with the displayed data records  12  and the displayed data record entries  14 . 
     Preferably, the data record attributes  14  may relate to data of patients. Further preferably the data type qualifiers  15  represent various patient record properties like patient id, patient first name, patient last name, patient age, patient gender, patient street of the address, patient city of address, patient state of address and medical information associated with a patient. Medical information may be disease history, present and past treatments, etc. 
     In many cases similar data records  18  appear next to each other in the selection list, especially since most selection lists  13 ,  13 B are sorted by name or similar attributes. A similar displayed data record  18  is characterized in that it comprises at least one displayed data record attribute  14  of a data type that is identical or similar to the displayed data record attribute of said data type of another displayed data record. In  FIG. 2  the data records  12  of John Doe and Jeff Doe are similar, because the data record attribute  14  “Doe” of the data type “last name” is identical. Therefore the data record  12  displayed of John Doe is a similar data record  18  with respect to the (pointed) data record  17  of Jeff Doe. The data record  12  of Larry David however is not a similar data record  18 , i.e. similar to the data record  12  of Jeff Doe, although it comprises an identical data record attribute  14  of the type gender which is M, because the gender is not given much weight in evaluating whether a data record  12  is a similar data record  18  to another data record  12  or to the pointed data record  17 . 
     It is then not inconceivable that the user might point and select the wrong data record  12 , i.e. the pointed data record  17  of Jeff Doe instead the similar data record  18  of John Doe, thus neglecting or overseeing other displayed and differing data record entries  14  comprised in the displayed data records  12  that would enable him to check his selection further. In  FIG. 2  the user might disregard in selecting the erroneous data record  12  the differing data record entries  14  of the data type “age” of Jeff Doe which is 54 and John Doe which is 21. This could happen as a result of environmental conditions (like task and time pressure), user ability to discriminate between similar lines (user specific performance), and the similarity among data records  12 . Such selection errors result in high error rates. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates another example of a selection list  13  comprising similar data records  12  such posing or increasing the risk of wrong selection by the user. It shows a menu used for ordering the processing of a sample, in which menu a list of possible analyses that may be performed for a certain Measurement No. (MS no.) by a laboratory instrument  8  named 917-1_E. Certain analytes which are identified by an analyte number, the name of the analyte and a set value are shown. Here too the possibilities for a user to select a wrong data record  12  are abound. 
       FIGS. 4 to 7  illustrate several methods according to embodiments of the invention for reducing data record selection error rates. This may be achieved with respect to a display according to  FIG. 2  or by modifying the display of the selection list  13  of  FIG. 2 , e.g. by increasing data record representation distance or by highlighting. These measures according to an embodiment of the invention are generally listed from the simple and easy to the more complex to implement. Of course, two or more of the methods described in this application, also including a downstream verification, can also be combined. Further, the invention is not limited to embodiments according to  FIG. 2  but can in a similar manner also be applied to other embodiments, e.g. according to  FIG. 3 . 
     In the methods illustrated in  FIGS. 4 to 7  the data records that are displayed in the displayed selection list  13  are automatically checked for similar data records  18 , wherein a similar displayed data record  18  comprises at least one data record attribute  14  of a data type that is identical or similar to the data record attribute  14  of said same data type of another displayed data record  12 . 
     In general, the similarity of data records  12  is checked, e.g. the search for a similar data record  18  among data records  12  displayed in a selection list  13  or among data records  12  displayed with a pointed data record  17  is performed in the following manner: in a table or grid list, attributes are checked for similarity to attribute of same type of other data records. In a linear menu, the various menu entries, each produced from a record&#39;s attributes, are checked for similarity to each other. Similarity between text phrases or attributes is evaluated by calculating the text distance or the weighted text distance between them. 
     According to a preferred embodiment, when a cursor  16  is set by the user to a displayed data record  12  for preparing selection of the data record  12  it is additionally graphically processed. 
       FIG. 4  shows an embodiment wherein the additional graphical processing comprises displaying a data record selection warning  19 . Upon data record selection, the system checks if a data record  12 , e.g. a data record  17  pointed with a cursor  16  or selected by a name, is among data records  12  with similar representation, and posts a data record selection warning  19  to the user. As shown the display of a data record selection warning  19  may comprise displaying a confirmation prompt  20  to the user to be confirmed by the user for approving and enabling or canceling the selection of data record  12 , e.g. the pointed data record  17 . 
     It is to be noted that the data record selection warning  19  is display to the user only if a similar data record  18  similar to the pointed data record  17  exists in the displayed selection list  13 . This makes the pattern of data selection irregular and relevant, drawing even more attention to the possibility of error for the user. 
     Displaying the data record selection warning  19  may comprise displaying at least one similar data records  18  in order to provide the user the required information for making his final selection. In  FIG. 4  this similar record is that of John Doe of the two patients having similar data records  12 . 
     Further, the prompt or data record selection warning  19  may present and highlight the differences between similar “candidates” of similar data records  12 ,  18  displayed in the selection list  13 , thus drawing attention to the differentiating factors, making it easy to identify errors even under time pressure. Accordingly it may be favorable when displaying the data record selection warning  19  comprises displaying at least one different data record attribute  14  of a specific data type which is different for the data record  12 , e.g. a pointed data record  17 , and the one or more similar data records  18 , in particular for the displayed similar data records  18 . In  FIG. 4  this different data record attributes  14  are the first name, the age and the different data record entries  14  related to the address information. 
     Displaying the at least one different data record attribute  14  of the pointed data record  17  and of one or more similar data records  18  may comprise displaying at least one data record attribute  14  of a specific data type which has been displayed in the displayed selection list  13 , here the first name. Displaying the at least one different data record attribute  14  of the pointed data record  17  and of the one or more similar data record  18  may also in addition or alternatively comprise displaying at least one data record attribute  14  of a specific data type which has not been displayed in the displayed selection list  13 , here the differing address information. 
     According to the preferred embodiment shown at least one displayed different data record attribute  14  is highlighted in the display in order to attract the attention of the user. In  FIG. 4  this applies for the age and the address information. It could also include the first name. The at least one displayed different data record attribute  14  may be highlighted by displaying it with at least one special graphical attribute. The at least one special graphical attribute may be bold font, different font, different font size, italic font, underlined font, different contrast, different color, different contrast color, different background, different background color. 
       FIG. 5  shows an embodiment wherein the additional graphical processing comprises displaying the displayed selection  13  list in a highlighted data record differentiation representation  21 , wherein at least one different data record attribute  14  of a specific data type which is different for the data record  12 , e.g. a pointed data record  17 , and the one or more similar data records  18 , in particular the displayed similar data records  18 , is highlighted in the pointed data record  12 . According to this feature in  FIG. 5  the data record attributes  14  of first name and age of patients Jeff Doe are highlighted. 
     The additional graphical processing shown in  FIG. 5  also comprises displaying the displayed selection list  13  in a highlighted data record differentiation representation  21 , wherein at least one different data record attribute  14  of a specific data type which is different for the data record  12 , e.g. a pointed data record  17 , and the one or more similar data records  18 , in particular the displayed similar data records  18 , is highlighted in the one or more similar data records  18 . According to this feature in  FIG. 5  the data record attributes  14  of first name and age of patient John Doe are highlighted. 
     Alternatively or in addition the additional graphical processing may comprise displaying the displayed selection list  13  in a highlighted data record differentiation representation  21 , wherein at least one different data record attribute  14  of a specific data type which is different for the pointed data record  17  and the displayed similar data records  18  is highlighted in the displayed similar data records  18 . In  FIG. 5  this is the first name and the age of patient John Doe. 
     The system highlights the differentiating parts of the displayed data records  12  in the selection list  13 , i.e. the at least one highlighted data record attribute  14  is highlighted by displaying it with at least one special graphical attribute. The at least one special graphical attribute may be bold font, different font, different font size, italic font, underlined font, different contrast, different color, different contrast color, different background, different background color. 
       FIGS. 6 and 7  show an embodiment wherein the additional graphical processing comprises displaying the displayed selection list in a dynamic data record representation  22  displaying an additional data record attribute  23  of at least one additional data type for the data record  12 , (e.g. a pointed data record  17 ), and the one or more similar data records  18  (e.g. the displayed similar data records  18 ), upon displaying the pointed data record  17  and the one or more similar data records  18 . That additional data record attributes  23  displayed are not displayed in the displayed selection list  13  prior to selecting the pointed data record  17  with the cursor  16 . In  FIGS. 6 and 7  that additional data record entries  23  are data record entries  14  of the data type address. However, data record entries  14  of any other data type can be displayed as additional data record entries  23 . The additional differentiating attributes can be displayed statically or dynamically, when the cursor points to one of the similar record representations. 
     It is to be noted that the additional data record attributes  23  are displayed to the user only if a similar data record  18  similar to the pointed data record  17  exists in the displayed selection list  13 . This makes the pattern irregular, drawing even more attention to the possibility of error for the user. 
     It may be preferable that the data type qualifiers  15  of the additional data record attributes  23  displayed in the selection list  13  are displayed with the displayed additional data record entries  23 , e.g. any patient information. In the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7  a general data type qualifier  15  like “additional data” of the additional data record entries  23  displayed in the selection list  13  is displayed with the displayed additional data record attributes  23 . 
     As can be seen from  FIGS. 6 and 7  further the at least one additional data record attribute  23  and/or at least one displayed similar data record attribute  14  can be highlighted in the displayed selection list  13 . In  FIG. 6  the additional data record attribute  23  of the address of the pointed data record  17  of patient Jeff Doe is highlighted. In  FIG. 7  also the additional data record attribute  23  of the address of the similar data record  18  of John Doe, the age of John Doe and the age of Jeff Doe are highlighted. Therefore  FIG. 7  provides an even better comparison of the data records  12  than  FIG. 6 . 
     The at least one additional data record attribute  23  and/or at least one displayed similar data record attribute  14  may be highlighted by displaying it with at least one special graphical attribute. The at least one special graphical attribute may be bold font, different font, different font size, italic font, underlined font, different contrast, different color, different contrast color, different background, different background color. 
       FIG. 8  shows a hierarchy of a typical data management system in which the above described embodiments may be implemented. The system comprises a top level data management system  31  e.g. a Laboratory Information System that manages data for the whole lab, and lower level, more specific data system  32 ,  32 ′ for sections of the operation, e.g. a Work Area Management system. It also interfaces with lower level specific systems  33 ,  33 ′,  33 ″ that consume and produce data e.g. interfaces of laboratory analyzers, scanner, printer  34 ,  34 ′,  34 ″, through their data system. User interaction through user interface and data selection are needed at different points at each of those system at any level as indicated by UI, DS. 
     Although preferred embodiments of the invention have been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations obvious to the skilled artisan are to be considered within the scope of the claims that follow and their equivalents.