Patent ID: 7873667

Claim:
A computer-implemented system for delivery, storage and maintenance of test data, said data comprising a plurality of test datasets each dataset being associated with a sample and a test on the sample, the system comprising: a) a programmed computer; b) a data repository for storage of the plurality of datasets, coupled to the computer, comprising i) a metadata database in the form of instances with associated metadata giving information about the instances, the metadata comprising at least one data element selected from a list comprising name, description, and identifying information, the metadata database comprising: A) metadata on the sample; B) metadata on the test; and C) metadata on data value elements in a test result database further comprising at least one data element selected from a list comprising data type, units, acceptable values or ranges, and default value; and D) metadata on the metadata, comprising at least one data element describing the metadata on the sample, test and data value elements in the metadata database; ii) a test result database comprising a plurality of instances having associated metadata in the metadata database giving information about the instance, the instances comprising information about at least one result derived from the test on the sample, each instance comprising: A) at least one data element representing information about at least one of the sample or the test; and B) at least one data value element representing a test result, selected from a list comprising a single data point, an equation, a graph, a data array, a data file and a picture; wherein the metadata in the metadata database define the instances in the metadata database and the instances of test result information in the test result database, and wherein an instance from the test result database, combined with its associated metadata from the metadata database describes the test result derived from the test on the sample and wherein the computer further comprises software encoding a method for receiving test data from users, storage and maintenance of the test data in the datasets in the data repository, and delivery of data from the repository to users.