Present documents on standardization of connection parts (interfaces and ports)

An important problem with online data-processing in many analytical laboratories is the connection of different data-ports to analytical instruments. The use of standardized interfaces would go a long way towards solving this problem. This paper gives a status report on the efforts made towards reaching an internationally accepted standard for interfaces which can be used for devices in clinical laboratories. The principal reasons that define the need for standardization are as follows. An analytical device delivered by supplier A generates data. These data are then processed by the laboratory data-processing system delivered by supplier B. This is schematically shown in figure 1. Analytical instrument Analytical ]-I instrument Laboratory computer 1"Responsibility transfer (line of demarcation) Figure 1. General structure of laboratory systems. At some point in this configuration the responsibility for the data has to be transferred from supplier A to supplier B, and this point can be termed the 'line of demarcation'. This demarcation aspect is of fundamental importance, particularly with regard to servicing the system. The user must have a guarantee that servicing and repair can be carried out without the responsibility for the fault being sent back and forth between the suppliers A and B. It is necessary, therefore, that an interface should have the following features: (1) It should be well known and commonly used. (2) It should be easy to check. (3) The 'checking device' should be easily available (for example TELETYPE). (4) The interface should be easy to connect to the checking device, so the connector should be positioned on the rear of the analytical instrument and should have a standard plug. These items can be simply fulfilled if the interface itself is standardized between manufacturers and accepted internationally. In the past, with no accepted standard interfaces, many difficulties have arisen when users have attempted to connect analytical devices online to the laboratory computer. Historically, the development of digital interfaces for clinical analytical instruments started with printer interfaces, which were always tailored to the demands of the particular printer delivered by the manufacturer. Standardization of such constructions was almost impossible, and special interfaces had to be developed for each instrument, and for each application special software device handlers had to be written and tested. Previous attempts to standardize interfaces for computer peripherals and analytical devices failed, primarily because of the competition between the different suppliers. To provide a standard interface outlet would allow the user …