Laboratory management functions of computers in nuclear medicine

The remarkable growth of the use of digital computers in nuclear medicine has resulted in the application of these devices in many routine clinical areas. The basic needs within these clinics of data collection, storage, analysis, and display have been fulfilled to a great extent. Additional applications, including radiotherapy, in vitro studies, and computer-aided instruction are being explored. Laboratory data management is the one new area common to all clinics. The importance and the required capabilities of laboratory data management systems are discussed