REPCAT - DESK-TOP EXPERT-SYSTEM FOR INTERPRETING AND VALIDATING LABORATORY DATA FOR PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA DIAGNOSIS WITH THE DATABASE APPLICATION OMNIS 7(TM)

To aid in the validation and interpretive reporting of results from mu ltianalyte diagnostic testing for pheochromocytoma (PHEO), we have dev eloped a desktop personal computer-based laboratory expert system (REP CAT). REPCAT utilizes a commercial database application to run procedu res that assess analytical and clinical data relating to patient urine or plasma samples. REPCAT was used to evaluate the raw data from >400 0 24-h urine samples submitted to our laboratory for testing for the p resence of PHEO. REPCAT performed equivalently to an expert pathologis t in assessing the presence and class of PHEO (epinephrine, norepineph rine, or mixed secretor). No false negatives were generated and it ass igned a correct interpretation (on the basis of subsequent clinical an d biochemical investigation) for each of the primary diagnostic sample s from these patients.