A golden age of clinical chemistry: 1948-1960

This segment of history aims to inform the new, and remind the not-so-new, members of the profession about;the relatively recent period that initiated the dominant role played by technological innovation in the modern investi gation of disease. The 12 years from 1948 to 1960 were notable for introduc tion of the Vacutainer tube, electrophoresis, radioimmunoassay, and the Aut o-Analyzer. Also appearing during this interval were new organizations, pub lications, programs, and services that established a firm foundation for th e professional status of clinical chemists. It was a golden age. (C) 2000 A merican Association for Clinical Chemistry.