%0 Journal Article %A J. L. Whitby %A Janet N. Blair %T Data processing in hospital bacteriology: experience of 18 months' trial %D 1972 %R 10.1136/jcp.25.4.338 %J Journal of Clinical Pathology %P 338-343 %V 25 %N 4 %X The nature of bacteriological investigations creates data processing problems. Non-numerical results must be coded. This may be done retrospectively or at the bench, the former method involving extra work and staff, the latter implying simple codes, stringent checking, a nearby computer, and decoding programs. The use of a shared computer for producing daily reports diminishes departmental autonomy. Benefits occur in more readily available records and statistics, quality control, epidemiology, and diagnostic bacteriology. %U https://jcp.bmj.com/content/jclinpath/25/4/338.full.pdf