Laboratory Findings

Abstract

Modern medicine employs laboratory findings to a great extent in medical cognitive and decision processes. As supposedly "hard" data, the value of such findings is frequently incorrectly assessed. So far, no comprehensive general theory of laboratory findings has been available, although various subproblems have been dealt with. Firstly, the structure of a laboratory finding will be investigated in detail, proceeding from an analysis of the scientific language used for laboratory findings. The part played by laboratory findings in medical cognitive processes in making a diagnosis or prognosis will then be shown. Finally, attempts at characterizing the validity of a laboratory finding with the aid of statistical methods and Information theory, äs well äs appropriate Steps for checking the validity will be discussed.