title: The impact of the laboratory's multiparametric analyser on the medical technology and health expenditure in Japan.
abstract: The use of an automatic analyzer for blood chemistry has become widespread since the latter half of the 1970s. This medical equipment conserved while improving accuracy. This technology has had a greater impact upon the structure of medical practice, management of medical institutions and medical economics, than previous diagnostic tests such as the X-ray, electrocardiograph and manual laboratory tests. This report analyzes the nationwide use of blood chemistry automatic analyzer, based on statistics from the Ministry of Health and Welfare. First, attempts are made to evaluate the significance of the provision of the multiple-channel auto-analyzer. Second, we review the impact of this technology on medical care and its background in three phases: medical institutions, clinical Laboratory Test Centers and national medical expenditure and the response of the government. These phenomena are common to the fruits of the technological revolution centered on ME (Medical Engineering or Medical Electronics), such as CT, ultrasonograph, hemodialyser. The rational utilization of this equipment will require the cooperative efforts of both economists and medical technologists.
mesh_terms: D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis / Q000191:economics*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000639:trends*; D006801:Humans; D007349:Insurance, Health, Reimbursement / Q000191:economics; D007564:Japan; D013677:Medical Laboratory Science / Q000191:economics / Q000295:instrumentation*