title: Artificial Neural Network for Total Laboratory Automation to Improve the Management of Sample Dilution.
abstract: Diluting a sample to obtain a measure within the analytical range is a common task in clinical laboratories. However, for urgent samples, it can cause delays in test reporting, which can put patients' safety at risk. The aim of this work is to show a simple artificial neural network that can be used to make it unnecessary to predilute a sample using the information available through the laboratory information system. Particularly, the Multilayer Perceptron neural network built on a data set of 16,106 cardiac troponin I test records produced a correct inference rate of 100% for samples not requiring predilution and 86.2% for those requiring predilution. With respect to the inference reliability, the most relevant inputs were the presence of a cardiac event or surgery and the result of the previous assay. Therefore, such an artificial neural network can be easily implemented into a total automation framework to sensibly reduce the turnaround time of critical orders delayed by the operation required to retrieve, dilute, and retest the sample.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Tor Vergata University Hospital of Rome, Rome, Italy.|2 Department of Human Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Rome Sapienza, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ialongo
authors.affiliation: 3 Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pieri
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Laboratory Medicine, Tor Vergata University Hospital of Rome, Rome, Italy.|3 Department of Experimental Medicine and Surgery, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Sergio
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bernardini
mesh_terms: D057205:Automation, Laboratory / Q000379:methods*; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016571:Neural Networks, Computer; D013048:Specimen Handling / Q000379:methods*
keywords: STAT; artificial neural network; cardiac troponin I; total laboratory automation; turnaround time