RED: A red-cell antibody identification expert module

Abstract

We describe a software module in an expert system RED, which interprets data related to red cell antibody identification. There are three portions to this module: the problem-solving component, which incorporates the knowledge required for antibody identification as a hierarchy of programs. The programs in the hierarchy organize within themselves small pieces of knowledge represented in the form of production rules, which are capable of making judgments concerning a specific hypothesis; an intelligent data base for storage of patient data, red cell attributes, and test results; the "overview critic" portion, which combines the atomic hypotheses judged favorably by the antibody programs into a unified judgment concerning the case. Overview makes the decision to terminate processing with a conclusion about which antibodies are actually present and what specific further tests need to be performed to resolve any remaining ambiguities.

Clinical Laboratory (LAB) Information Systems

“…In addition to the ABO antigens, more than 300 red cell antigens have been identifi ed, so red cell antibody identifi cation requires screening a patient's serum for antibodies by testing it with red cells containing selected common red cell antigens. This process is a complex one, and Smith's RED program provided a series of rules to help interpret data concerning antibodies against cell components important in transfusions [ 200 ].…”

Tractability and artificial intelligence

“…Second, people who build such programs appear to have no end of ideas of why their programs work; each successive idea can be analysed until one leads to a tractable problem. Third, such analyses have been done; the analysis of abduction mentioned above (Bylander et al 1991) is based on the RED expert system (Smith et al 1985) and the ideas underlying it (Josephson et al 1987).…”

A Lisp Machine Facility for Expert Systems Research.

“…Red is an expert system whose domain is red blood cell antibody identification [12]. An everyday problem that a blood bank contends with is the selection of units of blood for transfusion during major surgery.…”