Computer technology has been used in hundreds of laboratory as a resonable, realistic approach to solving the problem of data management and information flow. Once considered awesome, computers are now a natural partner for the laboratory professional for whom the use of logic, research, and reasoning is inherent in the practice of laboratory medicine. Advance in computer technology have made it possible for laboratory managers to meet challange by utilizing electronic data processing as an efficient, cost effective management system.

Epidemiological markers are methods used to detect the various types/group and subtypes/subgroup of microorganisms responsible for an epidemic outbreak, so that the source of spreading could be located and effective remedial measures taken to contain the outbreak. A single bacterial species with a particular set of pathogenic activities may nevertheless include strains of different types that are distinguishable in minor characters. Recognition of the type a strain isolated from a patient my be of epidemiological value in tracing sources or modes of spread of infection in a community.

Smallpox is an acute virus infection characterized by prodxomal symptoms lasting from one to five days followed by a characteristics eruption which is centrifugal in its distribution. The eruption is a popular form from one to four days. The rash heals by scarring and permanent disfigurement results.

Throughout the medieval period there was no contribution to the subject of occupational diseases, and it was not until the sixteenth century that definite information relating to diseases of miners and workmen in dangerous trades was found. It was in the middle of the sixteenth century that two remarkable men, Agricola and Paracelsus wrote on the subject of miners diseases. Agricola described in "De re Metallica" (Agricola, 1556) the diseases that prevailed in the mining community.Paracelsus based his monograph on occupational diseases of mine smelter workers (Paracelsus, 1567) on his experience as town physician in Villach, Australia.

The question arises as to why such a program was not introduced much earlier Now the need for proficiency testing in microbiology is clear because of the very nature of the discipline. Unlike Oathology, haematolog or biochemistry where values are absolute and can be compared with controls of known values, it is not possible to place controls on every specimen received in the microbiology laboratory.

The well known and enormous ability of micro-organisms to adapt themselves to new conditions of life has been a frequent cause of complications in bacteriological studies. The adaptability of microorganisms to environment is, at a glance, greater then that of higher organisms, no doubt owing to their higher reproduction-rate and their unicelluler condition. This phenomenon has been known since the time when drugs active against micro-organisms were first discovered, and now certain well-established methods of chemotherapy seem to be threatened by it. Various mechanisms have been proposed to account for drug adaptation. In order to classify these theories it is important to consider whether they assume that change leading to an inheritable state of resistance occurs before or after contact with the drug.