Abstract
To display multidimensional laboratory measurements, Hoeke et al. (1991) proposed
a technique that uses plotting axes radiating from a point, assigns each test to a
separate axis, and links the test results with line segments. A special nonlinear
scaling ensures that a patient whose results all fall in the normal range is represented
by a regular polygon of middle size, and colored zones emphasize more serious departures
from the normal range. Results of research in graphical perception, however, point
to potential difficulties in clinical applications. Those results also suggest a revision
of the display that should overcome the difficulties. The new version plots the test
results on parallel horizontal lines and links the points for adjacent tests by line
segments, while retaining the special scaling and the colored bands.
Key-Words
Clinical Laboratory - Graphical Perception - Graphical Representation
