With NIST's help, Americans are living longer, healthier lives. NIST develops reference materials, data, standards, and analytical methods used by diagnostic labs and medical researchers. NIST co-funds development of new technologies for training doctors, organizing health records, and treating patients. The Institute helps small companies such as medical suppliers improve their products, and the Baldrige National Quality Award recently was expanded to recognize the achievements of health care organizations.

Below are some examples of products in your medical clinic that rely on NIST:

	Scales, like the one in your own doctor's office, are calibrated with weights traceable to NIST's primary standards.
	Doctors routinely check the pH level of urine samples. The tests are accurate because manufacturers rely on NIST standards for pH measurement.
	Sassy Scrubs Inc. dramatically boosted sales and improved their manufacturing processes with help from a NIST affiliated manufacturing extension center.
	VitalWorks used NIST co-funding for note-writing software to automate clinical data entry, easing conversion of patient data from paper to electronic records.
	Accurate pressure readings are crucial in determining your blood pressure. NIST maintains national standards and calibrations for pressure measuring devices.
	Medical supply manufacturers sterilize products, like bandages, with radiation. They use NIST quality assurance tests to ensure the radiation dose is accurate.
	When a doctor takes your temperature, rest assured. The thermometer's accuracy is traceable to NIST standards. NIST measures extreme temperatures accurately too.
	Pharmaceutical industry R&D laboratories use NIST standards in their quality control checks to verify the identity and concentrations of their products.

Next

Contents:

Diagnostics by the Numbers

The Right Dose of Radiation

Technologies for better health

Dental drills and X-ray views

Improving Mitochondrial DNA Analysis
(requires Flash Player)

More health care industry info on the NIST web site