Automation of laboratory instrumentation--recent achievements in the Stefan S. Nicolau Institute of Virology.

An automated system consisting of an SPF-500 spectrofluorometer interfaced to a Felix-M18 microcomputer was provided with a series of additional accessories benefitting from the inputs and outputs through the interface. An adequate set of programs for computer-controlled operations was developed. The system has allowed the performance of more than 15,000 absorption, emission and light scattering determinations. The role of interfacing to low cost computers in the automation of presently available laboratory instrumentation is discussed.