The Birth Defects Information System

ABSTRACT

The Center for Birth Defects Information Services, a non-profit scientific collaborative formed to promote scientific and professional communication in birth defects and human genetics, operates a number of print and electronic information services designed to support clinical practice, education, and research. Unique among these services is Micro BDIS; a self-contained Birth Defects Information System for the personal computer. Subscribers are able to describe clinical cases or search criteria in a standardized language, as well as free text. The Micro BDIS evaluation facility then assists in the development of a differential diagnosis. Unusual cases that do not fit established diagnosis may be submitted to an Unknowns Registry.