Contemporary Practice in Clinical Chemistry

Contemporary Practice in Clinical Chemistry, designed to supplement the many excellent reference texts for clinical chemistry, provides a clear and concise overview of important topics in the field. The book, an update of the 'white book' (Professional Practice in Clinical Chemistry; D. Robert Dufour, ed.) used for so long by students of clinical chemistry, can be divided into three sections:

• clinical laboratory basics
• analytical systems, and
• clinical systems

The laboratory basics section covers lab statistics and calculations, quality assurance, and regulatory issues. The analytical systems section provides brief descriptions of various methods used in the clinical laboratory. The clinical systems section emphasizes the physiology and function of the system, which diagnostic tests are appropriate, and how the test results are interpreted. New chapters review evidence-based laboratory medicine, pharmacogenomics, mass spectroscopy, and infectious diseases.

It is our hope that Contemporary Practice in Clinical Chemistry will be useful to a wide variety of people. For students, residents, and fellows in clinical chemistry or pathology, it will provide an introduction and overview of the field and assist in review and preparation for board certification examinations. For new medical technologists, this book will provide context for understanding the clinical utility of tests that they perform or may be of use in expanding their knowledge of other areas in the clinical laboratory. For experienced laboratorians, the book will provide an opportunity for exposure to more recent trends and developments in clinical chemistry.