Clinical Chemistry 6th Edition

Clinical chemistry continues to be one of the most rapidly advancing areas of laboratory medicine. Since the publication of the first edition of this textbook in 1985, many changes have taken place. New technologies and analytical techniques have been introduced, with a dramatic impact on the practice of clinical chemistry and laboratory medicine. In addition, the health care system is constantly changing. There is increased emphasis on improving quality of patient care, individual patient outcomes, financial responsibility, and total quality management. For this reason, the editors have replaced “Procedures” with “Techniques” in the title in order to reflect the continued evolution of the laboratorian’s role in healthcare. Point-of-care testing (POCT) is also at the forefront of health care practice and has brought both challenges and opportunities to clinical laboratorians. Now, more than ever, clinical laboratorians need to be concerned with disease correlations, interpretations, problem-solving, quality assurance, and cost effectiveness; they need to know not only the how of tests but more importantly the what, why, and when.