Laboratory Diagnosis

This second edition of The Physician's Guide provides paediatricians and other physicians with a unique aid to help them select the correct diagnosis from a bewildering array of complex clinical and laboratory data. Delay and mistakes in the diagnosis of inherited metabolic diseases may have devastating consequences. The guide, which includes a CD-ROM, describes 298 disorders which have been grouped into 35 chapters according to the type of condition. Within each group of disorders, chapters provide tables of pertinent clinical findings as well as reference and pathological values for crucial metabolites. Relevant metabolic pathways and diagnostic flow charts are included. There are three indices to make the book as user-friendly as possible.

A quick guide to appropriately selecting and interpreting laboratory tests, Small Animal Clinical Diagnosis by Laboratory Methods, 5th Edition helps you utilize your in-house lab or your specialty reference lab to efficiently make accurate diagnoses without running a plethora of unnecessary and low-yield tests. It provides answers to commonly asked questions relating to laboratory tests, and solutions to frequently encountered problems in small animal diagnosis. For easy reference, information is provided by clinical presentation and abnormalities, and includes hundreds of tables, boxes, key points, and algorithms. This edition, now in full color, is updated with the latest advances in laboratory testing methods and diagnostic problem solving. Written by noted educators Dr. Michael Willard and Dr. Harold Tvedten, this book may be used as an on-the-spot guide to specific problems or conditions as well as a reference for more detailed research on difficult cases. Concise discussions address laboratory approaches to various disorders, possible conclusions from various test results, artifacts and errors in diagnoses, and interpretations leading to various diagnoses. Hundreds of tables, boxes, algorithms, and key points offer at-a-glance information including cautions, common pitfalls, and helpful "pearls," and lead to proper differential and clinical diagnostic decision making. Note boxes identify key considerations in correlating clinical signs with test data for accurate diagnoses, highlight safety precautions, and offer helpful tips for sample preparation and interpretation. Chapters on laboratory diagnostic toxicology and therapeutic drug monitoring help in handling potentially fatal poisonings and other special situations. Expert editors and contributors provide clinical knowledge and successful diagnostic problem-solving solutions. A practical appendix lists referral laboratories that may be contacted for certain diseases, and reference values with the normal or expected range for coagulation, hematology, and more. Updated coverage integrates the newest advances in testing methods and diagnostic problem solving. Full-color photos and schematic drawings are placed adjacent to related text, and accurately depict diagnostic features on microscopic slide preparations as well as test procedures and techniques.

Exotic Animal Laboratory Diagnosis is a practical, user-friendly guide to diagnostic testing in a wide range of exotic species. Offers complete information on obtaining samples, performing tests, and interpreting laboratory results in exotic animals Presents information on each species using a similar format for easy access Emphasizes details on clinical biochemistries, urinalysis, and common laboratory diagnostic tests not found in other resources Draws together information on selecting, performing, and using diagnostic tests into a single easy-to-use resource Covers a wide range of species, including small mammals, primates, reptiles, aquatic animals, and wild, laboratory, and pet birds

Getting the right diagnosis is a key aspect of health care - it provides an explanation of a patient's health problem and informs subsequent health care decisions. The diagnostic process is a complex, collaborative activity that involves clinical reasoning and information gathering to determine a patient's health problem. According to Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, diagnostic errors-inaccurate or delayed diagnoses-persist throughout all settings of care and continue to harm an unacceptable number of patients. It is likely that most people will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime, sometimes with devastating consequences. Diagnostic errors may cause harm to patients by preventing or delaying appropriate treatment, providing unnecessary or harmful treatment, or resulting in psychological or financial repercussions. The committee concluded that improving the diagnostic process is not only possible, but also represents a moral, professional, and public health imperative. Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, a continuation of the landmark Institute of Medicine reports To Err Is Human (2000) and Crossing the Quality Chasm (2001), finds that diagnosis-and, in particular, the occurrence of diagnostic errorsâ€"has been largely unappreciated in efforts to improve the quality and safety of health care. Without a dedicated focus on improving diagnosis, diagnostic errors will likely worsen as the delivery of health care and the diagnostic process continue to increase in complexity. Just as the diagnostic process is a collaborative activity, improving diagnosis will require collaboration and a widespread commitment to change among health care professionals, health care organizations, patients and their families, researchers, and policy makers. The recommendations of Improving Diagnosis in Health Care contribute to the growing momentum for change in this crucial area of health care quality and safety.

The purpose of this text is to promote the delivery of responsible and safe care for patients undergoing diagnostic tests and procedures by providing information to facililtate use of the nursing and medical problem-solving processes. It provides necessary and detailed information and individulized patient assessment, adequate care analysis and planning, appropriate interventions, patient education, and timely evaluation of patient outcomes.

A practice-oriented reference for the laboratory diagnosis of neurologic diseases Up-to-date, comprehensive, and beautifully illustrated, Laboratory Diagnosis in Neurology presents all the measuring parameters and methods relevant to the analysis of cerebrospinal fluid, serum, and tissues affected by neurologic disease and syndromes. Following an introduction to basic concepts, the book guides clinicians through the methods of CSF analysis, neurochemical examinations, clinical applications of neuroimmunology, microbiology and virology, neurogenetic tests, and evaluation of biopsies. Readers will learn about the equipment and various procedures, and how to effectively differentiate similar methods. In the final section of the book, the authors provide a systematic introduction to the pathophysiology and laboratory findings for specific clinical disorders, indications for particular test methods, and criteria for diagnostic interpretation. Key features: Clear presentation of pearls, pitfalls, and practical tips in blue boxes for at-a-glance review Contributions by neurologists, psychiatrists with experience in laboratory analysis, clinical chemists, and neurochemists More than 140 high-quality illustrations, mostly in full color, demonstrating common findings Appendix with basic rules for interpreting disease-specific patterns, recommendations for quality control, and a list of the most important reference values An indispensable tool for neurologists, laboratory physicians, and pathologists, this book is also a valuable reference for neurosurgeons, internists, and psychiatrists.

As with other volumes in the Diagnostic Standards of Care series, Clinical Chemistry focuses specifically on understanding potential problems and sources of error in management of the clinical chemistry testing procedures, how to anticipate and avoid such problems, and how to manage them if they occur. The discussions are concise, practical, specific, and problem-based so the book directly addresses the situations and issues faced by the clinical pathologist or other manager or staff member of the chemistry team. Discussion of each problem is augmented by a case discussion giving a real-world example of how the issue can occur and how it can be effectively dealt with by the manager. The goal is to support the pathologist, manager or technologist in providing the highest possible quality of care and effective, timely consultation to the clinical staff. Clinical Chemistry: Diagnostic Standards of Care features: Comprehensive coverage of key issues in achieving quality in all areas of clinical chemistry Includes chapters dedicated to point of care testing, pediatric testing, laboratory information systems and EHR integration, and outreach testing Numerous case examples and discussions give real-world illustrations of how problems occur and how to avoid them Coverage includes perspectives from the lab manager's and administrator's view An emphasis on identifying established, evidence-based standards in clinical chemistry Examples of errors which compromise patient safety across all major areas of clinical chemistry Pocket-sized for portability

those who deal with infectious diseases on a daily This two volume work stems from the belief of the Editors that infectious diseases are not only very basis. much with us today but, more importantly, that they There are several excellent textbooks dealing will continue to playa significant global role in mor with medical microbiology, and there are equally well-recognized books devoted to infectious dis bidity and mortality in all people. A continuing need for an informed and knowledgeable community of eases. The Editors of this work, on the other hand, laboratory scientists is fundamental. Data describing were persuaded that there was a need for a publica the global impact of infectious diseases are difficult tion that would bring together the most pertinent and to come by. Fortunately, a recent thoughtful and relevant information on the principles and practice of provocative publication by Bennett et al. (1987) pro the laboratory diagnosis of infectious diseases and vides us with data derived from several consultants include clinical relationships. While this two volume that clearly delineate the impact of infectious dis text is directed toward the role of the laboratory in eases on the United States today.