Laboratory Diagnostic Pathways

The prognosis of a disease often depends on the timing of therapeutic invention, which in turn strongly relies on a reliable and quick diagnosis. Laboratory diagnostic pathways are algorithms that give structure to the diagnostic process, thereby minimizing the risk of mistreatment, shortening the hospital stay, and lowering the cost for treatment. This book offers 70 diagnostic algorithms that lead physicians and laboratory personnel through the diagnostic process in a step-by-step fashion. In Part One, general basics, infrastructure, and economic aspects are discussed and tipps for implementation are given. Part Two introduces screening methods for cases without a suspected diagnosis as well as specific pathways for stepwise diagnosis of the most common diseases, accompanied by information on pathophysiology, preanalytical measures, implementation, and interpretation of results.

The preanalytical phase is an important component of Laboratory medicine and errors arising in this phase affect the validity of laboratory results. In this book physicians and clinical staff have access to valuable information about the current preanalytical variables and factors (patient preparation, sample collection, handling and processing before analysis).

Wallach's Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests, 10th Edition serves as a practical guide to the use of laboratory tests which aids physicians in using tests more effectively and efficiently by offering test outcomes, possible meanings, differential diagnosis, and summaries of tests available. The book is organized into 2 sections. The first section is devoted to disease states. Where appropriate, a patient’s chief complaint and/or physical findings are initially presented with subsequent discussions focused on discrete disease states as they relate to a patient’s chief complaint. The second section is devoted to an alphabetical listing of laboratory tests while stressing the integration of the clinical laboratory in the clinical decision making process. Test sensitivity, specific and possible and negative probabilities are included whenever appropriate. Microbiology tests are listed in a separate chapter.

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.

The preanalytical phase is an important component of Laboratory medicine and errors arising in this phase affect the validity of laboratory results. In this book physicians and clinical staff have access to valuable information about the current preanalytical variables and factors (patient preparation, sample collection, handling and processing before analysis).

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.

Includes information on laboratory procedures used in the diagnosis and treatment of many adult and pediatric conditions.

"Wallach's Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests, 10th Edition serves as a practical guide to the use of laboratory tests which aids physicians in using tests more effectively and efficiently by offering test outcomes, possible meanings, differential diagnosis, and summaries of tests available. The book is organized into 2 sections. The first section is devoted to disease states. Where appropriate, a patient's chief complaint and/or physical findings are initially presented with subsequent discussions focused on discrete disease states as they relate to a patient's chief complaint. The second section is devoted to an alphabetical listing of laboratory tests while stressing the integration of the clinical laboratory in the clinical decision making process. Test sensitivity, specific and possible and negative probabilities are included whenever appropriate. Microbiology tests are listed in a separate chapter"--Provided by publisher.