Description

Preface

Clinical chemistry continues to be one of the most rap-
idly 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 dra-
matic impact on the practice of clinical chemistry and

laboratory medicine. In addition, the healthcare system
is constantly changing. There is increased emphasis on
improving the quality of patient care, individual patient
outcomes, financial responsibility, and total quality

management. Now, more than ever, clinical laborato-
rians 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.
The editors of Clinical Chemistry: Principles, Techniques,
and Correlations have designed the seventh edition to
be an even more valuable resource to both students and
practitioners.
Now 35 plus years since the initiation of this effort,
the editors have had the privilege of completing the
seventh edition with another diverse team of dedicated
clinical laboratory professionals. In this era of focusing

on metrics, the editors would like to share the follow-
ing information. The 295 contributors in the 7 editions

represent 65 clinical laboratory science programs, 77
clinical laboratories, 13 medical device companies, 4
government agencies, and 1 professional society. One

hundred and twenty contributors were clinical laborato-
ry scientists with advanced degrees. With today’s global

focus, the text has been translated into six languages. By
definition, a profession is a calling requiring specialized
knowledge and intensive academic preparation