This unique collection of 55multidisciplinarycase studies is designed to help laboratory technologists and technicians "experience" how departments work together to help the physician make a diagnosis and determine the best course of treatment for the patient. In working through the comprehensive, real-world scenarios, readers deal firsthand with interpreting data from two, three or four disciplines (Blood Bank, Chemistry, Hematology, Immunology, Microbiology, Urinalysis),integratingthe facts (laboratory data) from different departments and thinkingcriticallyabout what they mean.Includes 55 cases--11 Blood Bank cases; 12 Chemistry cases; 10 Hematology/Coagulation cases; 5 Immunology/Serology cases; 10 Microbiology cases; 7 Urinalysis cases.Technicians and technologists who have been out of the field for awhile and are in the process of reentry into the profession and technicians and technologists who are looking for a general review of clinical laboratory science.

Case Studies in Clinical Laboratory Sciencewas developed as a textbook to be used by students in the final semester or year of their 2- or 4-year clinical laboratory science programs. It will be most appropriate for students who have completed the didactic/theory portion of their education. Technicians and technologists who have been out of the field for awhile and are in the process of reentry into the profession, and technicians and technologists who are looking for a general review of clinical laboratory science will also find these cases a valuable exercise. Case Studies in Clinical Laboratory Scienceconsists of 55 cases in six main disciplines: 11 blood bank cases 12 chemistry cases 10 hematology cases 5 immunology cases 10 microbiology cases 7 urinalysis cases Each case has A case presentation (including relevant data from the patient's medical history and physical examination as well as laboratory results) Questions References Answers The answers are located in the appendix. Students will get more out of the exercise ifthey make a concerted effort to answer the questions beforelooking up the answers. If they are unable to answer the question from textbooks or class notes, the lists of references and suggested readings are sure to provide the relevant facts. Many of the references include Web sites that provide up-to-date information. The cases provide an extensive review of important information in each of the areas. Many cases are multidisciplinary--tying together data from two, three, or four departments--to get students to see the big picture. Students often do not integrate the material from the various clinical laboratory disciplines as much as program directors and faculty would expect. Students don't make the connections between departments; each discipline remains in its own little box. These cases give students the opportunity to "experience" how departments work together to help the physician make a diagnosis and determine the best course of treatment for the patient. The cases are problem-solving and critical-thinking exercises, which also review pathophysiology (disease process), etiology (cause), and epidemiology. Questions like "What would you do next?" "What test(s) would the physician order?" "What other tests might be useful to determine the patient's status?" "Are these results consistent with other laboratory values or the patient's diagnosis?" give students the experience of making some of the decisions they will be making as laboratory professionals. They will be part of a health care team and should be ready to answer questions and provide physicians with the information they need. These cases are also an excellent way for students to gain skills in keeping up with the latest developments in clinical laboratory science. As we all know, the field is changing so fast that technicians and technologists who don't keep up with the latest developments are soon left behind. Clinical laboratory professionals need to be concerned with interpretation of data across disciplines, correlation of results to disease, problem solving, and quality assurance. Case in Clinical Laboratory Sciencewill provide readers with some experience dealing with "real" situations.