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Book Direct to Consumer Testing  The Role of Laboratory Medicine  An Issue of Cardiology Clinics

Download or read book Direct to Consumer Testing The Role of Laboratory Medicine An Issue of Cardiology Clinics written by Nicole V Tolan and published by Elsevier Health Sciences. This book was released on 2020-02-04 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This issue of Clinics in Laboratory Medicine, guest edited by Drs. Nicole V. Tolan and Robert Nerenz, will cover Direct to Consumer Testing: The Role of Laboratory Medicine. This issue is one of four selected each year by our Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Milenko Jovan Tanasijevic. Topics discussed in this issue will include: Health Literacy, Identifying Valuable Tests, Challenges with At-Home and Mail-In Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing, Self-Ordering and Interpretations, American Association for Clinical Chemistry Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing Position Statement, Data Disjunction, Integration of At-Home Testing, Wearable Devices, Oncogene Panels and Risk Calculations, Ethics, and Pharmacy’s Integration and Testing Offered, among others.

Book Direct to Consumer Testing  The Role of Laboratory Medicine  an Issue of Cardiology Clinics

Download or read book Direct to Consumer Testing The Role of Laboratory Medicine an Issue of Cardiology Clinics written by Nicole V. Tolan and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2020-04 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This issue of Clinics in Laboratory Medicine, guest edited by Drs. Nicole V. Tolan and Robert Nerenz, will cover Direct to Consumer Testing: The Role of Laboratory Medicine. This issue is one of four selected each year by our Editor-in-Chief, Dr. Milenko Jovan Tanasijevic. Topics discussed in this issue will include: Health Literacy, Identifying Valuable Tests, Challenges with At-Home and Mail-In Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing, Self-Ordering and Interpretations, American Association for Clinical Chemistry Direct-to-Consumer Genetic Testing Position Statement, Data Disjunction, Integration of At-Home Testing, Wearable Devices, Oncogene Panels and Risk Calculations, Ethics, and Pharmacy's Integration and Testing Offered, ? among others

Book Update in Preventive Cardiology  An Issue of Medical Clinics of North America  E Book

Download or read book Update in Preventive Cardiology An Issue of Medical Clinics of North America E Book written by Douglas S. Jacoby and published by Elsevier Health Sciences. This book was released on 2022-03-03 with total page 201 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this issue of Medical Clinics of North America, guest editor Dr. Douglas S. Jacoby brings his considerable expertise to the topic of Update in Preventive Cardiology. Top experts in the field cover key topics such as how to manage patients with elevated triglycerides, and when to refer; biomarkers and advanced lipid testing; cardiovascular genetics; noninvasive imaging for the asymptomatic patient; selecting the best oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy for women; racial disparities in preventive cardiology; and more. - Contains 15 relevant, practice-oriented topics including the heart healthy diet; the most evidence-based exercise strategies for men and women; pre-diabetes, obesity, and pharmacologic interventions to lower cardiovascular risk; who should be evaluated for secondary hypertension; what is the optimal LDL; and more. - Provides in-depth clinical reviews on preventive cardiology, offering actionable insights for clinical practice. - Presents the latest information on this timely, focused topic under the leadership of experienced editors in the field. Authors synthesize and distill the latest research and practice guidelines to create clinically significant, topic-based reviews.

Book Pharmacogenomics and Precision Medicine  An Issue of the Clinics in Laboratory Medicine

Download or read book Pharmacogenomics and Precision Medicine An Issue of the Clinics in Laboratory Medicine written by Kristen Reynolds and published by Elsevier Health Sciences. This book was released on 2016-08-16 with total page 177 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This issue of the Clinics in Laboratory Medicine on “Pharmacogenomics is being edited by Drs. Roland Valdes and Kristen Reynolds and will cover a wide variety of topics, including but not limited to, fundamentals of pharmacology, a review of pharmacogenetics guidelines, pharmacogenetic testing in pain management, pharmacogenetics of pain management, clinical and economic impact of pharmacogenetic genotyping analysis, exosome analysis in lab medicine, and implementation of pharmacogenetics in developing countries.

Book Laboratory Testing and Health Disparities  An Issue of the Clinics in Laboratory Medicine  E Book

Download or read book Laboratory Testing and Health Disparities An Issue of the Clinics in Laboratory Medicine E Book written by Dina N. Greene and published by Elsevier Health Sciences. This book was released on 2024-12-28 with total page 185 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In this issue of Clinics in Laboratory Medicine, guest editor Dr. Dina N. Greene brings her considerable expertise to the topic of Laboratory Testing and Health Disparities. Reflecting recent significant research on social determinants of health and impacts on health equity, this issue summarizes health disparities inside and outside of the lab for healthcare providers and laboratory professionals. Top experts in the field discuss laboratory professionals' unique position in mitigating health disparities, raising awareness in this critical area and making recommendations for improvement. - Contains 10 relevant, practice-oriented topics including literacy and language: improving accessibility of laboratory test results through patient portals; racism in drugs of abuse testing; inclusive clinical trials and research studies; designing laboratory utilization strategies to improve health equity; and more. - Provides in-depth clinical reviews on laboratory testing and health disparities, offering actionable insights for clinical practice. - Presents the latest information on this timely, focused topic under the leadership of experienced editors in the field. Authors synthesize and distill the latest research and practice guidelines to create clinically significant, topic-based reviews.

Book Cardiac Markers  An Issue of Clinics in Laboratory Medicine

Download or read book Cardiac Markers An Issue of Clinics in Laboratory Medicine written by Kent Balanis Lewandrowski and published by Elsevier Health Sciences. This book was released on 2014-03-28 with total page 209 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Topics in this clinically focused publication devoted to Cardiac Markers include: Overview of cardiac markers in heart disease; Methodologies for measurement of cardiac markers; Natriuretic peptides in HF and ACS; Tropoinins and high sensitivity troponins; Point-of-care testing for cardiac markers; ST-2 and galectin 3 in patients with heart failure; Cardiac markers following heart surgery and percutaneous coronary intervention; Cholesterol, lipoproteins, high sensitivity CRP and other risk factors for atherosclerosis; Myocarditis and cardiac transplant and rejection; New molecular genetic tests in the diagnosis of heart disease; Biomarkers for cholesterol balance.

Book Improving Diagnosis in Health Care

    Book Details:
  • Author : National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine
  • Publisher : National Academies Press
  • Release : 2015-12-29
  • ISBN : 0309377722
  • Pages : 473 pages

Download or read book Improving Diagnosis in Health Care written by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2015-12-29 with total page 473 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: 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.

Book Clinical Decision Support for Pharmacogenomic Precision Medicine

Download or read book Clinical Decision Support for Pharmacogenomic Precision Medicine written by Beth Devine and published by Academic Press. This book was released on 2022-06-14 with total page 300 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Clinical Decision Support for Pharmacogenomic Precision Medicine: Foundations and Implementation offers overviews, methods and strategies for translating genomic medicine to clinical practice. The book's authors explore incorporating pharmacogenetics into electronic health records, CDS methods and infrastructure for delivery, economic evaluation, the hospital administrations' role and needs in integration, and patient counseling aspects. The book empowers clinicians, researchers, translational scientists, and data and IT experts to effectively navigate the complex landscape of CDS for pharmacogenomic precision medicine. Illustrative case studies of existing gene networks include CSER, eMERGE, the IGNITE network, DIGITIZE, the CDS Learning Network (RTI), ClinGen, Ubiquitous and CDS Hooks. - Offers an applied, case-driven discussion of CDS for pharmacogenomic precision medicine - Illustrates key concepts, contemporary developments, and future directions using examples of existing gene networks - Features contributions from leading voices in precision medicine and clinical decision support

Book Direct to Consumer Genetic Testing

Download or read book Direct to Consumer Genetic Testing written by National Research Council and published by National Academies Press. This book was released on 2011-01-16 with total page 106 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Today, scores of companies, primarily in the United States and Europe, are offering whole genome scanning services directly to the public. The proliferation of these companies and the services they offer demonstrate a public appetite for this information and where the future of genetics may be headed; they also demonstrate the need for serious discussion about the regulatory environment, patient privacy, and other policy implications of direct-to-consumer (DTC) genetic testing. Rapid advances in genetic research already have begun to transform clinical practice and our understanding of disease progression. Existing research has revealed a genetic basis or component for numerous diseases, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, diabetes, heart disease, and several forms of cancer. The availability of the human genome sequence and the HapMap, plummeting costs of high-throughput screening, and increasingly sophisticated computational analyses have led to an explosion of discoveries of linkages between patterns of genetic variation and disease susceptibility. While this research is by no means a straight path toward better public health, improved knowledge of the genetic linkages has the potential to change fundamentally the way health professionals and public health practitioners approach the prevention and treatment of disease. Realizing this potential will require greater sophistication in the interpretation of genetic tests, new training for physicians and other diagnosticians, and new approaches to communicating findings to the public. As this rapidly growing field matures, all of these questions require attention from a variety of perspectives. To discuss some of the foregoing issues, several units of the National Academies held a workshop on August 31 and September 1, 2009, to bring together a still-developing community of professionals from a variety of relevant disciplines, to educate the public and policy-makers about this emerging field, and to identify issues for future study. The meeting featured several invited presentations and discussions on the many technical, legal, policy, and ethical questions that such DTC testing raises, including: (1) overview of the current state of knowledge and the future research trajectory; (2) shared genes and emerging issues in privacy; (3) the regulatory framework; and (4) education of the public and the medical community.

Book Obstetrics  Normal and Problem Pregnancies E Book

Download or read book Obstetrics Normal and Problem Pregnancies E Book written by Mark B. Landon and published by Elsevier Health Sciences. This book was released on 2024-08-31 with total page 1547 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: An ideal day-to-day reference or study tool for residents and clinicians, Gabbe's Obstetrics: Normal and Problem Pregnancies, 9th Edition, is your #1 choice for evidence-based, comprehensive information in this complex field. Now fully revised from cover to cover, it offers fast access to the key content you need to know—both when preparing for exams and also at the point of care. This highly regarded, must-have text is written and organized for easy access, making it essential not only for obstetricians and trainees, but also for nurse practitioners, nurse-midwives, and physician assistants. - Puts the latest obstetrics knowledge at your fingertips, allowing you to quickly access the information you need to treat patients, participate knowledgably on rounds, and perform well on exams. - Covers all aspects of normal pregnancy, complicated pregnancy, managing comorbidities in pregnancy, and pre- and postnatal care, including hot topics such as prevention of maternal mortality, diabetes in pregnancy, obesity in pregnancy, vaginal birth after Cesarean section, and more. - Includes convenient, at-a-glance features such as key points boxes, bolded text, chapter summaries and conclusions, key abbreviations boxes, and quick-reference tables, management and treatment algorithms, and bulleted lists throughout. - Contains all-new chapters on Obstetrical Ultrasound: Detection of Fetal Anomalies and Fetal Intervention and Therapy, as well as extensively revised and updated chapters on Antepartum Fetal Evaluation; Maternal Mortality: A Global Perspective; Multiple Gestations; and Substance Use Disorder in Pregnancy. - Features detailed illustrations from cover to cover, including more than 100 ultrasound images that provide an important resource for normal and abnormal fetal anatomy. - Provides access to videos that enhance learning in areas such as Cesarean delivery and operative vaginal delivery.

Book Laboratory Medicine Diagnosis of Disease in Clinical Laboratory 2 E

Download or read book Laboratory Medicine Diagnosis of Disease in Clinical Laboratory 2 E written by Michael Laposata and published by McGraw Hill Professional. This book was released on 2014-08-15 with total page 513 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A complete full-color guide to medical test selection and test result interpretation Laboratory Medicine is an essential text for medical students and residents studying clinical pathology, medical technology students, and for practitioners working in a clinical setting. By selecting the appropriate tests and interpreting the results correctly, physicians using this book should be able to optimize patient outcomes and reduce the cost of achieving a diagnosis. This full-color guide features an easy-to-follow, consistent presentation for each disease discussed. Chapters begin with a brief description of the disorder followed by a discussion that includes tables detailing the laboratory evaluation of specific disorders, and coverage of diagnosis, baseline tests to exclude diagnostic possibilities, and clinical indications that warrant further screening and special testing. Features Updated to reflect the most current information 46 laboratory methods presented in easy-to-understand illustrations which include information on the expense and complexity of the assays More than 200 tables and full-color algorithms encapsulate important information and facilitate understanding Full-color blood-smear micrographs demonstrate common abnormal morphologies of red blood cells Valuable learning aids in each chapter, including learning objectives, chapter outlines, and a general introduction Extensive table of Clinical Laboratory Reference Values showing the conversions between US and SI units for each value Coverage of genetic test options that are now commonly used in clinical practice

Book Clinical Laboratory Management

Download or read book Clinical Laboratory Management written by Timothy C. Allen and published by John Wiley & Sons. This book was released on 2024-03-25 with total page 821 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Clinical Laboratory Management Apply the principles of management in a clinical setting with this vital guide Clinical Laboratory Management, Third Edition, edited by an esteemed team of professionals under the guidance of editor-in-chief Lynne S. Garcia, is a comprehensive and essential reference for managing the complexities of the modern clinical laboratory. This newly updated and reorganized edition addresses the fast-changing landscape of laboratory management, presenting both foundational insights and innovative strategies. Topics covered include: an introduction to the basics of clinical laboratory management, the regulatory landscape, and evolving practices in the modern healthcare environment the essence of managerial leadership, with insights into employee needs and motivation, effective communication, and personnel management, including the lack of qualified position applicants, burnout, and more financial management, budgeting, and strategic planning, including outreach up-to-date resources for laboratory coding, reimbursement, and compliance, reflecting current requirements, standards, and challenges benchmarking methods to define and measure success the importance of test utilization and clinical relevance future trends in pathology and laboratory science, including developments in test systems, human resources and workforce development, and future directions in laboratory instrumentation and information technology an entirely new section devoted to pandemic planning, collaboration, and response, lessons learned from COVID-19, and a look towards the future of laboratory preparedness This indispensable edition of Clinical Laboratory Management not only meets the needs of today’s clinical laboratories but anticipates the future, making it a must-have resource for laboratory professionals, managers, and students. Get your copy today, and equip yourself with the tools, strategies, and insights to excel in the complex and ever-changing world of the clinical laboratory.

Book Sports Cardiology

    Book Details:
  • Author : David J. Engel
  • Publisher : Springer Nature
  • Release : 2021-05-06
  • ISBN : 3030693848
  • Pages : 402 pages

Download or read book Sports Cardiology written by David J. Engel and published by Springer Nature. This book was released on 2021-05-06 with total page 402 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Providing a critical update and review of salient topics needed for the proper cardiac evaluation and care of athletes, this text is designed to be the most up-to-date and practical manual for all health care providers who evaluate and treat athletes, including sports cardiologists, general cardiologists, sports medicine specialists, team doctors and athletic trainers. The book is divided into three key sections. The first section ​discusses essential topics pertaining to the pre-participation cardiac screening of athletes, providing a framework for how best to perform pre-participation cardiac evaluations and optimize the interpret​at​ion of cardiac screening test results, and ​a guide to ​assist the streamlining of appropriate downstream testing ​when required. The second section reviews the management and care of athletes with specific, existing cardiovascular disorders, providing the reader with fundamental principles to help recognize and advise levels of sport participation to athletes with these disorders. The final section deals with acute sideline management of the symptomatic athlete and will again provide practical algorithms for cardiologists and non-cardiologists alike who are responsible for athlete health and safety in the sports arenas and training facilities. Written and edited by highly regarded experts in the field of sports cardiology, including several cardiologists who are collegiate and professional team physicians and who work with professional sports organizations on developing policies for cardiac screening and monitoring, Sports Cardiology is an excellent practical resource for all clinicians working in the field.

Book Transplantation  An Issue of Anesthesiology Clinics

Download or read book Transplantation An Issue of Anesthesiology Clinics written by Aman Mahajan and published by Elsevier Health Sciences. This book was released on 2017-08-31 with total page pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: This issue of Anesthesiology Clinics focuses on Transplantation. Editors Aman Mahajan and Christopher Wray have assembled an expert team of authors on topics such as: Immunology and Pharmacology of Transplantation; Infectious Diseases and Malignancies in Transplantation; Anesthesia Management of the Organ Donor; Transfusion Medicine and Coagulation Management in Organ Transplantation; Pediatric Transplantation; Anesthesia for Kidney and Pancreas Transplantation; Anesthesia for Heart Transplantation; Anesthesia for Lung Transplantation; Anesthesia for Liver Transplantation; Anesthesia for Small Bowel and Multivisceral Transplantation; Anesthesia for hand and face transplantation; Anesthesia considerations in Transplant recipients for Non-transplant surgery.

Book Emery and Rimoin s Essential Medical Genetics

Download or read book Emery and Rimoin s Essential Medical Genetics written by David L. Rimoin and published by Elsevier. This book was released on 2013-05-15 with total page 647 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: For decades, Emery and Rimoin’s Principles and Practice of Medical Genetics has provided the ultimate source for practicing clinicians to learn how the study of genetics can be integrated into practice. Developed in parallel to the sixth edition, and featuring 174 original contributions from the many authors of the full set, this one volume work expertly condenses and synthesizes the most clinically relevant content, for convenient desk reference. Helping to bridge the gap between high-level molecular genetics and individual application, it follows the multi-volume set in encompassing scientific fundamentals, full spectrum discussion of major inherited disorders, and actionable therapies. Clinically oriented information is supported by concise descriptions of the principles of genetics, research approaches, and analytics to embrace the evolving population of students, researchers, and practitioners who are integrating their work to provide advanced diagnosis, prevention and treatment of human disease. This print volume is complemented and enhanced with online access to the complete text, online-only references, and high quality illustrations on www.expertconsult.com. Features 174 summarized contributions concisely discussing advances in cancer genetics, genomic technologies, and molecular genetics Contains hundreds of full colour illustrations supporting users with identification, concept illustration, and method processing Enhanced with full text online access, high quality illustrations, and online-only references at www.expertconsult.com

Book Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics   E Book

Download or read book Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics E Book written by Nader Rifai and published by Elsevier Health Sciences. This book was released on 2017-01-16 with total page 4785 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnostics, 6th Edition provides the most current and authoritative guidance on selecting, performing, and evaluating the results of new and established laboratory tests. This classic clinical chemistry reference offers encyclopedic coverage detailing everything you need to know, including: analytical criteria for the medical usefulness of laboratory tests, variables that affect tests and results, laboratory medicine, applications of statistical methods, and most importantly clinical utility and interpretation of laboratory tests. It is THE definitive reference in clinical chemistry and molecular diagnostics, now fully searchable and with quarterly content updates, podcasts, clinical cases, animations, and extended content online through Expert Consult. - Analytical criteria focus on the medical usefulness of laboratory procedures. - Reference ranges show new approaches for establishing these ranges — and provide the latest information on this topic. - Lab management and costs gives students and chemists the practical information they need to assess costs, allowing them to do their job more efficiently and effectively. - Statistical methods coverage provides you with information critical to the practice of clinical chemistry. - Internationally recognized chapter authors are considered among the best in their field. - Two-color design highlights important features, illustrations, and content to help you find information easier and faster. - NEW! Internationally recognized chapter authors are considered among the best in their field. - NEW! Expert Consult features fully searchable text, quarterly content updates, clinical case studies, animations, podcasts, atlases, biochemical calculations, multiple-choice questions, links to Medline, an image collection, and audio interviews. You will now enjoy an online version making utility of this book even greater. - UPDATED! Expanded Molecular Diagnostics section with 12 chapters that focus on emerging issues and techniques in the rapidly evolving and important field of molecular diagnostics and genetics ensures this text is on the cutting edge and of the most value. - NEW! Comprehensive list of Reference Intervals for children and adults with graphic displays developed using contemporary instrumentation. - NEW! Standard and international units of measure make this text appropriate for any user — anywhere in the world. - NEW! 22 new chapters that focus on applications of mass spectrometry, hematology, transfusion medicine, microbiology, biobanking, biomarker utility in the pharmaceutical industry and more! - NEW! Expert senior editors, Nader Rifai, Carl Wittwer and Rita Horvath, bring fresh perspectives and help ensure the most current information is presented. - UPDATED! Thoroughly revised and peer-reviewed chapters provide you with the most current information possible.

Book Point of care testing

    Book Details:
  • Author : Peter Luppa
  • Publisher : Springer
  • Release : 2018-07-18
  • ISBN : 3662544970
  • Pages : 451 pages

Download or read book Point of care testing written by Peter Luppa and published by Springer. This book was released on 2018-07-18 with total page 451 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The underlying technology and the range of test parameters available are evolving rapidly. The primary advantage of POCT is the convenience of performing the test close to the patient and the speed at which test results can be obtained, compared to sending a sample to a laboratory and waiting for results to be returned. Thus, a series of clinical applications are possible that can shorten the time for clinical decision-making about additional testing or therapy, as delays are no longer caused by preparation of clinical samples, transport, and central laboratory analysis. Tests in a POC format can now be found for many medical disciplines including endocrinology/diabetes, cardiology, nephrology, critical care, fertility, hematology/coagulation, infectious disease and microbiology, and general health screening. Point-of-care testing (POCT) enables health care personnel to perform clinical laboratory testing near the patient. The idea of conventional and POCT laboratory services presiding within a hospital seems contradictory; yet, they are, in fact, complementary: together POCT and central laboratory are important for the optimal functioning of diagnostic processes. They complement each other, provided that a dedicated POCT coordination integrates the quality assurance of POCT into the overall quality management system of the central laboratory. The motivation of the third edition of the POCT book from Luppa/Junker, which is now also available in English, is to explore and describe clinically relevant analytical techniques, organizational concepts for application and future perspectives of POCT. From descriptions of the opportunities that POCT can provide to the limitations that clinician’s must be cautioned about, this book provides an overview of the many aspects that challenge those who choose to implement POCT. Technologies, clinical applications, networking issues and quality regulations are described as well as a survey of future technologies that are on the future horizon. The editors have spent considerable efforts to update the book in general and to highlight the latest developments, e.g., novel POCT applications of nucleic acid testing for the rapid identification of infectious agents. Of particular note is also that a cross-country comparison of POCT quality rules is being described by a team of international experts in this field.