Basic Clinical Laboratory Techniques

Barbara H. Estridge is a retired instructor of medical technology and research associate in the College of Science & Mathematics at Auburn University in Auburn, Alabama. Her experience includes working at the hospital bench, teaching clinical laboratory courses, biological and biomedical research, clinical laboratory management, and more. Anna P. Reynolds is a retired instructor of medical technology and a research coordinator at the College of Agriculture at Auburn University. She taught both hospital and university Medical Technology, Medical Laboratory Technician, and Medical Laboratory Assistant programs. Her experience includes clinical and research experience in hematology, chemistry, urinalysis, microbiology, parasitology, and immunology.

List of Figures and Tables.
Preface.
How to Use This Book.
Unit I: INTRODUCTION TO THE CLINICAL LABORATORY.
The Clinical Laboratory. The Clinical Laboratory Professional. Medical Terminology.
Laboratory Safety: Physical and Chemical Hazards. Laboratory Safety: Biological Hazards. General Laboratory Equipment. The Metric System. Preparing Laboratory Reagents. Quality Assessment. The Microscope. Capillary Puncture. Routine Venipuncture.
Unit II: BASIC HEMATOLOGY.
Introduction to Hematology. Hemoglobin. Microhematocrit. The Hemacytometer.
Manual RBC and WBC Counts. Platelet Count. Preparing and Staining a Blood Smear.
Normal Blood Cell Morphology. White Blood Cell Differential Count. Principles of Automated Hematology. Abnormalities in Peripheral Blood Cell Morphology. Reticulocyte Count. Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate.
Unit III: BASIC HEMOSTASIS.
Principles of Hemostasis. Disorders of Hemostasis. Coagulation Testing Methods.
Prothrombin Time. Activated Partial Thromboplastin Time. D-Dimer.
Unit IV: BASIC IMMUNOLOGY AND IMMUNOHEMATOLOGY.
Introduction to Immunology. Infectious Mononucleosis Tests. Test for Rheumatoid Factors. Urine hCG Tests. Introduction to Immunohematology. ABO Grouping.
Rh Typing.
Unit V: URINALYSIS.
Introduction to Urinalysis. Urine Collection and Processing. Physical Examination of Urine. Chemical Examination of Urine. Microscopic Examination of Urine Sediment.
Unit VI: BASIC CLINICAL CHEMISTRY.
Introduction to Clinical Chemistry. Principles of Chemistry Instrumentation.
Chemistry Specimen Collection and Processing. Point-of-Care Testing. Blood Glucose and Hemoglobin A1c. Blood Cholesterol and Triglycerides. Electrolytes. Fecal Occult Blood.
Unit VII: BASIC CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY.
Introduction to Clinical Microbiology. Microbiology Specimen Collection and Processing.
Culture Techniques for Bacteriology. The Gram Stain. Tests for Group A Streptococcus.
Urine Culture and Colony Count. Bacterial Identification and Antibiotic Susceptibility Testing. Tests for Sexually Transmitted Diseases. Infection Prevention in Health-Care Settings. Public Health Issue: Emerging Infectious Diseases. Public Health Issue: Biological Threats.
Unit VIII: BASIC PARASITOLOGY.
Introduction to Parasitology. Collecting and Processing of Specimens for Parasite Detection. Microscopic Methods of Detecting Intestinal Parasites. Preparing Smears for Blood Parasites.
Glossary.
Appendix A: Guide to Standard Precautions.
Appendix B: Laboratory Reference Values.
Appendix C: Abbreviations and Acronyms Commonly Used in Clinical Laboratories.
Appendix D: Sources of Information: Health Care Accrediting and Credentialing Agencies, Professional Societies, Governmental Agencies.
Index.