Carl A. Burtis, Edward R. Ashwood and David E. Bruns (eds): Tietz Textbook of Clinical Chemistry and Molecular Diagnosis (5th edition)

Abstract

Books by the distinguished editorial team of Ashwood, Bruns and Burtis (in alphabetical order) e.g. [1] have become established as the texts of choice among practitioners of clinical chemistry. An early book of theirs on molecular diagnostics was separately published some years ago [2]. Since this field is now integral part of the diagnostics laboratory, any new text of clinical chemistry will need to incorporate it. The compilation of a comprehensive, authoritative text in a field that grows by leaps and bounds is a Herculean task. The editors have recruited 6 associate editors, 5 reviewers and 99 contributors for this purpose. The book is divided into six sections which contain a total of 60 chapters, all of which are written by experts in their respective fields. Some chapters are entirely new. In response to popular demand, the editors have commissioned a chapter on haemostasis and coagulation, for the first time. As the previously well defined boundaries within the laboratory medicine become blurred, the inclusion of this topic should come as no surprise. Sections from chapters in previous editions have been prised out into new chapters and others have been extensively revised from previous editions to bring them up to date. The book is a remarkable achievement by the editors who, to their immense credit, have successfully distilled the vast corpus of current knowledge into a single text. The previous separate volumes on clinical chemistry and molecular diagnostics [1, 2] had a total of 1,219 pages between them. At about a thousand more pages, this books contains far more information. It is about as big as a book can get in size. As such, it would seem almost ungracious to point out any omissions but I would have wished to see, inter alia, something on laboratory information systems and a wider discussion on ethics in clinical chemistry, a topic that has sensibly been placed in the opening chapter. The challenge of producing a single volume may have made it necessary exclude some other topics as well. Perhaps future books on clinical chemistry will include our part in regenerative medicine, personalised medicine and patient safety, and, the impact of clinical laboratories on the environment (here, I must acknowledge an interest). Be that as it may, this book is an imperative, encyclopaedic reference that should adorn any library or laboratory. The editorial team has maintained and expanded on the fine tradition started by Norbert Tietz. Long may they continue with their noble endeavour.