Molecular Diagnostics: For the Clinical Laboratorian

About this book

In 1994 I coedited a book Molecular Pathology: Ap- efforts. It should be evident that molecular pathology and proaches to Diagnosing Human Disease in the Clinical diagnostics impact almost every conceivable subspecialty Laboratory that coined the phrase molecular pathology in laboratory medicine and particularly in the case of to refer to applications of molecular biology in the tradi- pharmacogenomics have led to the development of new tional areas of laboratory medicine. That compilation of areas of investigation. clinical molecular techniques included 11 chapters and an What is less evident is the burden placed upon the epilogue on New Directions for the Clinical Laboratory. laboratorians directing these efforts. Issues regarding Chapter headings included: automation neoplasia heri- training certification continuing education and re- table diseases and infectious diseases. bursement (just to name a few) have demanded enormous Three years later in 1997 Bill Coleman and Greg Tson- time and effort from professional organizations and g- galis edited Molecular Diagnostics: For the Clinical ernmental agencies. In addition because conventional Laboratorian which contained 18 chapters and introduced approaches cannot always be applied to molecular di- the new areas of RT-PCR and In Situ PCR and included nostics unique solutions for quality assurance and quality a section on gene therapy. Now ten years after the intro- control must be developed. These challenges have eng- duction of molecular pathology we are looking at the dered committees subcommittees taskforces and second edition of Bill Coleman and Greg Tsongalis text.