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Neonatology & Laboratory Medicine. Anne Green, Imogen Morgan, and Jim Gray. London, UK: ACB Venture Publications, 2003, 328 pp., £24. ISBN 0-902429-41-8.

¹ Tulane University, School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112

This monograph is the second edition of a classic in the neonatology field. Compared with its predecessor, which considered only clinical biochemistry, this version is larger with an increased number of chapters, including new chapters on the hematologic disorders and neonatal infections. There are also additions to specific protocols, which will make this monograph a welcome addition on the laboratory bench. Still, this is a basic handbook for not only laboratory scientists, but also residents, junior attendings, and neonatal nurses. The addition of a series of clinical situations covering the fetal and neonatal period makes it excellent for laboratorians who require background information and a practical approach to the management of common problems in neonates.

The first chapter, "Neonatology for the Non-Specialist", is particularly useful for increasing the general knowledge of laboratorians. Chapter 2, "Laboratory Services", has very good tables of clinical chemistry, hematology, and microbiology data for immediate or urgent notification, which include not only the values, but also the possible symptoms/complications. Readers here in the US may have a problem as all values are in SI units, so we have to use a conversion table and calculate the panic values, which might make the American laboratorian panic!

The next chapters all provide relevant recent research and good reference lists, which could further assist for completeness of information. The chapter on pregnancy and delivery is rich in information but may require considerable mining on the part of the user. Screening of amniotic fluid for respiratory disorders is barely mentioned, but this may be attributable to the fact that these tests are less commonly used in England, whereas in the US, tests for screening for fetal lung maturity are routine. Maternal screening for Down syndrome in the first trimester is well described and up to date. There are some redundancies, with the same information given in the text, tables, and figures. The chapter on neonatal screening is a little chaotic, with lists of disorders, lists of causes, and types of tests intermingled.

All of the chapters on biochemistry (water, sodium and potassium, acid–base disorders, jaundice, hypo- and hyperglycemia, calcium, phosphate, and magnesium) are well described and comprehensive. The welcomed inclusion of the chapters on hematologic abnormalities, neonatal infections, and infection control complete the overall picture. The description of parental nutrition and drugs in the neonate is particularly good, although given the enormous range of drugs that can be implicated, it would be unreasonable to expect any additional detail in a book of this size. The chapter on neonatal infections is also quite good and pertinent to remind European and North American readers that congenital infections are much more common in other parts of the world where hepatitis B and C and HIV are endemic.

In summary, this new version deserves a place in the laboratorian’s library, even for those who already have the previous edition. The new edition presents an excellent mixture of current tests and practical clinical neonatology and can be used as a reference source both in the laboratory and at the bedside.

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This Article Extract Full Text (PDF) Submit an electronic Letter to the Editor about this paper Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Clejan, S. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Clejan, S.