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Pediatric References Intervals, 5th Edition (formerly Pediatric Reference Ranges). Steven J. Soldin, Carlo Brugnara, and Edward C. Wong, editors; Jocelyn M. Hicks, editor emeritus. Washington, DC: AACC Press, 2005, 257 pp., $75.00 ($60.00 AACC members), softcover. ISBN 1-594250-32-4.

Diagnostica e Ricerca, San Raffaele, Scientific Institute, San Raffaele Hospital, Milan, Italy 20132

With this fifth edition, a successful publication appropriately modifies its title, substituting the term "ranges" with "intervals". The term "range" refers to the entire range of values from the reference population, from minimum to maximum, whereas the reference interval refers to that between two limits, usually 95% of the population. However, the change in the title has not been introduced in the text, where the term "reference ranges" remains in all of the paragraphs of the preface and at the top of every second page throughout.

This book is essentially the same as the fourth edition from 2003, with the addition of few new measurements [coenzyme Q10, cystatin C, nucleated red blood cell count (absolute and relative)] and some new data on iron binding capacity.

The text presents the data in a very schematic but informative format that provides information relative to age- and sex-related reference intervals, types of specimens, population sources, and also to the analytical methodology, references, and the statistical basis. The names of the tests are reported alphabetically, and the format is the same for all analytes.

This book is a very valuable source of difficult-to-obtain data for more than 250 chemistry and hematology analytes. The chemistry part is extremely rich in its coverage of esoteric analytes (e.g., apolipoprotein CII, hyaluronic acid, or glutathione peroxidase activity), whereas the hematology part is less detailed (e.g., lymphocyte subclasses are missing).

For most of the analytes, 3 to 4 different sources of data are provided covering the most commonly used analytical technologies. The reader is presented with the means to critically evaluate the data presented (analytical method, statistical basis, bibliographic reference to go into details) and to decide whether they are appropriate for his or her own situation. The only criticism I have is the lack of comments and critical evaluations of the presented data, which for some analytes are sometimes contradictory or which present large differences according to different bibliographic sources.

Pediatric Reference Intervals is a must, not only for laboratorians, but also for clinicians (such as pediatricians, endocrinologists, hematologists); however, for those who already own a copy of the fourth edition that is not yet worn out, the few new pages added to this edition do not justify replacement.

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 Ceriotti, F. Search for Related Content PubMed Articles by Ceriotti, F.