Abstract Background Point-of-care testing (POCT) is essentially any form of laboratory testing that takes place outside of the conventional or central laboratory setting and encompasses a wide variety of locations. Use of POCT has steadily increased over the 40 or…
Abstract Background Automation has dramatically changed both the analytical and nonanalytical aspects of clinical laboratory operations. Automation of laboratory test procedures began more than 50 years ago, but nonanalytical automation—including conveyor systems, interfaced analyzers, and automated specimen processing and storage—began…
Abstract Background Cytometry, or “cell measurement,” can describe any process by which individual biologic cells are counted or characterized, whether or not a human observer is involved. An apparatus used in the process is called a cytometer. From the 1950s…
Abstract Background Microfluidics is a burgeoning area of analytical chemistry that will impact many fields, including clinical diagnostics. The ability to miniaturize and expedite chemistry with smaller volumes presents the possibility for testing with expedited turnaround times at lower cost…
Abstract Background Immunoassay is a powerful qualitative and quantitative analytical technique used to detect and measure a wide range of clinically important analytes. The extreme sensitivity and specificity of immunoassays have allowed detection and quantitation of analytes present at very…
Abstract Background Enzymes are biological catalysts that can be used in the diagnosis and monitoring of disease and their remarkable properties make them sensitive indicators of pathologic change. Metabolism can be regarded as an integrated series of enzymatic reactions and…
Abstract Background Clinical proteomics has traditionally referred to experiments that attempt to discover novel biomarkers for disease diagnosis, prognosis, or therapeutic management by using tools that measure the abundance of hundreds or thousands of proteins in a single sample. These…
Abstract Background The application of liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) represents one of the most compelling opportunities for advancements in human health through the combination of reference measurement procedure capabilities, broad chemical coverage, and a rich history…
Abstract Background Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) is a powerful tool in the clinical microbiology laboratory, enabling accurate identification of bacteria, fungi, and mycobacteria grown in culture. First adopted in some European microbiology laboratories, its ease of…
Abstract Background Biological samples such as blood, plasma, serum, and urine contain contaminants that are not suitable for direct analysis and must be removed before chromatographic separation and detection by mass spectrometry. This chapter discusses the classic sample preparation techniques…