Bridging the gap between the clinical laboratory and medical management by relating pathophysiology to analytical results in health and disease, this classic resource provides the guidance necessary to select, perform, and evaluate the results of new and established laboratory tests. Its up-to-date, encyclopedic coverage of the field defines analytical criteria for the medical usefulness of laboratory procedures, introduces new approaches for establishing reference ranges, describes variables that affect tests and results, examines modern analytical tools and their impact on lab management and costs, and demonstrates the applications of statistical methods.