Book Review

Hematology Clinical Principles and Applications

Edited by B.F. Rodak W. B. Saunders Company, Philadel-

phia, PA: 2002. ISBN: 0721684041. $74.951

The second edition of Rodak’s hematology book is a

welcome addition to current options available for use as

texts in clinical laboratory science programs. Even the

new name, Hematology: Clinical Principles and Applications,

more closely reflects the content and purpose of this up-to-

date text. The second edition offers several improvements

over the first, most notably completely re-written and

updated sections on hemostasis and instrumentation. The

book in its entirety is well-written, concise, and definitely

lives up to the editor’s goal of adhering to a �user-friendly�format.

The book is divided into sections to reflect all major

content areas, including hematopoiesis, erythrocyte dis-

orders, malignant and non-malignant disorders of leuko-

cytes, routine and supplementary laboratory methods,

instrumentation, body fluids, and hemostasis and throm-

bosis. Each of the 49 chapters contains learning objec-

tives, high quality photomicrographs, numerous figures,

and excellent chapter summaries. Tables are used effect-

ively to present important information in a concise

format conducive to easy referral. A significant feature in

this new edition is the use of case studies to introduce

each chapter. All chapters conclude with review ques-

tions related to the case study and chapter content.

Students can evaluate their mastery of the subject by

referring to answers to these multiple-choice questions

provided in the appendix.

Although the majority of chapters should provide the

essential foundation needed by clinical laboratory science

students in hematology, some content areas might require

supplementation. I believe that most faculty who adopt

this text would choose to enhance content contained in

introductory chapters on safety, specimen collection,

quality assurance, and laboratory management.

Additional photomicrographs to accompany this text

are also available from the publisher. The electronic image

collection is useful to faculty, but at a price of $500, it is

not appropriate for student purchase.

While obviously intended for use as a textbook in

clinical laboratory science and clinical laboratory techni-

cian programs, Hematology: Clinical Principle and Applica-

tions would also be useful in the clinical laboratory for staff

who are cross-training or simply need updating in

hematology. The format of the book would lend itself well

for use as self-instructional units on specific topics.

I believe the greatest strengths of this edition are the

editor’s and contributors� abilities to focus on current,

practical, and essential information without the distrac-

tion of �information overload�. Students should also

respond well to the reader-friendly format and interesting

case studies. Hematology: Clinical Principle and Applications

appears to contain everything necessary to prepare

students for clinical practice in the hematology laboratory

and is a needed addition to the array of texts in clinical

laboratory science.

REBECCA J. LAUDICINA

� 2003 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

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