No more knee-jerk lab orders | Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests

Excelllent Reference | Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests | Jacques Wallach

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	• Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests Jacques Wallach Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, 2006 - 1200 pages average customer review:based on 5 reviews view larger image
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highly recommended

Some initial disappointments

I'm a family physician in a small, South-Central rural town. I've owned this reference since the 6th edition and found it extremely useful. I noticed that my 7th edition had nothing on BNP, a hormone elevated in CHF. So I purchased the 8th edition and received it yesterday (it was copyrighted in 2007). There is a massive amount of data in this large paperback but I noticed problems at the start. Maybe I'm being picky, but there were 11 pages of corrections that had to be downloaded from the publisher's web site. This created replacements pages 402 and 403, and new pages 403a-i. There were no corrections to the index for any of these. So, you will need to get out your glue stick and paper cutter and start trimming the printouts. Next, I went to look up BNP. The index says "See Brain-type natriaretic peptide." The only listing for that is for reference values on page 13, which just gives you ranges for normal. But if you look further down in the index, you will see a listing for "B-type natriaretic peptide" that has explanations and uses on pages 129, 131 and 132. So I read them. It says, under "Interpretation" that "BNP and NT-proBNP can be increased in renal failure, especially if dialysis is needed." Okay. Turn the page and under "Not Increased In" is listed "Renal insufficiency." So what is it? Is it increased or decreased in renal insufficiency/failure? Since some degree of renal insufficiency usually accompanies CHF and this can be a life or death blood test, I would think it would be somewhat important to be able to correctly interpret this test result (I have a patient with CHF, a BUN of 100 and he's walking around with a BNP of over 3000 that I can knock down temporarily to 1500 with dobutamine). I wonder what other inconsistencies I will find as I use this reference...

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No more knee-jerk lab orders

As was my 7th edition, this is a must have book. One needs to know what should and should not be ordered, not only for economy's sake, but for the sake of your diagnosis. If you want to home in on what your patient has, use this book to navigate your way.

Excelllent Reference

I use this book in my profession and I feel it's the best out there. If I don't know the answer then this book does. This book has been a lifesaver more than once. I recommend it for physicians, nurses, NP, PA's or any medical student. This is your BIBLE for the profession.

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A must! but...

I'm a neurosurgeon and I need to make interpretation of diagnostic tests all time, even those which are not for my speciality. This book really shines where others simply can't with answers for all known tests of everyday use at the hospital. The only two things missed: hardcover and pocket size!

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"What tests do I order, and what do the results mean?" Interpretation of Diagnostic Tests, Eighth Edition provides the answers--quickly and clearly--for a vast range of adult and pediatric conditions. Arranged by organ system, the book summarizes the available tests for most diseases, explains what the results mean, and discusses differential diagnoses. This thoroughly updated edition includes additional tests based on molecular biology, new data on the use of genetic tests, and many new diagnostic laboratory tests in chemistry. Imaging tests are included where they play a key role in diagnosis. The section on chemical and microbiological terrorism has been expanded. Readers can search for information in the way that best suits their needs--by index, table of contents, test results, or specific disease. Also included are extensive tables of normal and panic values, tables comparing test results in similar diseases, and an appendix of conversion factors between conventional and SI units.

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