Review by Kathy Lyon (Click on stars for an explanation)

This book is Out of Print.

Illustrated with both black & white/color photos & drawings, this book takes technicians through an introduction to hematology, blood composition, blood loss, blood collection/handling, staining, testing, interpretation, and the various classifications of cells, artifacts, and other organisms.

The instruction on blood smears and staining is excellent and thorough. Uses and errors of the various tests are discussed. The book is not intended to be a comprehensive review of the literature or of every possible technique, test, or type of equipment available, but does describe the normal appearance and function of the components of blood. It discusses how changes from normal are measured. Although interpretation and diagnosis are not the province of the technician, nor the intent of this book, recognition of the presence of some conditions (such as rabies) is important. For this reason, a discussion of the significance of abnormal test results is also presented. Color illustrations define various cell types as they would appear under a microscope. I was disappointed that there was not more on avian and reptile blood. A few illustrative photos would have been an important inclusion.

Unless you are sending out all of your blood work, this book should be in your clinic library. Not an exciting book, but a good, solid, useful reference. I recommend it.

Blackwell Publishing (2000).

ISBN: 9780813804910.

Reviewed 1/10/2001.