Choosing wisely for better patient care.

Lab Literacy for Canadian Doctors is an affordable and comprehensive pocket guide for choosing appropriate lab tests. It quickly and efficiently improves patient care through better test decisions for clinical situations. This unique resource reduces the risks of: ordering the wrong test, not clearly understanding test results and options, delaying treatments, and making misdiagnoses. Refer to this essential guide for:

• Diagnostic algorithms.
• Advice and information on lab errors, false positives and negatives, and blood and tissue collection.
• A quick index summarizing the clinical utility of common tests.
• Sections on dermatology, ENT and respiratory system, endocrine system, fatigue, GI and hepatic system, gynecology and pregnancy, routine screening, and more.
• Protocols for screening tests that follow Canadian guidelines.
• Values in both conventional and SI units.

Christopher Naugler, MD, FRCPC, is the zone clinical section chief of general pathology for Alberta Health Services in the Calgary area, where he provides leadership and direction to a team of laboratory physicians. He is also the director of the general pathology residency training program at the University of Calgary. Dr. Naugler has authored or co-authored more than 50 articles in peer-reviewed journals.

Christopher Naugler's profile page

Finally, a highly readable, practical guide for physicians that focuses on the ordering of laboratory tests based on the underlying clinical context. A valuable resource that promises to advance health care quality through promoting patient-centred, appropriate care.

Richard G. Hegele, MD, FRCPC, PhD — Professor & Chair, Dept. of Laboratory Medicine & Pathobiology, University of Toronto; Chief, Dept. of Paediatric Laboratory Medicine, The Hospital for Sick Children

Appropriate utilization of clinical laboratory tests is an important part of practicing medicine in the 21st century. Dr. Naugler has done an excellent job by providing the most up-to-date information in a relatively complicated subject in an easy-to-follow format.

Hossein Sadrzadeh, PhD, DABCC, FACB — Chief, Clinical Biochemistry Section, Calgary Laboratory Services; Clinical Professor, Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Calgary

I would recommend this book to physicians as worthwhile reading material, particularly those who… are starting out in their careers. This text would also be an excellent choice for the laboratory scientist seeking a concise view of the clinical aspects of laboratory testing.

Canadian Journal of Pathology