The goal of creating a second edition of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Techniques for Veterinary Technicians is to provide an up-to-date, comprehensive reference of laboratory procedures used for small animals, horses, and cattle. A second edition of this text would include descriptions of new techniques that have changed the standard of laboratory medicine during the last six years. The new edition further clarifies ‘how-to’ information and discusses the importance of ‘why’ laboratory procedures are performed in a particular way. The second edition continues to include procedures associated with the following chapter topics: sample handling, hematology, hemostasis, clinical chemistry, urinalysis, parasitology, and quality assurance. Example cases that emphasize specific topics and explain their importance in a clinical context has been expanded upon in each chapter. A section describing blood cross matching has been added to the hematology chapter. More information about differences in instrumentation is planned to be presented in the clinical chemistry chapter. The parasitology chapter is revised to include molecular testing available today. Additionally, a new chapter discussing endocrine testing is also included. The target audience of the second edition of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Techniques for Veterinary Technicians remains the veterinary technician, who performs the testing described in the text. However, the information is extremely useful for veterinary students, medical technologists, and medical laboratory technicians (MLTs) interested in animal medicine, and practicing veterinarians, among others, and should be marketed to those audiences as well.

• An inclusive reference on laboratory procedures pertaining to small animals, horses, and cattle 
• Provides information on hematology, hemostasis, clinical chemistry, urinalysis, parasitology, fecal testing, and quality assurance
• Includes example cases that emphasize specific topics and explain their importance in a clinical context, further expanded upon in each chapter
• Includes a section describing blood cross matching to the hematology chapter
• Covers more information about differences in instrumentation presented in the clinical chemistry chapter
• Includes molecular testing available today as a revision to the parasitology chapter
• Addition of a new chapter discussing endocrine testing
• Clarifies ‘how-to’ information and discuss the importance of ‘why’ laboratory procedures are performed in a particular way
• Offers descriptions of new techniques that have changed the standard of laboratory medicine during the last six years
• Features high-quality photographs labelled with magnification and stain information, which clearly depict cellular morphology, inclusions and infectious organisms
• Offers key objectives, technician tip boxes, case examples and a glossary of key terms
• A companion website provides images from the book for download, instructor questions and answer key to multiple choice questions in the book

Amy L. MacNeill, DVM, PhD, DACVP is an Associate Professor in the Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Pathology in the College of Veterinary Medicine and Biological Sciences at Colorado State University. Anne M. Barger, DVM, MS, DACVP is aProfessor in the Department of Veterinary Clinical Medicine at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Illinois.

Table of Content (changes to the 1st edition are highlighted in italics) 

Chapter 1: Getting Started. The focus of this chapter is to discuss sample collection and handling, which are critical aspects of acquiring accurate laboratory data. More example cases and questions will be included.

Chapter 2 (previously Chapter 7): Quality Assurance. Without a keen understanding of quality assurance, laboratory test results are questionable and often invalid. Improper interpretation of test results negatively affects patient care. This chapter has been moved to the beginning of the text to emphasize its importance and prepare the reader for discussion of specific quality assurance issues related to the procedures described in each of the following chapters. More example cases and questions will be included.

Chapter 3 (previously Chapter 2): Hematology. Hematology data are commonly collected in veterinary medicine to evaluate the overall health of animal patients. Techniques described in this chapter are used by veterinary technicians on a daily basis. More emphasis will be placed on the importance of quantification of abnormal cells seen (not just the relative grade of atypia). A section discussing blood cross matching and blood typing procedures will be added. More example cases and questions will be included.

Chapter 4 (previously Chapter 3): Hemostasis. Techniques described in this chapter are routinely performed by veterinary technicians. Updates to the types of tests related to hemostasis that are readily available will be provided. More example cases and questions will be included.

Chapter 5 (previously Chapter 4): Clinical Chemistry. These data indicate organ function and are frequently collected in veterinary practice. This chapter discusses how different chemicals measured in patient samples relate to the function of specific organs in the body. The instrumentation used to obtain these data must be calibrated for each practice and maintained daily. A brief comparison of types of instruments available will be included in the 2nd edition of the text. More example cases and questions will be included.

Chapter 6 (previously Chapter 5): Urinalysis. Urine evaluation is important to perform quickly after collection. Therefore, the ability of veterinary technicians to analyze urine samples can directly affect patient health. Updates to the types of tests that are readily available to aid in interpretation of urinalysis results will be added. More example cases and questions will be included.

Chapter 7 (previously Chapter 6): Parasitology. Procedures used to identify parasites are often performed in-house. The type of procedure used can drastically alter the ability to diagnose a parasitic disease. Important advances in molecular diagnostics have been made that improve the detection and identification of parasites. The 2nd edition of the textbook will discuss molecular tests currently available to veterinarians. More example cases and questions will be included.

Chapter 8: Endocrinology. Endocrine testing is becoming more important in veterinary medicine as our pets live longer lives. Although most endocrine tests are mailed into a reference laboratory, it is important for veterinary technicians to understand how the samples need to be collected and tested. This is because endocrine testing can be complex, and it is easier to remember ‘what’ to order when you know ‘why’ you are ordering the tests. Therefore, we propose that a new chapter describing sample handling and submission of endocrine tests be included in the 2nd edition of Clinical Pathology and Laboratory Techniques for Veterinary Technicians. Example cases and questions will be included.