title: Trends and aspects in clinical chemistry.
abstract: This paper first seeks to evaluate current trends in methodology and technology and discusses possible implications for the future of clinical chemistry, whose range and diversity of tasks are carefully defined. It is thought that the remarkable development in the field of immunological methods, in the general sense of the work, will continue for the years to come. One other principle, which it is predicted will play an increasing role, is thermometry for the determination of enthalpy. Similarly, new developments in the fields of bio- and chemoluminescence offer interesting possibilities. The impact of the computer in clinical chemistry is also discused. Secondly, the double role of clinical chemistry as a diagnostic speciality and as an academic field is analyzed. On the one hand, the need for closer cooperation both with other diagnostic subspecialities and with other medical clinical disciplines is stressed. In particular, newly organized Departments of Laboratory Medicine encompassing microbiology, cytology, nuclear medicine, toxicology etc. might contribute greatly to interdisciplinary understanding. On the other hand, problems of clinical medicine and of certain areas within biological research should be at the center of interest of the future research-oriented clinical chemist.
mesh_terms: D000486:Allergy and Immunology; D001322:Autoanalysis; D001695:Biology; D003585:Cell Biology; D002624:Chemistry, Clinical / Q000295:instrumentation / Q000379:methods; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques; D003201:Computers; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006801:Humans; D007753:Laboratories; D008163:Luminescent Measurements; D008829:Microbiology; D009683:Nuclear Medicine; D012106:Research; D013816:Thermodynamics; D014116:Toxicology