Pediatric laboratory medicine: current challenges and future opportunities.
The practice of pediatric laboratory medicine involves unique challenges related to development, nutrition, growth, and diseases during different periods of infancy, childhood, and adolescence. This article discusses key aspects of pediatric laboratory medicine faced by clinical pathologists, clinical laboratory scientists, and clinicians, including point-of-care testing, preanalytic variables, analytic factors, age-specific reference intervals, esoteric laboratory tests, clinical impact, andfuture opportunities. Although challenging, pediatric laboratory testing offers many opportunities for improved patient care, clinical- and laboratory-based research, and education.
Coffin
Cheryl M
CM
Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USA.
Hamilton
Marilyn S
MS
Pysher
Theodore J
TJ
Bach
Philip
P
Ashwood
Edward
E
Schweiger
Jeanne
J
Monahan
Dennis
D
Perry
Deborah
D
Rogers
Beverly B
BB
Brugnara
Carlo
C
Rutledge
Joe
J
Weiss
Ronald
R
Ash
Owen
O
Hill
Harry
H
Meikle
Wayne
W
Roberts
William
W
Geaghan
Sharon
S
D002624:Chemistry, Clinical / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000639:trends; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D010338:Pathology, Clinical / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends