title: Pediatric laboratory medicine: current challenges and future opportunities.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, USA.
authors.forename: Cheryl M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Coffin
authors.forename: Marilyn S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hamilton
authors.forename: Theodore J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Pysher
authors.forename: Philip
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bach
authors.forename: Edward
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ashwood
authors.forename: Jeanne
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schweiger
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Monahan
authors.forename: Deborah
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Beverly B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Rogers
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brugnara
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rutledge
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Weiss
authors.forename: Owen
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ash
authors.forename: Harry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: Wayne
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Meikle
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Roberts
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Geaghan
mesh_terms: 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