Main description:

While the historic roots of clinical chemistry originate from the chemical sciences the growth of the subject has been dependent upon the poli tical, social, economic and technologic national soil in which it has developed. Thus the present leaders in this field have backgrounds variously in chemistry, medicine, pharmacy or sometimes biology. Today, clinical chemistry has attained stature as a unified independent discipline. It is characterized by active and productive international and national societies; its function codified in the law of many countries; its scientific content the sole subject of international and national journals as well as textbooks and educational programs; and its inter national, regional and national meetings have become focal points for major exchange of scientific, clinical and technical information and exhibition. The positive impact of the discipline upon the delivery of health care has given it a significant position in the economics of public health. As a consequence it has become the most rapidly-growing segment of the industrial and commercial component of health main tenance. These changes have brought the need to define the educational and training processes to prepare future leaders of clinical chemistry. The diverse backgrounds of the present directors of clinical chemicallabora tories has required that the viewpoints of chemists, pharmacists, physicians and biologists be brought into harmony. This has been achieved by the years of discussion, debate and review by colleagues of varied professional backgrounds. This monograph reflects their consensus viewpoint for the practice of clinical chemistry at its most advanced level.

Contents:

1 Background.- The IUP AC Commission on Teaching of Clinical Chemistry.- The IFCC Committee on Education and Training in Clinical Chemistry.- 2 Introduction.- The Development of Clinical Chemistry.- Historical Development.- Origin of the Term 'Clinical Chemistry'.- Chemical Analysis of Body Fluids for the Diagnosis of Disease.- of the Concept of Homeostasis.- of Colorimetry and Photometry as Analytical Tools.- Enzyme Activities as Indicators of Cellular and Organ Disorders.- of Automation and Electronic Data Processing.- National and International Societies and Publications Devoted to Clinical Chemistry.- Current Status.- Role of the Clinical Chemist in Health Assessment, Diagnosis and Treatment.- Role of the Clinical Chemist in Medical Education.- Role of the Clinical Chemist in Service.- Role of the Clinical Chemist in Research.- Present Problems in Clinical Chemistry.- Future Trends.- 3 The Education and Training of the Clinical Chemist.- Role of the Clinical Chemist.- Aspects of Education.- Basic Research.- Applied Research and Development.- Service.- Management.- Supplementary Education after Graduation from Programs in Medicine, Science and Pharmacy.- For the Medical Graduate.- For the Science Graduate.- For the Pharmacy Graduate.- Continuing Education Experience in the Practice of Clinical Chemistry.- Education of Technical Staff.- The Senior Chemistry Technologist.- The Senior Non-Chemist Technologist.- Technologist.- 4 Conclusions and Recommendations.- 5 Worldwide Clinical Chemistry.- Individual Countries:.- Argentina.- Australia.- Austria.- Belgium.- Bolivia.- Brazil.- Bulgaria.- Canada.- Chile.- Colombia.- Czechoslovakia.- Denmark.- Ecuador.- Egypt.- Ethiopia.- Federal Republic of Germany.- Finland.- France.- German Democratic Republic.- Ghana.- Hungary.- India.- Ireland.- Italy.- Japan.- Mexico.- The Netherlands.- New Zealand and Malaysia.- Nigeria.- Norway.- Poland.- Portugal.- Rumania.- South Africa.- Sweden.- Switzerland.- Syria.- Union of Soviet Socialist Republics.- United Kingdom.- United States of America.- Venezuela.- Yugoslavia.