Bakerman's ABCs of Interpretive Laboratory Data

This book goes beyond a "lab" book, encompassing etiologies, algorithms on further evaluation, and pathophysiology. Inside you can find, for example, the incidence of neonatal conjunctivitis in mothers with chylamydial infections, clinical features of primary biliary cirrhosis, and diagrams of the red blood cell reactions in indirect vs direct Coombs reactions. I first bought this book as a medical student when I spent over an hour doing a lit search on immunoglobulins and the intern found a better answer the next day in one second by opening this book. Definitely worth the purchase price! There is a 2002 version of this book and it includes reference articles after each lab test entry. P.S. Now exists in a PDA version, too.

and spend more time with it also, unfortunately. Far and away the single most useful book for third year clerkships. This, Sabatini's "Pocket Medicine" and the Wash U "Intern Survival Guide" are the only three books you need to answer ANY question, work up ANY problem, and interpret ANY test. Save your back, lighten your coat.

As a Physician Assistant student I have searched several bookstores for a good lab studies book. My search finally ended when I found Bakerman's ABC's. There is no other lab book I have seen which can compare with Bakerman's. I take this lab book on every rotation, and which that I had found it sooner for my didactic training.

This book provides a quick, 1 page glance at lab value interpretation. Indexed in alphabetical order, the reference ranges are given for adults, and pediatrics, followed by the significance of high or low lab values. The book is small, easy to carry and loaded with information.

I have used this WONDERFUL book since my medical training days and find it to be invaluable. I have several other well known books on lab analysis and they don't come close to this book. It's unbelievable to me that so much information can be packed into such a small volume. I HIGHLY recommend it for all Physician Assistant, Nurse Practitioners, MD's, Lab Techs, and anyone else in the medical/laboratory field!