Henry’s Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods, 24th Edition

By Richard A. McPherson & Matthew R. Pincus  

ISBN: 9780323673204 

Pub Date: June 1, 2021 

Reviewed by: Valerie L Ng, PhD MD (Alameda County Medical Center/Highland Hospital) 

Description 

This is the 24th edition of a comprehensive and widely respected and venerated reference book in clinical pathology and laboratory medicine. The previous edition was published in 2017. 

Purpose 

The purpose of this book is to be “the authoritative source of information for residents, students, and other trainees in the disciplines of clinical pathology and laboratory medicine, and for physicians and laboratory practitioners.” These are very worthy objectives that are well met (once again) by this edition. The presentation in both print and online adds tremendous value – not the least is the easy access to content online, obviating the need to carry around a heavy book and magnifiers to read the eight- or 10-point font. 

Audience 

This book is intended for “residents, students, and other trainees in the disciplines of clinical pathology and laboratory medicine, and for physicians and laboratory practitioners.” This is a very broad audience, but all would be most interested in this newest edition. The book meets the needs of the intended audience and the authors are each recognized authorities in their areas of expertise. 

Features 

This edition comes as close as possible to perfection. To reflect – it is 113 years after the first edition was published. I remember being advised as a resident to memorize as much as possible to pass the board examination. I now recognize decades later how naïve that goal was as this book is jam-packed with so much more information essential to the competent practice of laboratory medicine. As I leaf through this newest edition, I am constantly reminded by how rapidly the field has changed over my career and how little new information I know today – this book nicely fills my knowledge gap. This edition is as current as possible, with major expansions into areas of rapid development (e.g., mass spectroscopy, ethics, “clinical pathology of cancer,” etc.). The book is hefty at nine pounds and the font seems small (to my aged eyes). But do not despair; the online edition solves these minor inconveniences. As would be expected, the content is spot on and sufficiently detailed to answer even the most esoteric questions from experienced and inquisitive practitioners, while newbies can skim as needed to cram for board exams. At 1,663 total pages and a list price of $199.99, this breaks down to ~8 cents per page. You can’t find a better bargain than this! 

Assessment 

An awe-inspiring new edition to a well-respected and venerated authoritative reference for clinical pathology and laboratory medicine. Get it. 

©Doody’s Review Service, 2021, Valerie L Ng, PhD MD (Alameda County Medical Center/Highland Hospital) Doody’s Score: 96 – 4 Stars!  

Purchase your copy of Henry’s Clinical Diagnosis and Management by Laboratory Methods, 24th Edition here!