Clinical Virology Manual, 4th Edition Doody's Expert Review Review Questionnaire ISBN: 9781555814625 ISBN-10: 155581462X Copyright: 2009 Edition: 4th Editors: Specter, Steven, Hodinka, Richard L., Young, Stephen A., Wiedbrauk, Danny L., Doody's Expert Review    Score: 81 Doody's Star Rating™ and Doody's Expert Review provide by Doody Enterprises, Inc. Reviewer: Rebecca Horvat,  PhD, D(ABMM)  (University of Kansas Medical Center) Description This book describes the variety of viruses that infect humans and the diagnostic assays used to detect them. The previous edition was published in 2000. Purpose Much has changed during the nine years since the last edition, and the major purpose is to provide an update. This is important at a time when new viruses are emerging and spreading quickly. This book will become an important resource for those engaged in clinical virology. Audience Physician and laboratory scientists are the intended audience. The authors are all recognized virologists who address practical issues in each chapter. Features The first section of the book describes very detailed methods used to detect and grow viral pathogens. Chapters set out culture techniques used to grow various viral strains and detection methods including electron microscopy and fluorescence. This section also includes methods to detect human immune responses to viral infections and newer methods that monitor viral nucleic acid in infected patients. The next section, the largest, describes viral agents that cause specific diseases such as respiratory disease, childhood illnesses, and hepatitis. It also includes chapters on groups of viruses such as arboviruses, which are not always closely related but have a common life cycle, and herpes viruses, which are related and exhibit unique abilities to integrate into the host cell genome and reactivate with viral production periodically. The last section includes reference laboratories and contact information. Assessment This is a well written and designed book. This updated version is needed in light of the large number of new viral pathogens that have been discovered over the past 10 years. It should be a required reference for any clinical laboratory. Review Questionnaire Range Question Score 1-10 Are the author's objectives met? 8 1-10 Rate the worthiness of those objectives. 8 1-5 Is this written at an appropriate level? 5 1-5 Is there significant duplication? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 3 1-5 Are there significant omissions? (1=significant, 5=insignificant) 4 1-5 Rate the authority of the authors. 5 1-5 Are there sufficient illustrations? 5 1-5 Rate the pedagogic value of the illustrations. 4 1-5 Rate the print quality of the illustrations. 4 1-5 Are there sufficient references? 5 1-5 Rate the currency of the references. 4 1-5 Rate the pertinence of the references. 3 1-5 Rate the helpfulness of the index. 3 1-5 If important in this specialty, rate the physical appearance of the book N/A 1-10 Is this a worthwhile contribution to the field? 8 1-10 If this is a 2nd or later edition, is this new edition needed? 8 ©2024 Doody Enterprises, Inc.