Blood Gases and Critical Care Testing
Physiology, Clinical Interpretations, and Laboratory Applications
- 4th Edition - June 1, 2027
- Latest edition
- Authors: John G. Toffaletti, Craig R. Rackley, Claire E. Knezevic
- Language: English
Blood Gases and Critical Care Testing: Physiology, Clinical Interpretations, and Laboratory Applications, Fourth Edition presents a unified resource that brings together labora… Read more
Description
Description
Blood Gases and Critical Care Testing: Physiology, Clinical Interpretations, and Laboratory Applications, Fourth Edition presents a unified resource that brings together laboratory science, clinical interpretation, and practical workflows for critical care testing. It covers the full spectrum of testing from arterial, venous, and capillary blood to specialized specimens such as umbilical cord blood and pleural fluid, integrating physiology with laboratory method validation, quality control, and near-patient testing. Readers will find clear guidance on acid-base interpretation, a refreshed set of terms and equations used in blood gas analysis, and updated reference intervals that span diverse specimen types and patient populations. The new edition is designed to meet the needs of both scientists and clinicians. For researchers and laboratory professionals, it serves as a comprehensive reference on specimen handling, preanalytical variables, method validation (including CAP-aligned guidance), and QA/POCT implementation. For clinicians, it translates laboratory findings into practical diagnostic and pathophysiologic insights, enhancing interpretation and patient management. Three topics readers will particularly value are: (1) the expanded focus on preanalytical effects and the practical nuances of collecting and handling blood gas samples in syringes, evacuated tubes, and capillary systems; (2) the establishment of robust reference intervals for arterial, venous, umbilical cord, capillary blood, and pleural fluid tests, including ionized calcium and magnesium; and (3) the development and application of stability guidelines for syringe-collected samples. Together, these features make the new edition an indispensable reference for clinical laboratorians, pathologists, and critical care clinicians seeking up-to-date, actionable guidance in blood gas, cooximetry, and electrolyte testing.
Key features
Key features
- Includes comprehensive coverage across arterial, venous, capillary, umbilical cord blood, and pleural fluid testing
- Integrates physiology with laboratory methods, validation, QA, and near-patient testing (POCT)
- Presents clinically actionable insights that translate lab results into diagnostic and patient-management guidance
- Provides in-depth focus on preanalytical variables and practical blood gas sample handling
Readership
Readership
Clinical laboratorians, pathologists, practitioners in pulmonary medicine
Table of contents
Table of contents
1. Foundations of Blood Gas, Cooximetry, and Electrolyte Testing
2. Acid-Base Physiology and Interpretation
3. Preanalytical Variables and Specimen Handling
4. Venous, Capillary, and Arterial Blood Gases: Interpretation Across Specimens
5. Cooximetry and Hemoglobin Analysis
6. Electrolytes and Related Analytes
7. Sample Stability and Quality Assurance
8. Method Validation and CAP/CLIA Considerations
9. Special Specimens in Critical Care
10. Clinical Application and Case Studies
11. Near-Patient Testing and Point-of-Care Considerations
12. Future Directions and Emerging Topics
2. Acid-Base Physiology and Interpretation
3. Preanalytical Variables and Specimen Handling
4. Venous, Capillary, and Arterial Blood Gases: Interpretation Across Specimens
5. Cooximetry and Hemoglobin Analysis
6. Electrolytes and Related Analytes
7. Sample Stability and Quality Assurance
8. Method Validation and CAP/CLIA Considerations
9. Special Specimens in Critical Care
10. Clinical Application and Case Studies
11. Near-Patient Testing and Point-of-Care Considerations
12. Future Directions and Emerging Topics
Review quotes
Review quotes
Review of the previous edition:
"This is a fantastic book on blood gases and critical care testing (electrolytes - sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, magnesium, phosphate, lactate). It is definitely a step up from the previous edition. If you've ever had questions about the technical or clinical aspects of this testing, this is the book for you" --© Doody’s Review Service, 2021, Valerie L Ng, PhD MD, reviewer, expert opinion
"This is a fantastic book on blood gases and critical care testing (electrolytes - sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, magnesium, phosphate, lactate). It is definitely a step up from the previous edition. If you've ever had questions about the technical or clinical aspects of this testing, this is the book for you" --© Doody’s Review Service, 2021, Valerie L Ng, PhD MD, reviewer, expert opinion
Product details
Product details
- Edition: 4
- Latest edition
- Published: June 1, 2027
- Language: English
About the authors
About the authors
John G. Toffaletti
Author
Dr. John Toffaletti is a Professor of Pathology at Duke University Medical Center, where since 1979 he has worked in the Clinical Laboratories and now directs the Blood Gas Laboratory, the Clinical Pediatric Laboratory, and several outpatient clinic laboratories. He also serves as Chief of Clinical Chemistry at the Durham VA Medical Center. He earned a BS in Chemistry from the University of Florida–Gainesville, a PhD in Biochemistry from UNC Chapel Hill, and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Clinical Chemistry at Hartford Hospital. He has authored and presented extensively on blood gas interpretation, cooximetry, ionized calcium, magnesium, lactate in sepsis, kidney function tests (creatinine, cystatin C, GFR), and viscoelastic testing (ROTEM and TEG). His research interests include sample collection, pre-analytical errors, analytical methods, and the clinical use of these tests.
Affiliations and expertise
Director, Clinical Pediatric Laboratory, Blood Gas Laboratory, Duke University Medical CenterCraig R. Rackley
Author
Dr. Craig R. Rackley is an Associate Professor of Medicine in the Division of Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine at Duke University Medical Center. He serves as Medical Director of Respiratory Care and the Adult ECMO Program at Duke University Hospital. Dr. Rackley’s clinical and academic work focuses on acute respiratory failure, advanced life support, and the physiologic assessment of critically ill patients. He has published extensively on mechanical ventilation, oxygenation, ECMO, and critical care physiology and is a nationally recognized educator in respiratory physiology and critical care medicine.
Affiliations and expertise
Associate Professor, Duke University Medical Center, USAClaire E. Knezevic
Author
Dr. Claire Knezevic is an associate professor of pathology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. She holds a BA in Chemistry from Scripps College and a PhD in Organic Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her postdoctoral work in chemical proteomics was at the Moffitt Cancer Center, followed by a ComACC fellowship in Clinical Chemistry at Johns Hopkins University. She served at Johns Hopkins as director for Critical Care Testing, Toxicology, Biocontainment Unit Testing, and Pre-/Post-Analytical areas. In 2024, she became director of Clinical Chemistry and Point-of-Ccare Testing at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. She is currently an Associate Professor of Pathology at Northwestern. Her clinical interests include blood gas testing, quality improvement, personalized medicine, and pediatric testing.
Affiliations and expertise
Associate Professor, Department of Pathology,Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine