A comprehensive textbook titled “Laboratory investigations for the diagnosis of various diseases” was published this week. This textbook, the first of its kind in Latvia, compiles the most important information on advanced diagnostic tests and their medical interpretation. The textbook will serve as a guide for healthcare professionals to improve the diagnostic process by helping them to decide on the appropriate treatment in the shortest possible time and to ensure high quality monitoring of patients during the treatment.

In textbook, published with the support of “Centrālā Laboratorija”, leading experts in the field discuss the role of laboratory tests for diagnosis of various diseases. This will be a valuable resource for healthcare professionals, emphasizing the importance of accurate diagnosis as the foundation for effective treatment.

The editor of the textbook, member of “Centrālā laboratorija” council, associate professor at Rīga Stradiņš University Jeļena Storoženko, notes: “Today, laboratory testing is a unique, rapid, highly informative and widely accessible diagnostic tool. Advances in modern technology have substantially expanded the range of clinical laboratory services available in recent years, but the path to accurate diagnosis can still be complex. Laboratory test results provide clinicians with valuable information throughout the patient care cycle: from screening tests to diagnosis, prognosis, treatment and follow-up.”

The author points out that the textbook aims to provide physicians of various specialties, including general practitioners and future physicians, with information on both commonly and less commonly used laboratory tests. The textbook is based on the latest global medical literature and evidence. With the rapid development of the diagnostic field, the textbook will provide a guide for current and future healthcare professionals in a changing environment, as well as a useful resource for other interested parties. The textbook includes clinical cases, research reviews and laboratory examples with testing samples information.

“The healthcare system would be unthinkable without the information provided by laboratories. Medical literature estimates that 60 to 70% of clinical decisions are based on laboratory results. Laboratory services are the most accessible, cost-effective and least invasive source of objective health information for both disease prevention and diagnosis and fulfil essential public health surveillance functions. I am grateful for our experts` contribution to this unique textbook! It is a major investment in Latvian medicine,” says Zane Kaktiņa, Chairwoman of the board of “Centrālā laboratorija”.

The editor of the textbook “Laboratory investigations for the diagnosis of various diseases” is assoc. prof. Jeļena Storoženko. Reviewers of the textbook are prof. Aivars Lejnieks, prof. Sandra Lejniece, prof. Ludmila Vīksna. Authors are prof. Aivars Lejnieks, prof. Sandra Lejniece, prof. Ludmila Vīksna, prof. Ilze Konrāde, assoc. prof. Aleksejs Derovs, assoc. prof. Simona Doniņa, assoc. prof. Anna Miskova, assoc. prof. Ieva Tolmane, assoc. prof. Jana Žodžika, doc. Elga Bataraga, doc. Sniedze Laivacuma, doc. Sergejs Ņikuļšins, doc. Juris Plonis, doc. Ineta Grantiņa, doc. Olga Plisko, endocrinologist Betija Jurģe, geneticist Ilze Radoviča-Spalviņa, laboratory physician and transfusiologist Gunta Šmite, anesthesiologist reanimatologist Inga Orleāne, laboratory physician Evija Skrode, rheumatologist Evija Stumbra-Stumberga. The textbook was developed with the support of “Centrālā laboratorija” and published by “Medicīnas apgāds”.

“Centrālā laboratorija” provides a wide range of clinical diagnostic laboratory tests in more than 100 locations throughout Latvia. The laboratory employs more than 650 people.