Offers an introduction to one of the newest and fastest-growing fields in laboratory science. Explaining and clarifying the molecular techniques used in diagnostic testing, this text provides both entry-level and advanced information. It covers the principles of molecular biology along with genomes and nucleic acid alterations, techniques and instrumentation, and applications of molecular diagnostics.

Principles of molecular biology -- Genomes and nucleic acid alterations -- Specimen collection and processing -- Nucleic acid isolation -- Nucleic acid techniques -- Miniaturization: DNA chips and devices -- Design and operation of a molecular diagnostics laboratory -- Introduction to evidence-based molecular diagnostics -- Inherited diseases -- Identity assessment -- Molecular methods in diagnosis and monitoring of infectious diseases -- Pharmacogenetics -- Molecular genetics in diagnosis of human cancers -- Reference information.