234 BOOK REVIEWS

alike. The sections of transfusion medicine and transplantation are very readable. One omission from the transplantation discussion is the usc of D N A markers for HLA haplotypes which are currently being used.

Initially I was sccptical about the need for another book dealing with hematological tech- niques considering the same publishers are responsible for Dacic and Lewis and Chanarin’s Laboratory Haematology. Howcver this current volume is intended to be read by a wider readership than the other two and I think that as a hardback

book at such a reasonable price it deserves to succeed. The book is well laid out with sensible use of line drawings and is very readable. It is a pity that some colour prints were not included; presumably the price would have risen as a result. Overall I would recommend this book for trainee hematolo- gists, MLSOs and other laboratory workers involved in hematological measurement.

ANDREW PROVAN Royal South Hants Hospital,

Southampton, U.K.

SELF-ASSESSMENT IN HAEMATOLOGY. Chris Pallister. Butterworth-Heinemann 1991. Price: E14.95. ISBN 0 7506 1216 9

As the first sitting of the new-style MRCPath part 1 fast approaches, a new book of practise data interpretation questions is most welcome. The book is designed for a wider audience however, primarily for students of IMLS courses.

The book is composed of two parts, the first con- taining 10 complete mcq tests which are well refer- enced, and cover a comprehensive range of medical laboratory hematology. The usefulness of practise mcq’s as a form of revision cannot be overempha- sized. This book will provide both trainee M.L.S.O. and M.R.C.P. candidates with a further bank of questions.

The second part consists of 25 data interpretative case studies. The histories are presented as succinct clinical entities, the laboratory data includes some of the ncwer investigations the trainee hematologist

will be expected to interpret. The questions that follow test knowledge of pathophysiology, labora- tory investigation and management. Again the answers are well referenced. Some photographs of relevant blood and marrow films are included but are of such small size that they add little to the text.

I think the data interpretation section is particu- larly good, the inclusion of cell volume histograms, wbc scattcrgrams, and platelet aggregation studies are particularly welcome. The case studies are original, plausible, and include coagulation, trans- fusion, and hemoglobinopathy problems. The ques- tions also cover related areas like immunology and clinical genetics. In short, this book is a worthwhile purchase for any student of hematology especially examination candidates.

MARY RYAN The Bone Marrow Transplant Unit,

The Children’s Hospital, Birmingham, U . K .