Pediatric laboratory medicine

Abstract “Children are not little adults” is a common phrase in the practice of pediatrics, and laboratory medicine is not exempt from issues that pertain primarily to the pediatric population. Handling pediatric specimens presents unique challenges ranging from small blood volumes, samples types, and modes of samples collection, to test validation and establishing reference intervals. Many of these issues affect the day-to-day processes in the clinical laboratory. In addition, there are a few testing scenarios, which are commonly encountered in pediatric population. This chapter will discuss blood volume and sample volume requirements and challenges, pediatric reference intervals, recommended public health screening (newborn screening, lead exposure, and lipid screening), and common pediatric clinical testing considerations (transient hyperphosphatasemia, hemolysis, and bilirubin assessment).