Walter Guder, München, Germany; Sheshadri Narayanan, Cornell University, New York, USA.

• PrefaceList of Contributing authors 1. General Part1.1. Introduction and History of the Preanalytical Phase Guder W.G.1.2. From Diagnostic Strategies to Guidelines and Pathways. Benefits and Limitations of Laboratory Diagnostic Pathways. Hoffmann G, Aufenanger J, Födinger M, Cadamuro J, von Eckardstein A, Hofmann W. 1.3. Definition of Influence and Interference Factors in the Preanalytical Phase. Guder W.G.1.4. Extraanalytical Procedures and their Management in Total Turnaround Time Guder W.G.,Wisser H. 2. Types of Samples and Anatomic Site of Origin 2.1. What site of Sampling, Arterial , Venous or Capillary Blood ? Guder W.G., Hagemann P2.2. Special Preexamination Conditions in Newborns and Pediatric Patients.Vassault A, Couderc R2.3. Venous Blood Sampling (Phlebotomy) Guder WG, Cornes M.2.4. Arterial Sampling of Blood Guder W.G., Hagemann P.2.5. Capillary Sampling of Blood Cornes M, Guder W.G.2.6. Plasma or Serum? Which Anticoagulant to Use?Guder W.G., Narayanan S.2.7. Spot or Timed Urine, When and Why? Guder W.G., Delange J2.8. When are other Body Fluids to be Analyzed Guder W.G. 2.9. Who is doing Phlebotomy in Europe?Simundic A.M. 3. Biological Variables Influencing Laboratory Results3.1 Age and Gender Differences; unavoidable Influences on Laboratory Results Guder W.G. ,Narayanan S. 3.2 Variables during Sampling Guder W.G., Narayanan S. 3.3 Food, Drinks and Smoking Narayanan S, Guder W.G. 3.4 Effects of Herbs Narayanan S., Young D.S 4. Source and Nature of Interferences of Analytical Procedures.4.1 The Hemolytic Sample Guder W.G., daFonseca-Wollheim F, Schmitt Y.M., Töpfer G. 4.2 The Lipemic Sample Guder W.G., Nikolac N,Schmitt Y.M., Töpfer G. 4.3 The Icteric Sample Guder W.G., da Fonseca-Wollheim F., Schmitt Y.M., Töpfer G. 4.4 Drug Interferences.Sonntag O.4.5 Interferences from Blood Sampling Device Materials on Clinical Assays. Part 1 Bowen R.A.R. Adcock - Funk D. 4.6 Interferences from Blood Sampling Device Materials on Clinical Assays, Part 2 Bowen R.A.R., Adcock - Funk D. 5. Sampling Techniques and Professions5.1 Materials and Techniques of Sampling Blood and other Body Fluids, Contributions of Greiner- Bio-One.Ivanov H, Präuer J, Schimpl M, Castelo-Rose G, Wiesner C, Ehrenfellner T. 5.2 Materials and Techniques of Sampling Blood from Sarstedt. C. Seipelt 5.3 BD Preanalytical Systems - Diagnostic Sample Collection Schlueter K., Church S. 6. Specimen Processing in the Preanalytical Phase 6.1 Sample Transport, Treatment after Arrival, Storage and Disposal Guder W.G., Narayanan S.6.2 Preanalytical Workflow Techniques and ProceduresStreichert T., von Meyer A. 7. Preanalytical Variables and Rules in Specific Fields of Medical Laboratory Diagnostics7.1 Haemostaseology Dempfle C-E., Toepfer G.7.2 Haematology including Flow Cytometry of Blood Cells Narayanan S.,Guder W.G.7.3 Blood Gases, Ions and Electrolytes Simundic A-M.7.4 Clinical Chemistry: Metabolites, Enzymes, Hormones and Proteins Narayanan S., Guder W.G.. 7.5 Preanalytical Variables in Therapeutic Drug Monitoring Narayanan S,, Agrawal Y.7.6 Preanalytical Variables in Microbiology Narayanan S, Schuetz N.7.7 Biobanking Leichtle A., Findeisen P. 8. Quality Assurance and Auditing of the Preanalytical Phase8.1 Auditing of the Preanalytical Phase Petersmann A., Schlüter K., Nauck M.8.2 Internal Quality assurance for Preanalytical Phase Cadamuro J.8.3 External Quality Assurance for the Preanalytical Phase Kristensen G.B.B., Aakre K.M., Kristoffersen A.H., Sandberg S. 9. Annex: Samples and Stability of Analytes Index