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Tropical Medicine Point-of-Care Testing

Monica Cheesbrough

Published by Tropical Health Technology
2020. Updated 2022

Pages: 364 Colour plates: 150

This book contains recently developed technologies to investigate communicable and non-communicable tropical diseases at the point of patient care. It also includes biosafety, monitoring the quality of district laboratory services, equipment and the use and care of a microscope. It is a companion book to Tropical Medical Microscopy.

The book is recommended by Medbox.

Click this link to go to the Medbox website to download the book

Pages: 364	Colour plates: 150	Size: 246 x 189 mm	Weight: 0.074 Kg
Covers: Laminated		Book is divided into colour sections

To meet the need for laboratory diagnosis to be integrated in community care, the new 2022 Update describes point-of-care tests that can be performed both in district laboratories and peripheral healthcare facilities by non-specialist staff. Also included are recently developed self-tests.

Book review

"This book is an excellent contribution to the practice of tropical medicine. The book is not only useful for laboratory workers but also for doctors and students from tropical countries as well as those who want to work in the tropics"....

Professor Ed Zijlstra
Specialist in Tropical Medicine & Infectious Diseases
Rotterdam Centre for Tropical Medicine

FEATURES

High quality colour plates of parasites, bacteria and blood cells.
Recently developed rapid point-of-care tests.
How to provide reliable, quality- managed, accredited district laboratory services.
Comprehensive section on laboratory biosafety and risk assessment.
COVID-19 Supplement.
Websites and references to keep the reader up-to-date.

CONTENTS

Section 1 Strengthening the quality of district laboratory services

District laboratory network
Supporting district laboratory personnel
Continuing professional development
Implementing laboratory quality management
Accreditation
Laboratory biosafety
Equipping district laboratories

Section 2 Laboratory investigation of communicable diseases

Malaria
Neglected tropical diseases: African trypanosomiasis, Chagas disease, Leishmaniasis, Lymphatic filariasis, Onchocerciasis, Soil-transmitted helminths, Schistosomiasis, Food-borne trematodiases, Taeniasis, Cysticercosis, Cystic echinococcosis, Buruli ulcer, Leprosy, Dengue.
Tuberculosis
Meningitis
Sexually transmitted infections
HIV infection
Hepatitis
WASH-related infections
Amoebic dysentery
Cryptosporidium, Cyclospora, Cystoisospora infections,
Healthcare-associated infections
Acute febrile illness
Measuring CRP and PCT
Measuring whole blood lactate

Section 3 Laboratory investigation of non-communicable diseases

Investigation of anaemia
Measuring haemoglobin
Differential WBC
Abnormal WBC morphology
Abnormal RBC morphology
Testing for occult blood
Diagnosing and monitoring diabetes mellitus
Measuring blood glucose
Measuring glycated haemoglobin
Screening for raised lipids
Investigating kidney disease: Measuring serum/plasma creatinine, eGFR, Determining ACR
Urinalysis: Urine microscopy. Chemical testing of urine
Investigating liver disease: Measuring serum/plasma bilirubin, Measuring ALT and ALP activity. Measuring serum albumin.

Appendices

Preparation of stains and reagents.
Checklist for monitoring quality of services in district laboratories
SOP formats Chemical hazards information SI Unit Tables
Collection of samples
Microscopical examination of faeces for parasites
Leishman staining of thin blood films Manual counting of WBCs

Use and care of a microscope

Index

Updates

Neglected tropical diseases

Last updated October 2025

To access, click the relevant Update