A collaborative effort of 150+ clinical microbiologists, medical laboratory technologists, and laboratory supervisors. Provides step-by-step protocols and descriptions to enable clinical microbiologists and laboratory staff personnel to perform all analyses, including appropriate quality control recommendations, from the receipt of the specimen through processing, testing, interpretation, presentation of the final report, and subsequent consultation. Emphasizes areas such as molecular approaches, bioterrorism, safety, and epidemiology/infection control in medical facilities. Includes procedures that are formatted to adhere to the GP02-5A (2006) document of the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards/Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (NCCLS/CLSI).