While the historic roots of clinical chemistry originate from the chemical sciences the growth of the subject has been dependent upon the poli tical, social, economic and technologic national soil in which it has developed. Thus the present leaders in this field have backgrounds variously in chemistry, medicine, pharmacy or sometimes biology. Today, clinical chemistry has attained stature as a unified independent discipline. It is characterized by active and productive international and national societies; its function codified in the law of many countries; its scientific content the sole...