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Background: The most frequently ordered laboratory test worldwide is the complete blood count (CBC). Content: In this primer, the red blood cell test components of the CBC are introduced, followed by a discussion of the laboratory evaluation of anemia and polycythemia. Summary: As clinical chemists are increasingly tasked to direct laboratories outside of the traditional clinical chemistry sections such as hematology, expertise must be developed. This review article is a dedication to that effort. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The rising levels of pollutants in Antarctica is proof of the widespread contamination of the environment by humans. Studies showed that an increase in polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, polychlorinated biphenyls, pesticides and heavy metals in the sediments and marine environment in McMurdo Sound and Arthur Harbor in Antarctica is the result of increased shipping activities and the improper disposal of wastes. This is proven by the high level of toxic substances in the tissues of marine organisms found in the regions.

Business sector productivity growth is central to Canadians' future prosperity. This article reviews the performance of the Canadian business sector in improving labour and multifactor productivity and examines possible factors underlying recent developments. The article links weak multifactor productivity growth in the Canadian business sector to the weak innovation performance of Canadian firms. The conclusion to this article describes a research program that Industry Canada, in conjunction with others, is carrying out. The research program seeks to identify the reasons for Canada's poor innovation and productivity performance, in order to shed light on actions that can be undertaken to improve productivity growth. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper looks at the design of intergovernmental transfers in two mature federations, Australia and Canada, in an effort to determine empirically how well transfers in these countries mitigate shocks to regional government revenues. Two general results emerge. First, the average impact of federal transfers in Australia and Canada is not generally stabilizing for regional government revenues. Second, using the methodology of von Hagen and Hepp, we found little evidence of a marginal stabilizing impact of federal transfers on Australian state revenues. For Canada, we found evidence of somewhat larger impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]