The recent pace of discoveries in human genetics and molecular biology is stunning. Completion of the human genome sequence analysis, successive development of diverse high-throughput analytical approaches (genomics, proteomics, transcriptomics), and most recently, developments in nano-technology have permitted innovative enhancement of genetic testing. Elucidation of the molecular bases of numerous human diseases, combined with rapidly evolving techniques in molecular biology, have brought molecular diagnostics to a high stage of sophistication that is still evolving. This textbook on molecular diagnostics is ambitious in its scope and intended usage. It addresses not only scientists already in the field, but also those who intend to enter it. It provides a much-needed comprehensive reference publication on current and developing methods. Importantly, it also includes an innovative treatment of diverse molecular diagnostic techniques as they apply to the actual practice of clinical microbiology, forensic analysis, development of pharmaceuticals, and other fields.