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book reviews

industrialized countrics of the world that will have the necessary technology for the enterprise, and this will probably widen the gulf between the developed and developing worlds.

It is difficult not to agree with John Harris, whose consequentionalist approach leads him to welcome thc possibility of a new breed of people 'with life chances not available to us now'. He acknowledges that Utopia will not have arrived and that we will still have to strive to reduce discase and prejudice, to eliminate poverty, starvation, cruelty and the other 'shocks that flesh is heir to'.

The question of genetic screening for susceptibility to environmental agents, particularly those encountered in the work place, is particularly pertinent as we move towards fulfilment of the dream of the Human Genome Project. Harris reminds us that genetic monitoring and genetic screening, like so many things, can be used for good or for ill. It is his view that

'we should not forgo the benefits for fear that we will not have the courage to outlaw the harms'. Such programmes will require counselling services and treatment when indicated; legislation will be needed to minimize the discrimination that is likely to appear. Genetic screening will, in Harris's opinion, increase human autonomy and help to protect the individual and the environment.

This book should be read by the scientists and biotechnologists who are developing the techniques which may well transform our approach to health and even the ways in which we think about ourselves. The information on individuals will soon be so detailed that it will be possible to predict the diseases to which they may be susceptible, and would, of course, be of great interest to insurance companies and potential employers and, in totalitarian states, to the government itself. An educated electorate is essential if wise choices are to be made, and this book is a

most valuable resource for use in the education process.

With apparent approval, Harris quotes Marx, who remarked, 'The philosophers have only interpreted the world, in various ways; the point however, is to change it'. It will not be possible to change things without understanding them, but Harris is obviously a new-breed philosopher, whose not inconsiderable understanding and insights are brought to bear on the problems ofbiotechnology as applied to humans, and his clear intention is to help bring about responsible change.

The Superman of the creative writers of fiction is dead; long live the Superman and Wonderwoman fashioned by the biotechnologists in an ethically acceptable manner, of course.

Trefor Jenkins Department of Human Genetics, South African Institute for Medical Research,

University of Witwatersrand, PO Box 1038, Johannesburg 2000, South Africa.

Buying a new immunoassay system?

immunoassay Automation - A Practical Guide

edited by Daniel PV. Chan, Academic Press, 1992. UK£34.00

(xii + 367pages) ISBN 0 12 16732 3

For anyone considering purchasing or evaluating a new automated immunoassay system, this is a useful reference book containing an up- to-date review of the systems that are currently available. The rate of introduction of new immunoassay systems has been very rapid over the past decade and the editor has recognized the difficulty in trying to cover all the new systems and updates of existing ones. Wi th the increasing costs and the time required to develop new systems, coupled with the high commercial risk associated with the introduction of new products in this area, this review is likely to remain relevant for some time. The book is not, however, light reading, containing some repetition of general issues and very detailed

descriptions of several of the immunoassay systems (in certain cases the descriptions even cover the routine maintenance requirements).

The book is divided into three parts: a general introduction; schemes for evaluation; and descriptions of the individual systems. The general introduction is not designed for the beginner in the immunoassay field and assumes a high level of understanding of the area on the part of the reader. However, the section on evaluation is well thought out and provides a useful set of criteria that should be considered when selecting an immunoassay system. This section also contains some useful hints on how to justify the purchase of this high capital cost piece of

equipment. In addition, the description of options for purchase could help stimulate productive discussions with sales representatives.

The 16 chapters describing the different systems available are varied in their style, content, quality and the extent to which they address the criteria set out in the chapters on evaluation. Most of the chapters in this section do contain good detailed descriptions of both the system and its technical performance, but it would have been useful if the structure of the reviews was more consistent so that the reader could compare the different systems more easily.

While this book has been written on the basis of the approach to testing in the USA, most of the information is applicable to laboratories in the rest of the world. With the range ofimmunoassay systems currently available, using the reference material in this book could help to narrow the choice, or simply provide the correct criteria for selection.

Keith May Unipath Ltd, Norse Road, Bedford,

UK MK41 OQG.

TIBTECH JUNE 1993 (VOL 11)