Offering a description of current and recently developed laboratory assays in the field of haemostasis and thrombosis, this work is the result of a co-operation between experts from more than 60 institutes in 12 European countries, brought together by the ECAT (European Concerted Action on Thrombosis and Disabilities) under the auspices of the Commission of the European Communities in Brussels. The work is based on two previous editions, which were for internal use only. Each assay was assessed by an expert who functioned in the ECAT as representative of a reference laboratory. An assay committee co-ordinated the activities, and each chapter is written by an assay expert. Most of the chapters give descriptions of the assay recommended for use in the ECAT and briefly mention alternatives. For this reason, a list is included of firms that are commercializing kits and reagents. The book aims to contribute to further harmonization of haemostasis assays and, ultimately, to their standardization.