Report of the ASHP Task Force on Caring for Patients Served by Specialty Suppliers.

Task Force recommendations are discussed in more detail in eAppendix A (available at www.ajhp.org).

Trends in the use of colony-stimulating factors.

Colony-stimulating factors are potent manipulators of the hematopoietic and immune systems. An increasing number of colony-stimulating factors with expanded indications and uses are available. To provide safe and efficacious therapy, clinicians must understand how colony-stimulating factors and other biologic response modifiers work and know about product use, patient education, and patient monitoring.