Answers from the Lab (Mayo Clinic Laboratories )

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins "Answers From the Lab" for his weekly leadership update with host Bobbi Pritt, M.D. In this episode, Dr. Pritt and Dr. Morice discuss new developments in monkeypox testing, updates on the federal response, and lessons learned from managing other viruses.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories. They discuss the role that a strong public health lab and diagnostic testing capabilities play in preventing widespread infectious disease outbreaks.

Their discussion includes:

• The reemergence of infectious diseases that were prevalent years ago in the United States, and the role of the laboratory in addressing these modern-day outbreaks.
• How the introduction of pathogens from other countries and novel pathogens emphasizes the need for globally coordinated preparedness.
• Why a strong partnership between laboratory professionals and patient-facing clinicians is critical to combatting outbreaks and rare diseases.
• How advocating on behalf of clinical laboratories also benefits patients and public health.

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins "Answers From the Lab" for his weekly leadership update with podcast host Bobbi Pritt, M.D. In this episode, Dr. Pritt and Dr. Morice discuss the World Health Organization’s declaration of monkeypox as a global public health emergency, how Mayo Clinic Laboratories quickly implemented testing, and the public-private partnership to manage the response.

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for his weekly leadership update with Bobbi Pritt, M.D. In this episode, Dr. Morice and Dr. Pritt explain what it means for a clinical laboratory to be licensed by CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments), and discuss the important role of the lab director in a CLIA laboratory.

01:16 What are you thinking when you look to the future for laboratory testing for COVID-19? 

03:05 What are your thoughts on that? What would be some ways that we could predict who would be at risk for severe disease and really might go downhill quickly? 

04:47 So should we be testing for T-cells? Are there any T-cell marker tests in the future? 

05:41 Can you tell us a little bit about that from your view as our chair?

Resources:
https://news.mayocliniclabs.com/covid19/

https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/discussion/mayo-clinic-research-confirms-critical-role-of-masks-in-preventing-covid-19-infection/  

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, is joined by special guests Bernard Rubin, D.O., MPH, chief medical officer of Progentec Diagnostics, and Melissa Munroe, M.D., Ph.D., chief scientific officer and principal investigator of Progentec Diagnostics. They discuss Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ suite of innovative lupus testing, offered in collaboration with Progentec Diagnostics, for patients affected by systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Their discussion includes:

• The Progentec aiSLE® DX Lupus Flare Risk Index that uses an algorithm to calculate a flare risk index, which assigns a score based on a patient's risk of a forthcoming lupus flare.
• The Progentec aiSLE® DX Lupus Disease Activity Index that characterizes a patient’s current disease activity into low, moderate, or active states.
• How these two tests were developed and for whom they are recommended.
• Why these tests are a significant development and how they enhance the quality of life for patients living with SLE.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, and Nancy Wengenack, Ph.D., director of the Mycology and Mycobacteriology Laboratories at Mayo Clinic, discuss the increased focus on fungi and why emerging fungal infections can be concerning for health care facilities.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• How fungi work inside and outside of the body.
• If it’s possible for fungal infections to turn animals, insects, and humans into zombies, as seen on the fictional show “The Last of Us.”
• Why emerging fungal pathogens like Candida auris are problematic.
• Laboratory diagnostics for fungal infections.

Joshua Bornhorst, Ph.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' unique blood test identifies pregnant women at risk of developing preeclampsia with severe features. Test results can guide clinical management, to safeguard maternal and neonatal health.

Speaker 3: (00:32)
Can you share a little about yourself and your background?

 

Speaker 3: (01:00)
Can you provide us with an overview of this new preeclampsia assay?

 

Speaker 3: (02:33)
Can you share what will be reported with this assay?

 

Speaker 3: (03:07)
Which patients should have this testing and at what point should it be performed?

 

Speaker 3: (03:35)
Can you share what alternative test options are available today for preeclampsia?

 

Speaker 3: (03:52)
How are the test results used in patient care?

(00:41)
 Dr. Bornhorst, could you provide our listeners with a little bit about you and your background?
 

(01:15)
 Can you provide a brief overview of the alpha-gal galactose-alpha 1,3 galactose assay?
 
 (04:19)
 So I understand that most people obtain this allergy primarily from ticks and meat-derived products, and that it can cause symptoms such as hives, itching, difficulty breathing, and other unpleasant reactions. With that being said, can you tell us which patients should have this testing?
 
 (06:11)
 Do you know if there are other testing options available?
 
 (07:17)
 Can you share what factors determine which tests should be used and when? 
 
 

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for his weekly leadership update. In this episode, Dr. Morice and Bobbi Pritt, M.D., discuss the new nationwide strategy that the Biden administration is rolling out to combat COVID-19.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, and William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, discuss the increasing rates of tick-borne diseases and how to test for and prevent them. They also discuss what to watch from a federal legislative standpoint now that Congress is back in session.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories. They discuss strategies for responsible innovation and how new standards for artificial intelligence (AI) safety will impact laboratory medicine and diagnostics.

Their discussion includes:

• Highlights of the Executive Order issued by President Biden on Oct. 30 that establishes new standards for safe and secure AI development. 
• Ethical considerations for laboratory leaders when applying AI algorithms.
• The importance of ensuring equitable access to powerful healthcare tools like AI.

John Osborn, operations administrator in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, joins the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for a discussion with host Bobbi Pritt, M.D. about monkeypox testing. In this episode, John and Dr. Pritt discuss how Mayo Clinic swiftly operationalized monkeypox testing and the challenges involved with supporting the new assay, including staffing. If the work discussed in the episode interests you, we’d love to have you join our team. If you are an MLS/CLS graduate or a biology/chemistry graduate, consider applying for a laboratory career with the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a recent health advisory to remind healthcare providers to be on the lookout for cases of measles and to educate patients on measles prevention. 

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, to discuss why measles prevention continues to be critically important.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• A brief history of measles activity in the United States, and why measles cases are rising.
• Why the virus is so contagious, and how herd immunity applies to measles.
• Vaccination and prevention methods.
• Testing options available through Mayo Clinic Laboratories including:
  • Molecular testing to detect the viral RNA in urine (MEASU) and throat swabs (MEASR), 
  • Serology testing on serum to detect IgM (ROM) or IgG-class antibodies (ROPG), or serology testing on cerebrospinal fluid (ROC).

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for his weekly leadership update with Bobbi Pritt, M.D. In this episode, Dr. Morice and Dr. Pritt discuss the state of COVID-19 now, along with factors that could influence how the pandemic plays out from here.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, to discuss tick-borne diseases and the latest testing options.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• The types of tick-borne diseases found throughout the United States.
•  Algorithmic approaches and testing methods used to diagnose tick-borne diseases.
• Helpful resources for clinicians, including Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ Acute Tickborne Disease Testing Algorithm and Lyme Neuroborreliosis Diagnostic Algorithm.
• New tests recently developed by Mayo Clinic Laboratories to aid in the diagnosis of tick-borne disease, including:
  • A broad range bacterial PCR and sequencing test for tick-borne bacteria and some zoonotic bacterial pathogens that may have a similar presentation (Mayo ID: BRBST).
  • Molecular PCR testing to detect the viral RNA of Heartland virus in spinal fluid (Mayo ID: HRTVC) and serum (Mayo ID: HRTVS).
• Preventing tick bites.

Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, joins host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., on this week’s episode of the "Answers From the Lab" podcast. In this episode, they discuss the ongoing respiratory virus season, a new test for measles available at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, and some tips to stay healthy.

Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., vice chair of practice for Mayo Clinic's Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, joins William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, for this week's "Answers From the Lab" leadership update. In this episode, Dr. Binnicker and Dr. Morice discuss the impact that emerging COVID-19 variants could have on virus testing, vaccine and spread.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, and Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, talk about dengue and chikungunya arboviral infections. 

Specific topics of discussion include:

• Why cases of dengue and chikungunya viral infections have rapidly increased in South America.
• What happens when a human is infected with dengue virus or chikungunya virus.
• Testing options available through Mayo Clinic Laboratories for these mosquito-borne diseases. 

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for his weekly leadership update. In this episode, Dr. Morice and Bobbi Pritt, M.D., explain Mayo Clinic Laboratories, review its history, and describe how its work furthers Mayo Clinic’s mission.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories. They discuss pathogens commonly found in the summertime that can cause disease and illness, and how to protect against them.

Their discussion includes:

• Mosquito-borne and tick-borne diseases, their symptoms, and how to prevent bites.
• The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) online search tool to help individuals find an effective bug repellent. 
• Foodborne illness that can occur when dining out or picnicking, and tips on how to dine safely. 
• General summertime safety reminders and what to expect in the transition to fall.

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins “Answers From the Lab” for his weekly leadership update with host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., interim chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic. In this episode, using recent news as an example, Drs. Pritt and Morice discuss what can go wrong if everyone in the lab does not make quality their top priority.

(00:32) Before we get started, Dr. Willrich, can you give us a quick introduction of yourself and your role here at Mayo Clinic?

(01:13) Can you give us a little bit of background about what kappa free light chain testing is and the importance of the multiple sclerosis test?

(05:01) Can you give us a brief discussion about what this publication means and what it means to patients and physicians as a whole?

(06:12) So when it comes to these methods, what should you tell physicians? You know, why we should use kappa free light chains other than those other methods?

(08:39) When it comes to this new approach, can you tell me about how does this really impact the patients? 

(10:18) Thanks so much for that information, Dr. Willrich , can you tell me, what does this mean for the patients?

(12:08) With you being one of the authors for this publication, can you tell me what this publication means to you and what it should mean to everyone else?

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins "Answers From the Lab" for his weekly leadership update with host Bobbi Pritt, M.D. In this episode, Dr. Pritt and Dr. Morice discuss the latest monkeypox developments, potential scenarios for monkeypox moving forward, and where the VALID Act stands.

(00:32)
 Could you provide us some background about yourself?

(01:34)
 Could you give us a brief overview of the new Mayo complete lung cancer assay?

(03:31)
 Can you talk a little bit more about the specific genes and why they're important for patient care?

(04:53)
 When would a clinician pathologist order a focused NGS panel, such as this new Mayo complete lung cancer panel, over a larger cancer panel? 

(07:27)
 What specimens are accepted for the Mayo complete lung cancer panel?

(08:50)
 How are these molecular results used in patient care?

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories. They discuss the recent news of a possible cure for sickle cell disease, as well as gene editing therapies and their impact on the laboratory. 

Their discussion includes:

• Characteristics of sickle cell disease and current testing and treatment options.
• Advantages, challenges, and ethical considerations for gene editing tools.
• How gene therapies may impact the laboratory and the process for testing specimens.
• How the high cost of innovative therapeutics may accentuate disparities in care.

(0:32):
Before we get started, Dr. McKeon, could you please tell our listeners a little bit about yourself and your background?
 
(01:13)
 How long have you been with the lab? 

(01:37)
 Could you describe which patients should have this testing and when should it be performed? 

(01:50)
 Can you tell us a little bit about this unique assay that has not only glycine receptor but also other antibody tests? 

(03:12)
 We offer this evaluation in both serum and CSF. Can you offer any guidance about when one is more appropriate than the other?

(04:37)
 Four different antibodies are included in the stiff-person assay. Why is it most appropriate to evaluate all four? And why is this assay separate from our movement disorder evaluation that includes 20 different antibodies?

(06:19)
 Is it important to include all relevant antibodies — but not those would lead physicians down a confusing path?

(07:50)
 Can you give our listeners a couple examples of patient presentations that might lead a physician to order this evaluation, and a couple examples where it wouldn't be appropriate?

(09:59)
 Can you give a couple examples of when a broader movement disorder evaluation would be appropriate?

(11:11)
 How does this new stiff-person evaluation improve upon previous approaches? What will this new test offer to physicians?

(12:35)
 What does a positive or negative stiff-person evaluation result mean for a patient's care?

(13:25)
 How do alanine receptor positivity and immune responsiveness affect a patient's prognosis?

(13:58)
 Can tests other than this offering from Mayo Clinic Laboratories give physicians the same answers?

(14:44)
What is the key takeaway about this test?

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by Dong Chen, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Division of Hematopathology in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic. They discuss rare and inherited platelet disorders and esoteric laboratory testing of hematologic disorders.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• How these rare disorders are diagnosed through laboratory tests.
• Why platelet transmission electron microscopy is considered the gold standard for diagnosing disorders like Hermansky Pudlak syndrome, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, Chediak Higashi syndrome, and Jacobson/Paris-Trousseau syndrome.
• The process involved with developing and validating the PTEM test (Mayo ID: PTEM) at Mayo Clinic.
• The importance of ongoing research and advocacy to enhance care for patients with rare platelet disorders.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories. They discuss key takeaways from Dr. Morice’s recent visit in Washington, D.C. 

Their discussion includes:

• How device manufacturers are evolving and collaborating within the changing landscape.
• The importance of submitting comments in response to the FDA’s proposed rule on laboratory developed tests.
• Staying engaged with legislative efforts around laboratory reimbursement fees.

(00:32)
 Thanks for that introduction, Dr. Pritt. Today, we're actually going to be discussing T-cell lymphomas with Dr. Andrew Feldman. But before we really get started talking about this disease state, Dr. Feldman, could you provide us with a little bit of background about you and your role here at Mayo Clinic?

(01:10)
 So at your work at Mayo clinic, you’re involved in the clinical side and that you're reading all of these patient cases as a meta-pathologist, but you also have a research focus as well. Is that specific to T-cell lymphomas? 
 
 (01:38)
 That's interesting. That gives you a very unique perspective being that you're involved kind of in both sides of that. So as we talk about T-cell lymphoma, can you just give myself and our listeners kind of a brief overview of this disease state?

 

(03:48)
 So, Dr. Feldman, I find it really interesting as you, you kind of talk about this disease state. I didn't realize there were 30 subtypes of T-cell lymphoma. I mean, that does definitely add to the complexity of this. So can you talk to me really about what are the different tests and assays that you use to sub classify into those 30 types and give our patients an accurate diagnosis?

 

(06:19)
 This never ceases to amaze me about the amount of pathology and hematology and hematologic malignancies in general. There's no one test that answers the questions that we have for these patients. You kind of have to work your way down, putting all of these different pieces together. And I always think about it like a puzzle. So as you're going through and in answering these questions and you put this puzzle together for each patient, when should patients be having this testing performed? Do we do it at diagnosis? Are we following these patients? Kind of talk to me about that process as the patient comes in to see their oncologist for these diseases.

 

(07:39)
 So Dr. Feldman, it's interesting that you talked about all of these tests that we perform to try to accurately diagnose these patients and that we're using them to give the clinician all of those answers that they need to treat their patients. As we come up with that final diagnosis and we give the clinician their answer, how are those results being used in patient care? I've seen a lot of movement in the marketplace lately with new therapies, new gene findings. What are those answers that we're giving those clinicians doing for those patients in the long run?

 

(11:10)
 Just so interesting to me, all the complexities of this and the nuances that go into making sure that that patient gets put on the right therapy that is actually beneficial for them and not harmful in some cases. So last question, just because it's kind of a hot topic right now in the oncology world in general. So, are we monitoring these types of lymphoma patients right now for any sort of minimal residual disease or what kind of monitoring happens for these patients during the course of therapy,

 

(12:08)
 Oh, that's very interesting. And I look forward to that, especially hearing you talk about how some of these therapies are being very successful for these patients. It'll be good to see what does that progression-free survival look like and what does that patient quality of life right after they've gone through these therapies. I really enjoy hearing that we're having these increased successes. So one last question for you before I let you go, you've done a lot of research in the T-cell lymphoma space. It's obviously something that's really near and dear to your heart. You also see a lot of consults and our team sees a lot of consults on T-cell lymphomas, just because of our expertise in this area. Just really quickly tell me about all of the work that you've done. What's the one thing that really stands out. She was like, this was that thing that you found or that, that driver of what, what brings you to work every day that you just are really always excited.

John Lieske, M.D., explains why it's now easier for clinicians to pull information from Mayo Clinic Laboratories' urine supersaturation test report. An updated format summarizes complex information to help guide the treatment of kidney stones.

(00:32)
 Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?

 

(01:28)
 Could you give us a brief overview of urine supersaturation testing? How should it be used? How can it benefit providers and their patients?

 

(04:14)
 Can you tell us a little bit about the recent changes in our supersaturation tests and how they'll help providers better care for their patients?

(00:33)
 Could you please tell the audience a little bit about yourself and your background before we get to?

 

(01:07)
 So just as an overview, this new MAG test, can you kind of give us a general idea of the assay, the methodology, and how this could be used clinically?

 

(01:59)
 Can you maybe expound upon the role of the M protein, how it relates to the MAG antibody and also that unique testing methodology that we use?

 

(03:15)
 Can you describe how those will present to our listeners and then when it would be appropriate to order this specific test?

 

(03:56)
 And is the antibody test important or is it pretty clear this DADs phenotype is separate from maybe other types of neuropathies?

 

(05:25)

I think the other thing that's exciting is just about how the antibody test can help increase confidence for physicians, right?

 

(05:50)

Can you talk to me about how our test is maybe different than how other existing MAG antibody tests that already exist on the market?

 

(07:20)

I've also heard you talk about the reference ranges, where, depending on where the cutoffs are, it can increase, I think specificity, is that right, Dr. Mills?

 

(08:30)

I've also heard to test for SGPG that oftentimes accompanies MAG, but I noticed that we won't be using that complimentary tests. Can you help our listeners understand why?

 

(09:42)

Can you just elaborate again on how this test can impact patient care and maybe shorten that journey?

 

(10:56)

So a test result that's positive for MAG, the physician can have a lot of confidence that that's really the underlying etiology?

 

(11:33)

Are we seeing it more often that patients are going to test positive for the MAG antibody, and that should lead them to getting this M protein tested for using our MASS fixation technology?

 

(13:14)

Now, if a patient is found to be positive for the M protein as well, uh, how does that change the treatment or prognosis for those DADs phenotype patients?

 

(14:09)

Dr. Mills, if you could summarize for our physicians this to key takeaway for physicians or patient impact related to this test, what would it be?

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by Peter Lucas, M.D., Ph.D., vice chair of Research for the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (DLMP) at Mayo Clinic. 

Their discussion includes:

•  Dr. Lucas’ extensive pathology and research background and his journey to Mayo Clinic. 
• His goals for expanding DLMP’s research activities and advancing innovation in diagnostics.
• How laboratory research has evolved over his career and how researchers can continue to make progress despite obstacles.
• The importance of having good mentors, collaborating with others, staying curious, and remaining persistent to achieve goals.

(00:32):

Can you tell us a little about yourself and your background? What is the role of a genetic counselor in the Genomics Laboratory?

(01:59):

The Genomics Laboratory performs a lot of different genetic tests. What is your area of focus?

(03:00):

Give a brief overview of congenital adrenal hyperplasia.

(05:44):

Which patients should have this testing, and when should it be performed?

(06:35):

Can you tell us a bit about what sets MCL’s CYP21A2 offering apart from other labs?

(08:18):

What are some examples of external results that you have helped resolve?

(10:51):

Do you get calls asking for help interpreting CYP21A2 test results?

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., director of the Clinical Virology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, to discuss the seasonal outlook of respiratory viruses, including influenza, COVID-19, and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV).

Specific topics of discussion include:

• What respiratory viruses are currently circulating, and what we might expect in the coming months.
• Different testing methods for influenza, COVID-19, and RSV.
• Updated vaccination options and prevention methods.
• How to verify accurate expiration dates for at-home COVID-19 tests using the FDA website.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories. They discuss a case that was recently overturned by the Supreme Court of the United States that may have ramifications for the healthcare industry, including impacts on regulatory oversight.

Their discussion includes:

• A summary of the Supreme Court ruling on June 28 to overturn the 1984 Chevron v. Natural Resources Defense Council decision, and how that impacts the power of federal agencies and the interpretations of the laws they administer.  
• How this decision may impact current healthcare issues like reimbursement and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) final rule on regulating laboratory-developed tests as medical devices.
• The ambiguity of what comes next, and the importance of engaging members of Congress on these important decisions.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, and William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, discuss how representation and advocacy make a difference in regulatory outcomes.

Specific topics of discussion include: 

• Why pathologists should be leading conversations about the future of health care.
• Advocating for issues facing the diagnostics industry, including reimbursement, workforce expansion, regulation, and oversight of laboratory developed tests.
• How laboratories can gain more visibility among policymakers and ensure their perspectives are considered.

(00:32)
 Could you please provide a bit about yourself and your background?

(01:39)
 Could you please give a basic overview of the NPM1Q test and why we are so pleased to offer it?

(06:56) 
 Which patients should have this test and when should it be performed? Is it when they are initially diagnosed?

(09:44)
 How would translocation 8;21 and inversion 16 tests be incorporated into testing for patients?

(10:41)
 How are the results used in patient care?

(13:41)
 What alternative tests options are available, and how do they compare with the NPM1Q test?

(16:22)
 What considerations would you suggest clinicians keep in mind for patient care?

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., and William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., provide an update on this year’s triple-demic of respiratory viruses, discuss the future of at-home testing, and preview future pandemic preparedness efforts.

(00:32):

Before we get started, Dr. Hasadsri, could you provide us with a little bit about you and your background?

(02:43):
Can you differentiate a little bit between what we offer from a molecular standpoint, but what we offer from a biochemical genetic standpoint in terms of mitochondrial testing?

(06:25):
When you would utilize this mitochondrial testing and what kind of patient treatment is this kind of testing guide? How is this utilized in terms of the way the patient is treated?

(09:10):
How does the testing that Mayo clinic lab offers in terms of mitochondrial differ from what other labs are offering right now in the same area?

(13:33):
Is there anything you can think of that you would want to add to all of this or anything you think that we we've left out? I think you've been very comprehensive, but I just wanted to end with that and just see if there was anything else that you wanted to say?

 

Resources
GDF15 | Growth Differentiation Factor 15, Plasma

OAU | Organic Acids Screen, Urine

AAQP | Amino Acids, Quantitative, Plasma

TQ10 | Celiac Disease Serology Cascade, Serum

FAPM | Fatty Acid Profile, Mitochondrial (C8-C18), Serum

PYR/PYRC | CPyruvic Acid, Blood/ Pyruvate, Spinal Fluid

PDHC | Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Complex (PDHC), Fibroblasts

MITOP | Mitochondrial Full Genome Analysis by Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), Varies

MITON | Mitochondrial Nuclear Gene Panel by Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS), Varies

MITOT | Combined Mitochondrial Analysis, Mitochondrial Full Genome and Nuclear Gene Panel, Varies

 

Tell us a little bit about your background and about yourself.
 
Give us a brief overview of what are the previous approaches that have been used in the past for multiple myeloma testing.
 
So can you take a moment and talk to me about the new approach and the new algorithm that your laboratory is working on implementing?

 

So how does this new approach really benefit both hospitals across the country that we serve and the patients that they're trying to treat?

 

What else is the lab working on when it comes to our multiple myeloma testing and our algorithms?
 
 

Resources
Plasma Cell Proliferative Disorder [A Test in Focus]

Plasma Cell Proliferative Disorder, FISH, Bone Marrow (Mayo test ID: PCPDS)

Mayo Algorithmic Approach for Stratification of Myeloma and Risk-Adapted Therapy Report, Bone Marrow (Mayo test ID: MSMRT)

Chromosome Analysis, Hematologic Disorders, Bone Marrow (Mayo test ID: CHRBM)

Mellors et al.: Metaphase cytogenetics and plasma cell proliferation index for risk stratification in newly diagnosed multiple myeloma. Blood Advances. 2020;4(10): 2236-2244 

This week on "Answers From the Lab," Shannon Bennett, director of Regulatory Affairs for Mayo Clinic’s Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, joins William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., and Bobbi Pritt, M.D., to discuss tests that are developed by individual laboratories, rather than commercial manufacturers, and how upcoming regulation may affect those tests.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic. They talk about murine typhus, also known as flea-borne typhus, and the recent increase in cases in Los Angeles County and Texas.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• How flea-borne typhus is transmitted to humans and common symptoms.
• How the disease is diagnosed, treated, and prevented.
• Typhus testing available through Mayo Clinic Laboratories.

Many laboratorians are not patient-facing. So, while laboratories are critical to patient care, they may lack visibility when it comes to policymaking. 

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, and William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president and CEO of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, discuss their leadership roles in national advocacy organizations and the importance of laboratorian engagement in the federal regulatory process.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories. They cover current trends, pain points, and opportunities for growth in the lab and diagnostics market.

Their discussion includes:

• Insights from Dr. Morice’s participation in an Advisory Board webinar about 2024 lab market trends.
• Why there is an increased demand for laboratory testing.
• The opportunities that come with digital pathology, at-home testing, and remote diagnostics.

Timestamps:

Speaker 2: (01:12)
 Where does it all start? 

Speaker 2: (04:32)
 How many followers have you? 

Speaker 2: (05:59)
 So what would your advice be to someone who might listen to this and want to follow in your footsteps? 

Speaker 2: (10:41)
 So you've been doing this now for a long time, 600 cases on your blog, do you have a few favorites? 

Resources:

Creepy Dreadful Wonderful Parasite Blog

Twitter: @parasitegal

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ParasiteGal/

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss what companies in the healthcare and diagnostics industries are focusing on in 2024.

Their discussion includes:

• Insights from the J.P. Morgan Healthcare Conference, and where investments are happening in the diagnostics industry.
• Observations from visiting Southeast Asia around international healthcare innovation and testing accessibility. 
• The importance of private-public partnerships and investments to advance global health.

Full Show Notes:

Speaker 1: (00:49)
Can you share a little bit about yourself and how your role has changed since COVID-19 started?
 

Speaker 1: (01:52)
 What kind of shortages have you seen in our laboratories? And maybe you could tell us a little bit about some innovative solutions your team's been working on to combat those shortages.

 

Speaker 1: (04:41)
 Have you seen shortages in other areas of testing besides COVID testing?

 

Speaker 1: (07:35)
 Are there any lessons you've learned from this whole pandemic that other laboratory professionals would benefit from hearing about?

 

Speaker 1: (09:06)
 Has there been anything inspiring throughout this pandemic that you've noticed that you'd like to share with our listeners?

 

Speaker 1: (10:14)
 Is there anything else that you'd like to share with our audience today?

(00:32) 
 Would you mind sharing a bit about yourself and your background?

(01:44)
 Would it be fair to say you're an expert on this topic?

(01:57)
 Could you help us understand the role of laboratory testing in supporting recovery from alcohol use disorders, and how to approach testing for those patients?

(04:50)
 Could you help us understand our new direct alcohol biomarker test and its benefits?

(07:57)
 What other tests are available, and how do they compare with this biomarker?

(00:50)
 So maybe we'll just start with a simple question. If you could tell us a little bit about you and your background?

(01:21)
 Let's go into, then, the dendritic cell enumeration test. What is this exactly?

 

(03:46)
 What's innovative or different about this test?

 

(04:56)
 What would you say is the primary use case of this test?

 

(06:02)
 So how would you foresee this test being used?

 

(08:06)
 So do you think that we'll be using this test for perhaps our very sick individuals here at Mayo Clinic?
 
 (08:37)
 So how would someone order this test? Is it available outside of Mayo Clinic, as well?
 
 (08:52)
 Is there anything else that you'd like to share about this whole process and coming up with this really novel test?

Andrew McKeon, M.B., B.Ch., M.D., an expert in neuroimmunology, joins the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for a conversation with Bobbi Pritt, M.D. In this episode, Dr. McKeon and Dr. Pritt discuss how Mayo Clinic is pioneering advancements in the field of autoimmune neurology, how these discoveries were made, and why they are important to both patients and physicians.

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins "Answers From the Lab" for his weekly leadership update with host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., interim chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic. In this episode, Dr. Pritt and Dr. Morice discuss their new roles at Mayo Clinic and update listeners on the latest legislative news impacting the laboratory and diagnostic industries. They also highlight the launch of MayoComplete, Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ robust suite of oncology and hematology testing that uses next-generation sequencing to identify and evaluate presence of mutations.

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for his weekly leadership update with Bobbi Pritt, M.D. In this episode, Dr. Morice and Dr. Pritt discuss how innovation in laboratories can address unmet patient needs and expand access to health care.

Additional Resources
https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#county-view
https://www.whitehouse.gov/covidplan/

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories. They discuss the platform business model and how it’s being used in the healthcare industry to drive innovation and reimagine how care is provided.

Their discussion includes:

• Key takeaways from the recent conference hosted by Mayo Clinic Platform.
• What constitutes a platform and how the model is being implemented in the healthcare industry.
• How the platform model can transform the way healthcare is delivered, and the implications this transformation has on laboratory medicine and pathology.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, to discuss the increase of dengue cases in the United States and around the world.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• The characteristics and symptoms of dengue virus.
• Current dengue activity in the United States, why cases are increasing, and how it may impact public health.
• Whether an individual infected with dengue has future immunity against the virus.
• Laboratory tests used to detect and diagnose dengue.
• How to protect against dengue and other vector-borne diseases.

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins "Answers From the Lab" for his weekly leadership update with host Bobbi Pritt, M.D. In this episode, Dr. Pritt and Dr. Morice discuss how monkeypox can be transmitted, the possibilities of a future Emergency Use Authorization (EUA), and access to testing.

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for his weekly leadership update with Bobbi Pritt, M.D. In this episode, Dr. Morice talks about his participation in President Biden’s Global COVID-19 Summit and discusses the toll the pandemic has taken on countries around the world.

William Morice, II, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for his weekly leadership update. In this episode, Dr. Morice and Bobbi Pritt, M.D., review the treatment options currently available for COVID-19.

(00:32)
 Could you provide us with a little bit of your background?

(01:12)
 Could you give us an overview of this test and a summary of the assay?

(01:40)
 What kind of patients should expect to have this test ordered?

(04:11)
 Are other tests available that identify EDN activation in patients?

(05:11)
 How do you envision physicians using this test to treat patients?

(06:32)
 Can you expand on how the test is used in patient treatment?

(00:31)
 Could you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?

(01:15)
 Can you give us a little understanding of this disease state and why a tailored evaluation for pediatric patients is important?

(02:47)
 What makes it more challenging to diagnose a pediatric autoimmune neurological disorder?

(03:32)
 Is the tailored evaluation necessary because different antibodies are evaluated?

(04:08)
 How common are these disorders in pediatric patients?

(04:40)
 How does our assay for adults differ from the pediatric assay?

(05:17)
 Do we evaluate for the ANNA-1 paraneoplastic antibody in both children and adults?

(05:59)
 Are our decisions on which antibodies to include based on our clinical experience?
 
(06:46)
 Which patients would this kind of testing be appropriate for?

(07:29)
 Should antibody testing be ordered early in the process of differential diagnosis?

(08:29)
 Do other disorders mimic these autoimmune disorders?

(09:00)
 What do test results mean in terms of next steps for physicians and patients?

(09:55)
 What are the most critical antibodies to test for in this pediatric population?

(10:30)
 Is it important for physicians to send both serum and CSF samples?

(10:48)
 In what specimen type is MOG most readily detected?

(11:18)
 What are the repercussions of not using a tailored evaluation?

(13:04)
 Do we use any patterns we see in test results to build future evaluations?

(14:15)
 Does a tailored evaluation mean faster test results?

(15:21)
 Are there any other key takeaways that you want to share with physicians to help them understand the importance of this evaluation and how it can be used in their clinical practices?

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss locally acquired cases of malaria that have recently occurred in Texas and Florida.

Their discussion includes:

•  Why malaria may be reappearing after being eliminated in the United States in the 1950s.
• The importance of laboratory diagnostics in identifying and diagnosing different types of malaria.
• Testing options available through Mayo Clinic Laboratories for malaria and other mosquito-borne diseases. 

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for his weekly leadership update. In this episode, Dr. Morice and Bobbi Pritt, M.D., discuss the future of laboratory medicine in a post-pandemic world.

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for his weekly leadership update. March is Women's History Month, and in this episode, Dr. Morice and Bobbi Pritt, M.D., mark the occasion by discussing the legacy of female leaders at Mayo Clinic.

Resources:
https://news.mayocliniclabs.com/covid19/ 

Maria Willrich, Ph.D., and Melissa Snyder, Ph.D., describe Mayo Clinic Laboratories' panel for proactive therapeutic drug monitoring of patients with inflammatory bowel disease. The panel expands options for clinicians assessing patients' response to the drugs infliximab and adalimumab.

(00:32)
 Could you provide a little bit of background information about yourselves?

 

(02:18)
 Would you give the audience a brief overview of the assay?

 

(04:18)
 Which patients should have this testing and when should it be performed? 

 

(07:24)
 What alternative test options are available, and how do these compare?

 

(11:02)
 How are the results used in patient care?

This week on the podcast, William Morice, M.D., Ph.D., chair of Mayo Clinic’s Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, joins "Answers From the Lab" with Bobbi Pritt, M.D. This episode reflects on how far we have come during the COVID-19 pandemic from creating tests to detect the SARS-CoV-2 virus to developing vaccines and therapeutics to combat serious illness.

Robin Patel, M.D., explains how a new Mayo Clinic Laboratories' assay can identify central nervous system pathogens that standard tests fail to detect. Rapid, precise diagnosis is essential to preventing long-term effects from these infections.

Show notes

Speaker 3: (00:32)
 Please give us a brief introduction of yourself and your role at Mayo Clinic.

 

Speaker 3: (01:44)
 Could you please expand a bit on this newly developed sequencing assay — which is a shotgun metagenomic test on CSF — and explain how it's different from other sequencing methods?

 

Speaker 3: (02:43)
 Could you tell us more about the specific group of patients this test would be used for and how a provider might identify those patients? When during the care process should this be ordered?

 

Speaker 3: (04:12)
 Could you talk about the alternative test options and how they compare?

 

Speaker 3: (05:42)
 How are the results used in patient care?

(00:31)
 Would each of you share a little bit about yourselves and your backgrounds?
 

(01:47)
 Could you provide us with an overview of what the WGSDX test is?

 

(02:26)
 How is that different from other genetic tests, like exome or microarray?

 

(03:56)
 Tell us more about who benefits from these tests.

 

(07:17)
 Is this test recommended by expert groups?

 

(09:10)
 How do providers go about ordering this test, and what sample types are accepted?

 

(11:12)
 What type of variants are detected by this test?

 

(13:04)
 How would you say our test matches up to other genome tests available on the market?

 

(14:04)
 What about medically actionable secondary findings?

 

(14:55)
 Are there any other unique features?

 

(16:07)
 Could you summarize the benefits of doing WGSDX at Mayo?

(00:32):

Before we get started, Dr. Hopson, could you please share a little about you and your background with our listeners?

 

(01:16):

Thanks again, Dr. Hopson for joining us today. Could you describe for us what the disaccharidase test is?

 

(02:32):

Thank you for that great description. For this testing. What specimen is required?

 

(02:58):

Can You provide a brief overview and intended use of this testing?

 

(04:16):

Could you specifically state how this test helps you and your patients?

 

(06:10):

What clinical action is enabled by the results of this test?

 

(06:45):

As we conclude our interview, how does this test improve upon previous testing approaches?

Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Lab at Mayo Clinic, joins the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for a discussion with Bobbi Pritt, M.D. about tick-borne disease testing. In this episode, Dr. Theel and Dr. Pritt look at emerging tick-borne illnesses, the tests available to detect these infections, and how to prevent them.

Speaker 1: (00:39)
 Can you start by sharing a little bit about yourself and your expertise for our listeners?
 
 

Speaker 1: (01:12)
 We're in this pandemic with COVID-19, and I'm hearing about people having hematologic responses to COVID-19. Can you tell us a little bit about what these responses are?

 

Speaker 2: (04:53)
 Here at Mayo Clinic, do we have an assay or a testing profile that could assist physicians who are dealing with COVID-19 and their patients and help them look at how their patients are doing?

 

Speaker 2: (07:09)
 Why is this testing important and would it affect COVID-19 patient management?

 

Speaker 2: (08:49)
 What challenges have you encountered during this pandemic and how have you overcome them?

 

Speaker 2: (10:04)
 Is there anything you've seen that you found has been particularly inspiring during the pandemic?

 

Speaker 2: (12:18)
 Is there anything else that you'd like to share with our audience?

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for his weekly leadership update. In this episode, Dr. Morice and Bobbi Pritt, M.D., tackle myths surrounding COVID vaccines and talk about where to find reliable vaccine information.

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for his weekly leadership update with Bobbi Pritt, M.D. In this episode, Dr. Morice and Dr. Pritt discuss challenges and opportunities for the laboratory industry when it comes to regulatory oversight.

Paul Jannetto, Ph.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' nicotine testing benefits patients in substance-use cessation programs and other settings. The serum and urine tests quantify nicotine and various metabolites.

(00:32)
 Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?

 

(01:42)
 Can you please provide an overview of substance use disorders, specifically nicotine dependence, and Mayo Clinic's nicotine testing options?

 

(04:33)
 Which patients should have this testing and when should it be performed?

 

(05:54)
 What alternative test options are available and how do these compare?

(06:40)
 How are the results used in patient care?

 

(00:32)
 Can you tell our audience a little bit about yourself and your role here at Mayo Clinic?

(01:29)
 Can you tell our listeners a little bit about the disease state when we talk about autoimmune or paraneoplastic movement disorders?

(02:37)
 Are we seeing an increased prevalence of autoimmune movement disorders?

(04:00)
 Can you give our listeners an overview of what's going to be launched here in January?

(06:56)
 What other antibodies are particularly important in this phenotype?

(10:01)
 How does the kelch-like protein 11 phenotype manifest in this disorder?

(10:49)
 Are there any antibodies in the autoimmune neurology space that would not need to be evaluated for in patients that present with some sort of movement disorder? 

(11:18)
 Which patients should have this testing and when should it be performed?

(12:55)
 When should Mayo Clinic Laboratories' stiff person evaluation and standalone glycine receptor tests be used, and in what order?

(14:40)
 Is the movement disorder evaluation the right first choice when the patient presentation is less typical and includes ataxia?

(16:42)
 Can physicians order the glycine receptor standalone test to fully evaluate the spectrum of antibodies?

(18:39)
 How does the evaluation impact patient care?

(20:12)
 Have these new antibodies been shown to be immunotherapy-responsive?

(20:27)
 Is there a key takeaway with the launch of these new antibodies in the movement disorder evaluation?

(00:48)
 Could you provide our listeners with a little bit about you and your background?

(01:56)
 There's a fair amount of genetic hearing loss tests out there. Why did we decide to develop this one here at Mayo?

 

(02:51)
 Can you tell me a little bit about the process that actually went into developing the test — the different research and that sort of thing?

 

(04:03)
 What specific need do we meet with this particular test?

 

(06:22)
 How were these results used in patient care? And what I mean by that is, when you're talking about the downstream management of the patient, what are some of the different treatments that can result from the use of this test?

 

(08:16)
 How does our test compare to some of these tests that are out there right now?

(09:48)
 Where in the patient's journey would this test be used? I know it's a diagnostic test and not a screening test, but could you expand on that a little more for me?

(00:31)
 Can you please provide us a little bit of background about yourself?

(01:29)
 Can you give us an overview of this assay?

(02:44)
 Can you talk about what genes have been added, and why?

(04:16)
 Can you talk about patients who should have this testing?

(06:20)
 Are there any last comments that you would like to make about the new gastrointestinal tumor panel?

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to honor Black History Month. They reflect on important advancements in healthcare and laboratory medicine that were led by Black healthcare professionals and scholars. They also discuss health inequities that impact communities throughout the United States. 

Their discussion includes:

• A few of the major advancements in the medical field made by Black scholars, nurses, doctors, and surgeons, and important contributions to laboratory medicine by pioneering Black physicians and physician-scientists.
• Health inequities, accessibility issues, and diseases that are more prevalent in African Americans and people of lower socioeconomic status.
• How misinformation impacts preventive health measures.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories. They discuss why measles remains a virus of concern, how avian flu continues to spread, and new developments in the federal regulation of laboratory-developed tests.

Their discussion includes:

• How a person infected with measles recently traveled through a U.S. airport, and the severity of the measles virus.
• The continued deadly spread of avian flu among wild birds, domestic poultry, and cattle, and the infection of a third human.
• Avian flu vaccine development and the importance of emergency preparedness.
• The American Clinical Laboratory Association’s (ACLA) lawsuit against the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regarding the agency’s final rule to treat laboratory-developed tests as medical devices.

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., joins the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for his weekly leadership update. This week, Dr. Morice talks with Bobbi Pritt, M.D., about his career and the path he took to his current role as chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories.

Nancy Wengenack, Ph.D., director of the Mycology and Microbacteriology Laboratories in Mayo Clinic’s Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, joins the "Answers From the Lab" podcast this week. In this episode, Dr. Wengenack and Bobbi Pritt, M.D., discuss the fungal infection Candida auris.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss current respiratory virus activity and the importance of staying up-to-date on preventive vaccines. 

Their discussion includes:

• The current outlook on COVID-19 cases and the importance of remaining vigilant with prevention efforts.
• The respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), pneumococcal, influenza, and shingles vaccines, and which groups of people should consider receiving them.
• Diagnostic tools and at-home testing options for respiratory viruses.

Maryam Shahi, M.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' unique biomarker test (TEST ID: AFOLR) determines which patients would likely benefit from a new treatment for recurrent epithelial ovarian cancer. Disease recurrence is common, and about one-third of patients respond to the new medication.
 

(00:32)
 Could you provide us with a little bit of information about yourself and your background?

 

(01:18)
 Can you start with a brief overview of the assay?

 

(02:13)
 Which patients should have this testing and when should it be performed?

 

(03:21)
 Are there alternative test options available and how do those compare with the folate receptor alpha assay?

 

(03:57)
 How are the results used in patient care?

01:21
 Could you give us the updates on what you see the state of testing to be today? 

01:53
 What are some of the new things on the horizon? You know, we're hearing about pooling and antigen testing. 

08:34
 What are your thoughts on that? 

(00:32): Before we get started, will you two, please tell us a little bit about yourselves and your backgrounds.

(01:38) Thank you, Dr. Langman, Dr. Jannetto, would you mind going next?

(02:38): Will you guys just give us some content on urine drug testing and, and how this helps really manage patients with substance use disorders

(04:05): Could you tell us about, uh, Mayo clinic's new addiction medicine profile and its benefits?

(06:45): Thank you for that. What alternative tests are available and how do these compare to this new profile?

(08:36): Great points in it, monumental profile for Mayo Clinic laboratories. Thank you for your time today to learn more about this topic or to learn how to order this profile at your institution, please visit www.mayocliniclabs.com.

(00:55)
 Dr. Murray, as we get started today, could you tell us a little bit more about yourself and your background here?

(01:50)
 As you developed this assay, can you just give us a brief overview of it and how it works?

 

(04:07)
 As you compare those two methods, what are some of the things that you're seeing that are the advantages of this new test?

(07:02)
 When should patients really have this testing, and when are we performing it here at Mayo?
 
 (11:54)
 What do you think is one of the most interesting findings as you've gone through this whole process and work to develop and validate this testing? Which one really stands out to you more than anything? 

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss how labs can enhance patient access to improve health equity.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• Innovations creating new possibilities, such as mobile clinics, at-home tests, and artificial intelligence.
• The responsibility of laboratory professionals to help guide the use of these new tools and the importance of collaboration between health systems.
• What’s needed to make solutions scalable and sustainable.

Learn more in Dr. Morice’s “Lab Manager” article. 

David Murray, M.D., Ph.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' MASS-FIX Quantitation assay provides next-generation screening for M-proteins, which are associated with multiple myeloma and other diseases. The assay better quantitates the blood proteins, for improved patient care and simpler test ordering.

(00:32)
Could you provide us with a little bit about yourself and your background?

 

(02:56)
Would you elaborate on the role of you and the Mayo Clinic team in advancing insights with the use of mass spectrometry and its initial launch?

 

(05:38)
Please share about Quantitative MASS-FIX and its specificity, and which patients should have this testing and when it should be performed.

 

(09:42)
Is this a more simplified ordering menu?

 

(15:01)
Would you elaborate on how this assay supports the IMWG guidelines?

 

(16:01)
Are there any closing remarks you would like to add?

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins "Answers From the Lab" for his weekly leadership update with podcast host Bobbi Pritt, M.D. In this episode, Dr. Pritt and Dr. Morice discuss the latest developments in monkeypox, the reality of living in the age of pandemics, and the importance of testing and public-private partnerships.

(00:31):

But before we get started, Dr. Pritt, could you provide our listeners with a little bit about you and your background?

 

(01:22):

Can you provide a brief overview and intended use of this testing?

 

(03:16):

Could you describe what clinical action is enabled by the results of this test?

 

(05:31):

Now let's discuss which patients should have this testing and when should it be performed?’

 

(06:56):

Can you now explain, how does this test improve upon previous testing approaches?

 

(08:04):

Are there other options on the market? If so, what makes our testing different or unique?

Identifying a precise genetic cause of hearing loss impacts clinical management. Nicole Boczek, Ph.D., and Melanie Meyer, M.S., CGC, explain how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' updated panel yields comprehensive results for optimal patient care.

(00:31)
 Can you tell us a little about yourselves and your backgrounds?

 

(01:52)
 Could you provide a brief overview of this assay?

 

(02:29)
 Can the diagnosis lead to improved patient care? 

 

(03:51)
 When should this test be used?

 

(05:25)
 How do the results for AHLP alter medical management?

 

(07:34)

How does our AHLP compare to the market?

 

(08:31)

Does Mayo Clinic Laboratories' increased gene count make a difference in diagnosis?

 

(09:21)
 Why did we choose this many genes?

 

(10:02)
 When does genetics fit into a patient's journey?

 

(10:58)
 What are the benefits of doing AHLP at Mayo?

(0:58)
 Could you tell us a bit about yourself and your background? 
 
 (01:47)
 Could you provide us some background on cobalt and chromium testing, and when these tests are used in patient care?

(03:16)
 You recently completed a study comparing the sensitivity and specificity of cobalt and chromium testing to detect adverse local tissue reactions using synovial fluid versus whole blood samples. Could you tell us more about the study and the results?

(06:12)
 What is your recommendation to physicians treating symptomatic patients with metal-on-metal implants for measuring metal ion levels?

(06:44)
 Could you provide some details on the cobalt and chromium synovial fluid tests available at Mayo Clinic Laboratories? 

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories. They discuss current events including Medical Laboratory Professionals Week, recent healthcare conferences, advocacy efforts, measles, and bird flu.

Their discussion includes:

• Key takeaways from the Becker’s Healthcare Annual Meeting and the College of American Pathologists’ (CAP) Pathologists Leadership Summit.
• The resurgence of measles cases and recent activity of bird flu (H5N1).
• Tips for staying engaged and being the voice for patients.

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss the latest in infectious disease outbreaks.    

Specific topics of discussion include:

• Recent trends in the spread of H5 bird flu and dengue fever. 
• Why it’s important to think globally when monitoring infectious diseases.
• Extra precautions to take during the holiday travel season to keep you and those around you healthy.

(00:32):

Today, we will be discussing staphylococcal testing at Mayo Clinic Laboratories. Before we start, Dr. Schuetz, could you please provide our listeners with a little bit about you and your background?

 (01:02):

As we get started on this initiative, can you provide a brief overview of this testing and its intended use?

 (02:36):

Could you describe for us which patients should have this testing and when it should be performed — including how this new testing improves upon previous testing approaches?

 (04:47):

What makes our testing unique?

 (05:45):

How are the results from this PCR testing used in patient care?

01:23 
How do you envision that we could use these two types of tests to help restart our economy? 

07:04
When you test one day, what does that mean?

08:59
What can the laboratory do to help guide how our tests are used for clinical decision making public policy and even help guide how future tests are created so that they can best serve our patients? 

Resources:

https://news.mayocliniclabs.com/covid19/
https://news.mayocliniclabs.com/2020/05/18/client-virtual-town-hall/