Answers from the Lab

Maria Alice Willrich, Ph.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' new assay provides therapeutic drug monitoring of risankizumab, or RISA. Test results help guide care for patients with plaque psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis, and Crohn's disease.

(00:32)
 Do you mind giving the audience more information about yourself and your background?

(01:53)
 Could you please give a brief overview of this assay?

(03:35)
 Which patients should have this testing and when should it be performed?

(04:57)
 How are the results used in patient care?

(06:59)
 Other monoclonal antibody therapies are usually monitored by a combination of drug quantification and analysis of antidrug antibodies. How is this test being offered?

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.

Alicia Algeciras-Schimnich, Ph.D., discusses how Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ new noninvasive blood test for Alzheimer’s disease identifies the p-tau217 biomarker, which is associated with the accumulation of amyloid beta in the brain. Positive test results can facilitate access to disease-modifying therapies. 

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Dr. Algeciras, could you just provide a little bit of background on your role at Mayo Clinic?

(01:45):

So before we get into the test itself, can you just explain a little bit about the disease state and especially some of the recent changes?

(07:39)
 So can you explain a little bit more about what the results that our clients will receive look like?

(10:30)
 Can you just give a quick overview of how our test is unique compared to those on the market?

(12:24)
 What patients should have this testing performed, Dr. Algeciras and if you have any tips on which patients should not, please include that as well?

(14:42)
 Let's talk now about how those results are used in patient care.

(16:31)
 One more question, just summarize for our listeners what you're most excited about with this new 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 William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories. They discuss current events including dengue outbreaks, new colon cancer screening technology, and insurance coverage of innovative lab tests.

Their discussion includes:

• The surge of dengue cases in Latin America, and best practices for tick and mosquito bite prevention.
• Advancements in laboratory tests and technology used for colon cancer screening.
• Issues with insurers paying for new screening technology versus routine screening methods.
• How laboratorians can help educate physicians and policymakers on how innovative laboratory tests create value for patients and the entire healthcare system.

Bobbi Pritt, M.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' new assay identifies less-common tick-borne bacteria in whole blood. The assay is recommended when tick-borne bacterial infection is suspected but standard testing is unrevealing.

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 Do you mind giving us a brief introduction of yourself and what you do at Mayo?

(01:45)
 Can you tell us a little about the test and how it came to be?

(03:00)
 Could you explain the types of patients this test would be best suited for and how a provider might determine if their patient would benefit from this?

(03:32)
 Would you please explain why the algorithm is recommended and where in the algorithm this test fits?

(04:36)
 What makes this test different from what's currently available to providers?

(05:38)
 How can the information be used in patient care? And can you talk a little bit about how the diagnosis can be clarified by using this assay, why it's important, and how the results would impact a patient's care and treatment plan?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a recent health advisory in response to the increasing number of measles outbreaks in the United States.

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 Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., professor of laboratory medicine and pathology and clinical virologist at Mayo Clinic, to discuss why measles is in the news again and how we can prevent measles outbreaks.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• The symptoms, characteristics, and complications of the measles virus.
• The recent rise in measles cases and outbreaks being reported across the United States.
• The importance of vaccination in preventing the spread of the highly contagious virus.
• Why the measles laboratory test was eventually developed, and testing options available through Mayo Clinic Laboratories.

Linda Hasadsri, M.D., Ph.D., and Huong T. Cabral, M.S., C.G.C., explain how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' targeted test panel facilitates accurate diagnosis of hereditary pancreatitis, which heightens the risk for pancreatic cancer. Test results can guide cancer monitoring for patients and their families.

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 Dr. Hasadsri, can you tell the audience a little bit about yourself and your background?

(01:32)
 And Ms. Cabral?

(02:03)
 Can you please give the audience a brief overview of this assay?

(03:33)
 Which patients should have this testing and when should it be performed?

(04:23)
 What alternative test options are available and how do these compare to our hereditary pancreatitis test?

(08:48)
 How are results used in patient care?

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 important industry updates and legislative insights gathered from Dr. Morice’s recent trip to Washington, D.C.

Their discussion includes:

• The status of current laboratory-related legislative efforts, including the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA), the Saving Access to Laboratory Services Act (SALSA), and the Pandemic and All Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA).
• Current issues facing the laboratory industry, including prior authorization, coding, and potential FDA oversight of laboratory-developed tests.
• The importance of advocating on behalf of laboratories, clinicians, and patients, and engagement opportunities through professional societies like the College of American Pathologists and the American Clinical Laboratory Association.

Wei Shen, Ph.D., and Rhianna Urban, M.S., CGC, explain how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' gene panel establishes a diagnosis of Lynch syndrome, which heightens the risk for several cancers. Test results can guide cancer surveillance for patients and their families.

(00:32)
 Would each of you share a little bit about yourselves and your background? Dr. Shen?

(01:25)
 Rihanna, could we have you give a little background about yourself as well?

(01:48)
 Could you provide us with an overview of Lynch syndrome?

(03:44)
 Can you expand on why genetic testing for Lynch syndrome is so important?

(06:03)
 Who would benefit from Lynch testing?

(07:51)
 Is Lynch syndrome the only type of inherited predisposition to colon cancer?

(08:48)
 Does the healthcare provider order these tests, and what kind of samples should be considered in these patients?

(10:50)
 Are there any limitations to the types of variants that can be detected by this test? And how does Mayo Clinic Laboratories ensure comprehensive results for patients?

(14:24)
 How are the results used in patient care?

(16:33)
 Could you summarize the benefits of these tests and of doing them 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 Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, to follow up on the syphilis epidemic and discuss updated testing recommendations.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• Background information on syphilis and the epidemic occurring in the United States.
• The report recently published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with updated laboratory recommendations for syphilis testing.
• The different testing methods used to diagnose syphilis.