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.

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 Paul Jannetto, Ph.D., director of the Clinical and Forensic Toxicology Lab, Clinical Mass Spectrometry Lab, and Metals Lab at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Pritt and Dr. Jannetto discuss the current state of the opioid crisis in the United States, its impact on public health, and the important role of laboratory testing in addiction medicine and pain management patients.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• The roles that testing and screening programs play in identifying opioid addiction and facilitating treatment planning. 
• Different controlled substance monitoring profiles and addiction rehabilitation monitoring profiles offered at Mayo Clinic Laboratories.
• Barriers in implementing effective testing strategies within communities heavily impacted by the opioid crisis.
• The importance of education and consultation in helping physicians support their patients.

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.

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.

Patients with elevated LDL or "bad" cholesterol face even greater risk if their levels of small dense LDL cholesterol are also high. Vlad Vasile, M.D., Ph.D., and Leslie Donato, Ph.D., explain how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' sdLDL-c assay measures concentrations of the small dense LDL subtype, to better guide clinical care.

(00:32)
 Could you both tell us a little about yourselves and your backgrounds?

(01:24)
 Could you tell us a little bit about small dense LDL cholesterol and why it is an important marker for helping a physician understand a patient's risk for coronary heart disease?

(03:22)
 Could you describe the types of patients who could benefit from having a better understanding of their sdLDL-c levels?

(04:36)
 Could you help us understand other tests or methodologies that are currently used to assess cardiovascular risk?

(06:13)
 Could you describe Mayo Clinic's new assay for sdLDL-c cholesterol and how it will benefit physicians managing CVD patients?

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 Dr. Pritt’s recent trip to Uganda where she taught a global health course as part of a Mayo Clinic-sponsored initiative to help expand knowledge around the world in global health and tropical medicine.

Their discussion includes:

• Dr. Pritt’s experience in Uganda teaching diverse, hands-on laboratory skills to international healthcare professionals.
• Benefits of increasing knowledge of global health and practicing medicine in a resource-limited tropical setting.
• How access to diagnostics is driving disparities of care within the United States and across the world.

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?

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 Vanda Lennon, M.D., Ph.D., founder of the Neuroimmunology Laboratory and now director of the Neuroimmunology Research Laboratory at Mayo Clinic. Dr. Pritt and Dr. Lennon discuss the research and testing innovations that have led to critical advancements in the field of autoimmune neurology over the last few decades.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• How the development of targeted and clinically oriented panels has improved diagnostics and healthcare for individuals with paraneoplastic syndromes.
• Why interdisciplinary collaborations with neurology, laboratory medicine and pathology, immunology, and other specialties are essential to innovations in autoimmune neurology.
• Cases of groundbreaking research and testing at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, including: 
  • Autoimmune GI dysmotility
  • Myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton syndrome
  • Stiff-person spectrum disorders 
  • Autoimmune encephalopathy

Learn more about the impact of Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ diagnostic expertise in the Patient Spotlight series featuring autoimmune neurology:

• MOGAD, or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein associated-antibody disease
• Autoimmune encephalitis
• MOG, or myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein
• Testicular cancer-associated paraneoplastic encephalitis

Wei Shen, Ph.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' new breast cancer panel provides rapid results to guide critical treatment decisions.

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

(01:28)
 Could you give us a brief overview of the new rapid hereditary breast cancer panel?

(03:42)
 Can you describe a little bit of the rationale behind the design and how it differs from similar tests?

(05:03)
 Can you tell us a little bit more about which patients should have this testing?

(06:00)
 How are the results of the hereditary breast cancer panel used in patient care?

(08:14)
 Is there anything else you would like to add about the panel?

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.