Answers from the Lab

Sean Pittock, M.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' novel Ma2 test aids diagnosis of autoimmune neurology disorders that are often caused by underlying cancer. Rapid diagnosis is key to preventing significant disability and disease.

(00:31)
 Can you provide our listeners with a little bit of background on your role at Mayo Clinic?

(01:56)
 Is Ma2 an example of identifying a need in patient care and then creating a test to fill that gap?

(02:30)
 Can you give us an overview of the disease state?

(04:29)
 What makes testing for these antibodies so complex?

(07:08)
 What specimen types are needed? Is there anything else our listeners should know about the assay itself?

(08:18)
 Ma2 will initially be a standalone test. But will these antibodies eventually be included in the movement disorder and encephalopathy tests?

(09:30)

Is it correct that roughly 80% of these patients have a cancer?

(10:41)

What types of patients should this testing be ordered for?

(13:39)

Is rapid onset part of the presentation?

(15:53)

Should any other testing be ordered in conjunction with Ma2?

(17:18)

How important is early, aggressive treatment for these patients?

(18:49)

What are you most excited about with this test launch?

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.

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.

Rong He, M.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' IDHQ test speeds therapeutic decision making for adults with acute myeloid leukemia, or AML. The standalone assay yields faster results than next generation sequencing.

(00:32)
 Would you provide a brief background of yourself?

(01:42)
 Could you give an overview of the IDHQ test?

(02:25)
 Is there anything more you'd like to touch on about the droplet digital PCR approach and high sensitivity?

(03:09)
 Why are IDH1 and IDH2 important in disease diagnosis, prognosis, or therapeutic management?

(05:00)
 Is there anything else you'd like to say about this particular assay?

(06:56)
 Would you describe the specific group of patients where testing is recommended?

In this test-specific episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, and Bjorn Oskarsson, M.D., a neurologist at Mayo Clinic’s Florida campus, discuss how the neurofilament light chain test available through Mayo Clinic Laboratories helps physicians diagnose neurological disease and assess neuronal damage.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• Benefits of the neurofilament light chain test that uses plasma rather than spinal fluid.
• How levels of neurofilament light chain – a nonspecific biomarker – play a role in clinical decision-making.
• How the test can be used to guide treatment options for neurological conditions including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and multiple sclerosis (MS).

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.

Elitza Theel, Ph.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' unique Histoplasma and Blastomyces test provides cost-effective evaluation for fungal infections that cause pulmonary illness. The assay reliably detects both Histoplasma and Blastomyces pathogens in a single test.

(00:32)
Will you please give us a brief introduction of yourself and your role at Mayo Clinic?

(01:34)
 Can you tell us which specific group of patients this test would be best suited for, how a provider would determine a patient might benefit from this test, and when during the care process it should be ordered?

(04:56)
 Can you explain how this new test is different, and why a provider might consider requesting it instead of the usual test?

(08:00)
 When should the different tests be used?

(09:34)
 Is this the only existing assay that can reliably detect antigen from both of these fungal pathogens?

Zhiyv (Neal) Niu, Ph.D., and Rodolfo Savica, M.D., Ph.D., explain why Mayo Clinic Laboratories' gene panel is the most comprehensive test available for inherited Parkinson's disease. The new panel covers all mutations known to cause the condition — or increase the risk of developing it.

(01:37)
 Can you give us a brief overview of the inherited Parkinson's disease gene panel, and when it would be used, Dr. Niu?

(02:31)
 Dr. Savica, can you give us a brief overview of the inherited Parkinson's disease gene panel, and when it would be used?

(03:34)
 What unique features set this test apart from the market, Dr. Niu?

(04:07)
 Dr. Savica, what features do you see that set this test apart in the market?

(05:19)

Who would benefit from this test, and when should it be performed?

(06:46)

Can you summarize the benefits of doing the inherited Parkinson's disease gene panel at Mayo, Dr. Niu?

(07:36)

Dr. Savica, can you summarize the benefits of doing the inherited Parkinson's disease gene panel at Mayo?

(00:31)
 Dr. Niu, could you provide us with a little bit of your background?

(01:03)
 Dr. Klein, could you provide us with a little bit of your background?

(01:40)
 Would you give us a brief overview of the new panel?

(02:49)
 Dr. Klein, could you give us a simple background of what you see going on in this space?

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

(04:49)
 Are there alternatives available, and how do they compare with this new MUPAN panel?

(05:51)
 How are the results used in patient care?

(07:24)

How does this new test affect patient care?