Healthier World with Quest Diagnostics

By Quest Diagnostics

Healthier World with Quest Diagnostics aims to prompt action from insight as we keep you up to date on current clinical and diagnostic topics in cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness medi... more

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FAQs about Healthier World with Quest Diagnostics:

How many episodes does Healthier World with Quest Diagnostics have?

The podcast currently has 25 episodes available.

Healthier World with Quest Diagnostics episodes:

November 03, 2025Instant insights: Albuminuria (6 min)
In this special episode designed to give you Instant Insights, we explore how protein in the urine is a powerful marker for both kidney and cardiovascular health. We break down how albumin leaks into the urine when the kidney’s filtration barrier is damaged, review traditional cut points for albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR), and discuss emerging evidence showing that even “normal” or low-level albuminuria predicts vascular dysfunction, chronic kidney disease progression, and increased cardiovascular risk.
This episode will
Explain how albumin appears in the urine and what this indicates about kidney damage (1:00)
Discussed different nomenclature used for albuminuria (1:45)
Interpret the clinical significance of uACR values (2:15)
Describe why albumin levels in the upper end of the normal range may still represent vascular or renal dysfunction (3:00)
Recognize that any degree of proteinuria signals increased risk for chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular events (4:30)

To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.
Date: 11/2025
Speaker(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD
Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD, Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC, Nathan Adamo

Additional Resources

Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]

Ordering information:
Albumin, Random Urine with Creatinine
Kidney Profile

References:
Verma A, Schmidt IM, Claudel S, Palsson R, Waikar SS, Srivastava A. Association of Albuminuria With Chronic Kidney Disease Progression in Persons With Chronic Kidney Disease and Normoalbuminuria : A Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. 2024 Apr;177(4):467-475. doi: 10.7326/M23-2814. Epub 2024 Apr 2. PMID: 38560911; PMCID: PMC12124184
...more
7min
October 20, 2025Noninvasive biomarkers for MASLD: FIB4 and ELF (16 min)
One in three adults worldwide are affected by fatty liver disease, and most are unaware that they have it. Today’s conversation between Andrew Hunt and Maeson Latsko, PhD will dive into Metabolic Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), a new terminology that replaces NAFLD, emphasizing the close relationship with metabolic risk factors like obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. We focus on the importance of identifying patients at risk for advanced fibrosis early—before irreversible liver damage occurs. A key tool in this early identification is the use of a fibrosis 4 (FIB-4) score, which is a noninvasive blood-based biomarker that uses age, AST, ALT, and platelet count to estimate fibrosis risk and guide next steps in management. We discuss follow-up testing for some at-risk patients using the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) test and the need for continued monitoring of comorbid cardiometabolic conditions.
This episode will
Explain the shift in terminology from NAFLD to MASLD (4:00)
Highlight the importance of early identification of fatty liver disease using the FIB-4 score (5:45)
Outline appropriate follow-up testing, including the use of the ELF test to assess liver fibrosis (9:00)
Explore the link between MASLD and other cardiometabolic conditions (12:10)

To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.
Date: 10/2025
Speaker(s): Andrew Hunt; Maeson Latsko, PhD
Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Andrew Hunt; Trisha Winchester, PhD, Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC

Additional Resources

Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]
ELF test detail
FIB4 test summary
2022 AACE algorithm for fatty liver assessment
Ordering information:
CMP + Fib4
Enhanced Liver Fibrosis Score

References:
Ciardullo S, Vergani M, Perseghin G. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes: Screening, diagnosis, and treatment. J Clin Med. 2023;12(17):5597. doi:10.3390/jcm12175597
Rinella ME, Neuschwander-Tetri BA, Siddiqui MS, et al. AASLD Practice Guidance on the clinical assessment and management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatology. 2023;77(5):1797-1835. doi:10.1097/HEP.0000000000000323
Cusi K, Isaacs S, Barb D, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Primary Care and Endocrinology Clinical Settings: Co-Sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). Endocr Pract. 2022;28(5):528-562. doi:10.1016/j.eprac.2022.03.010
Stern C, Castera L. Identification of high-risk subjects in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Clin Mol Hepatol. 2023;29(Suppl):S196-S206. doi:10.3350/cmh.2022.0431
...more
17min
October 06, 2025Instant Insights: Decoding MASLD (7 min)
This special episode of Healthier World designed to give you Instant Insights discusses the importance of screening and managing fatty liver disease, a condition affecting 1 in 3 Americans and over 70% of patients with type 2 diabetes. The episode covers the transition from the term NAFLD to MASLD, discusses the AACE-recommended testing algorithm for MASLD using the fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) score and the enhanced liver fibrosis (ELF) and highlights the importance of early identification and intervention for proper management of underlying metabolic conditions.
This episode will
Review the implications of the shift in terminology from NAFLD to MASLD (1:00)
Discuss the progression of MASLD (1:25)
Walk through the testing algorithm for MASLD, starting with the first-line screening assessment using the FIB-4 and when the follow up with the ELF score is recommended (2:30)
Highlight the importance of early identification and prevention in managing MASLD and comorbid cardiometabolic conditions (5:45)
To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.
Date: October 2025
Speaker(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD
Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD; Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC

Additional Resources
Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]
ELF test detail
FIB4 test summary
2022 AACE algorithm for fatty liver assessment
Ordering information:
CMP + Fib4
Enhanced Liver Fibrosis Score

References:
Ciardullo S, Vergani M, Perseghin G. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes: Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment. J Clin Med. 2023;12(17):5597. doi:10.3390/jcm12175597
Rinella ME, Neuschwander-Tetri BA, Siddiqui MS, et al. AASLD Practice Guidance on the clinical assessment and management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatology. 2023;77(5):1797-1835. doi:10.1097/HEP.0000000000000323
Cusi K, Isaacs S, Barb D, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Primary Care and Endocrinology Clinical Settings: Co-Sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). Endocr Pract. 2022;28(5):528-562. doi:10.1016/j.eprac.2022.03.010
Stern C, Castera L. Identification of high-risk subjects in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Clin Mol Hepatol. 2023;29(Suppl):S196-S206. doi:10.3350/cmh.2022.0431
...more
7min
September 22, 2025Utilizing biomarkers with coronary artery calcium (CAC) scoring for cardiovascular risk (19 min)
Coronary calcium scores are highly utilized to spot hidden cardiovascular risk, and new research suggests that timing is important. Today’s conversation between Maeson Latsko, PhD and Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC will break down how timing plays a role in proper assessment of calcium scoring, and how biomarker testing such as Apolipoprotein B, Myeloperoxidase, Lp-PLA2, and hs-CRP can be paired with physiological assessments like calcium scoring to help guide patient care, especially when calcium scoring doesn’t tell the full story.
This episode will
Review what calcium scoring is (1:30)
Discuss how timing of calcium scoring can influence interpretation of results (3:15)
Explain why statin-treated patients should not monitor their risk using a calcium score (7:00)
Discuss ways biomarker testing such as ApoB, MPO, Lp-pla2, and hs-CRP can reveal hidden risk outside of the window indicated for calcium scoring (11:30; 14:30)

To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.

Date: 9/2025
Speaker(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC
Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC; Trisha Winchester, PhD; Kathryn Morales, MS

Additional Resources:
Apolipoprotein B | Test Detail | Quest Diagnostics
hs-CRP | Test Detail | Quest Diagnostics
Lp-pla2 | Test Detail | Quest Diagnostics
Myeloperoxidase | Test Detail | Quest Diagnostics
...more
20min
September 08, 2025Instant insights: Inside the Center of Excellence for cardiometabolic testing at Quest Diagnostics (5 min)
In this episode of Healthier World designed to give you instant insights, we introduce the Cleveland HeartLab and its role as a Center of Excellence for cardiometabolic, endocrine, and wellness testing at Quest Diagnostics. In this episode, Dr. Maeson Latsko hosts a segment featuring various leaders from Cleveland HeartLab and Quest Diagnostics, including Marc Penn, MD, PhD, Mouris Saghir, PhD, Tim Collier, PhD and Jim Davis. They discuss their mission to improve heart disease prevention and associated metabolic conditions through cutting-edge research and personalized care.
This episode will
Discuss the need for better chronic disease prevention (1:40)
Review the cardiometabolic approach to healthcare (2:15)
Highlight the technology behind Cleveland Heartlab testing (2:45)
Introduce Cleveland Heart Lab as the center of excellence (3:30)

To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.
Date: 8/2025
Speaker(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD
Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD, Millicent Kee, NP
...more
5min
August 18, 2025Actions From insight: GLP-1 receptor agonists and building healthy habits (24 min)
Obesity affects over 40% of adults in the United States. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists, a class of medications initially developed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, have shown significant efficacy in promoting weight loss and are increasingly prescribed for obesity management. In today’s episode, Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC, Clinical and Education Specialist, and Patty Bianchi, MS, RDN, CDCES, Clinical Educator at Quest Diagnostics Center of Excellence at Cleveland HeartLab, will discuss GLP-1 receptor agonists, their actions in the body, and the important role of nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle alongside these medications.
This episode will
Discuss the actions of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the body (1:38)
Discuss how GLP-1s influence appetite and hunger (3:18)
Discuss the role of nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle while on GLP-1 therapy (6:38)
Discuss how weight loss may also improve cardiometabolic health and lower insulin resistance utilizing a patient example (18:00)
To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.
Date: 8/2025
Speaker(s): Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC; Patricia Bianchi, MS, RDN, CDCES
Contributor(s): Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC; Patricia Bianchi, MS, RDN, CDCES; Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD

Additional Resources
Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]

References:
Neff LM, Kushner RF. Emerging role of GLP-1 receptor agonists in the treatment of obesity. Diabetes Metab Syndr Obes. 2010 Jul 20; 3:263-73. doi: 10.2147/dmsott. s6816

Stierman B, Afful J, Carroll MD, et al. National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2017–March 2020 prepandemic data files development of files and prevalence estimates for selected health outcomes. Natl Health Stat Report. 2021;158. doi: 10.15620/cdc:106273

Related Content:
FAQ
CardioIQ® Insulin Resistance Panel with Score | Quest Diagnostics

Additional Resources
Weight management and cardiometabolic health | Quest Diagnostics

Audio Podcast
Instant Insight: Metabolic Risk Panel | Quest Diagnostics
Action From Insight: Tackling Insulin Resistance | Quest Diagnostics

Conference Presentation
Measures of Insulin Resistance (IR) Increase with Increasing BMI in a Population of Normoglycemic Working Adults | Quest Diagnostics

On-Demand Webinar
Detecting and Managing Insulin Resistance | Quest Diagnostics
...more
24min
August 04, 2025Instant insights: Streamlining cardiometabolic disease assessment (7 min)
In this special episode of Healthier World designed to give you Instant Insights, we review a panel that takes a deeper look at cardiovascular, renal, hepatic, endocrine, and metabolic health—a network of systems that work together to determine a person’s long-term health. Today we will break down what this panel includes and how it can help prevent the onset of chronic disease years before symptoms start.
This episode will
Explain why this panel was created (1:10)
Examine how the panel provides a comprehensive view of cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, renal, and hepatic risk (3:35)
Discuss the clinical relevance of this panel in prevention screening and risk stratification for cardiometabolic conditions (5:30)
To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.
Date: 8/2025
Speaker(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD
Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD; Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC; Kathryn Morales; Abhi Patel

Resources
Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]
Podcast: The Cardiometabolic approach to modern disease risk assessment

Ordering information:
Cardiometabolic Disease Assessment (CMDA) Panel | Test Detail | Quest Diagnostics
...more
7min
July 14, 2025Instant insights: Myeloperoxidase uncovered (6 min)
In this special episode of Healthier World designed to give you Instant Insights, we explore a vascular-specific inflammatory marker that can indicate risk for cardiometabolic disease and all-cause mortality—myeloperoxidase. In this episode, we break down the biology and function of MPO, its contribution to vascular inflammation, and its potential as a biomarker of vulnerable soft plaque in the arteries.
This episode will
Define myeloperoxidase (MPO) and describe its biological function (1:20)
Explain the relationship between MPO and vascular inflammation (2:15)
Recognize the role of MPO in cardiometabolic disease (2:55)
Review treatment considerations for elevated MPO (3:45)
The content was current as of the time of recording. To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.

Date: 7/2025
Speaker(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD
Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD; Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC

Additional Resources
Ordering information:
MPO ordering information
MPO Test Summary
Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]

References:
Iakoubova OA, Haji-Sheikhi F, Louie JZ, et al. Association of MPO levels with cardiometabolic disease stratified by atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk and intensity of therapy in a workforce population. Sci Rep. 2025;15(1):12244. Published 2025 Apr 10. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-89373-7
...more
6min
June 30, 2025From inflammation to action: MPO’s role in chronic disease (14 min)
Inflammation plays a critical role in cardiometabolic diseases, but traditional risk markers like LDL-C and hs-CRP don’t tell the whole story. Myeloperoxidase (MPO), an enzyme linked to oxidative stress and immune activation, may offer a deeper look into hidden cardiovascular and metabolic risk. In this episode, Dr Marc Penn unpacks the new research examining the association between MPO and the risk for chronic kidney disease (CKD) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) across atherogenic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) risk groups and what it might mean for prevention and tailored treatment.

This episode will
Define MPO (1:30, 5:00)
Explain the role of MPO as an inflammatory biomarker and how it differs from traditional cardiometabolic risk markers (2:00)
Reveal relationships between MPO, CKD, and NAFLD (7:00)
Outline how providers can use MPO to enhance risk stratification and personalize treatment strategies (9:25)
Inform listeners on the importance of early detection and prevention of risk factors for cardiometabolic risk (13:00)

The content was current as of the time of recording. To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.

Date: 6/2025
Speaker(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Dr Marc Penn
Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD; Kathryn Morales, MS

Additional Resources
Ordering information
MPO ordering information
Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]
References
Iakoubova OA, Haji-Sheikhi F, Louie JZ, et al. Association of MPO levels with cardiometabolic disease stratified by atherosclerotic cardiovascular risk and intensity of therapy in a workforce population. Sci Rep. 2025;15(1):12244. Published 2025 Apr 10. doi:10.1038/s41598-025-89373-7
...more
15min
June 16, 2025Instant insights: Lipoprotein fractionation for personalized risk assessment (8 min)
In this special episode of Healthier World designed to give you Instant Insights, we dive into advanced lipid testing—going beyond a standard lipid panel. Today, we will explore two powerful tools used to look at lipoprotein fractionation: ion mobility and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR). We will look at how these tests work and how they can uncover hidden risk for cardiovascular disease.
This episode will
Expand on the importance of lipoprotein fractionation by ion mobility and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) (1:15)
Interpret key lipid analytes provided using two methodologies, NMR and ion mobility, as they relate to cardiovascular disease risk (LDL: 3:00, HDL: 4:40, VLDL: 5:30, LDL pattern and LDL peak size: 6:00)
Evaluate report analytes and risk cut points between methods (6:45)
The content was current as of the time of recording. To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.
Date: 6/2025
Speaker(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD
Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD; Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC; Abhi Patel

Additional Resources
Ordering information:
Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]

Fractionation, Ion Mobility
Fractionation, NMR

References:
Cromwell WC, Otvos JD, Keyes MJ, et al. LDL Particle Number and Risk of Future Cardiovascular Disease in the Framingham Offspring Study - Implications for LDL Management. J Clin Lipidol. 2007;1(6):583-592. doi:10.1016/j.jacl.2007.10.001

German CA, Shapiro MD. Assessing Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk with Advanced Lipid Testing: State of the Science. Eur Cardiol. 2020;15:e56. doi:10.15420/ecr.2019.18

Quesada JA, Bertomeu-González V, Orozco-Beltrán D, et al. The benefits of measuring the size and number of lipoprotein particles for cardiovascular risk prediction: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Clin Investig Arterioscler. 2023;35(4):165-177. doi:10.1016/j.arteri.2022.11.001
...more
9min

FAQs about Healthier World with Quest Diagnostics:

How many episodes does Healthier World with Quest Diagnostics have?

The podcast currently has 25 episodes available.