Making Informed Decisions About Genetic Testing: Carrie Lahner, M.S., CGC, and April Studinski Jones, M.S., CGC

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 progress of artificial intelligence (AI) and what’s next in this space.Specific topics of discussion include:What’s driving the rapid acceleration of AI advancements.Ethical concerns and opportunities.How expenses, payment models, and culture influence AI advancements.The need to rethink training and education amid the rise of AI solutions.

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.

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. 

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 genetic counselors Carrie Lahner, M.S., CGC, and April Studinski Jones, M.S., CGC, to discuss how family medical history can inform genetic testing strategies.   Specific topics of discussion include:The seven main types of genetic testing, and how clinicians know when and what genetic testing to order.Key family history details to collect to inform decisions about genetic testing. How genetic counselors collaborate with physicians and laboratorians to make testing decisions. Recent genetic testing advancements that are improving diagnostics. 

John Logan Black, M.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' UGT1A1 tests (Mayo IDs: U1A1Q and UGTFZ) identify genetic variants that increase the risk of potentially life-threatening reactions to irinotecan, a chemotherapy agent.Speaker 3: (00:32) Could you give us a brief overview about your background and yourself? Speaker 3: (02:16) Could you explain the role of the UGT1A1 gene and its significance in the pharmacogenomics of irinotecan?  Speaker 3: (05:34) What specific tests do we offer for UGT1A1 at Mayo Clinic Laboratories? Speaker 3: (08:01) Can you clarify the difference between targeted genotyping and full gene sequencing, and when each method is most appropriate? Speaker 3: (10:36)Could you elaborate on the specific clinical indications for testing in relation to irinotecan? Speaker 3: (13:27) How do UGT1A1 test results impact the dosing of irinotecan? What should clinicians consider when using those results?  Speaker 3: (14:02) Are there any other factors or related genes that should be considered alongside UGT1A1, particularly for cancer therapy?

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 recent outbreaks in vaccine-preventable diseases.  Specific topics of discussion include:Recent increases in outbreaks of infectious diseases, such as pertussis, measles, and polio. The serious side effects of the diseases. What’s fueling the resurgence of these diseases.Testing options for infectious diseases and resources for physicians.

While confirmed cases for many respiratory illnesses are currently low, they will almost certainly spread as we move further into fall and winter. Now is the perfect time to prepare and take steps to protect yourself from everything from COVID-19 and influenza to RSV and the common cold. 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 practical steps for protecting yourself and innovations that are making testing and vaccination easier. Specific topics of discussion include:The importance of vaccinations and preventive measures to keep you healthy. Innovations that are making it possible to provide more at-home options for vaccination and testing and when these options will be most beneficial. The latest status on avian influenza.

Megan Hoenig, M.S., M.P.H., CGC, explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' unique hypermethylation analysis (Mayo ID: MLHPB) provides critical adjunct information for managing Lynch syndrome. That genetic condition increases patients' risk for many kinds of cancer.Speaker 3: (00:32) Could you provide our listeners with a little bit about yourself and your background? Speaker 3: (01:27) Could you give an overview of our MLH1 hypermethylation, also referred to as MLHPB in our test catalog?  Speaker 3: (02:48) Can you talk about why your team thought it was really important to develop this test? Speaker 3: (04:03) What patients would this testing really benefit? Speaker 3: (06:10)How are the results used in patient care? Speaker 3: (07:56) Anything else you would like our listeners to hear about MLHPB?

From cyberattacks to utility failures, technology disruptions are a growing risk in an increasingly digitized and automated laboratory environment. Planning for technology disruptions positions laboratories to embrace the full power of automation, artificial intelligence, and digitization while still meeting critical patient care needs during an outage. 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 John Osborn, operations administrator in the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, who helps lead efforts to prepare for technology disruptions in the laboratory. Specific topics of discussion include:Immediate considerations when a technology disruption occurs and prioritizing the restoration of systems and processes. How to create strategies and tools to guide decision-making and operations amid multiple outage scenarios. Lessons learned from real life examples, including the importance of clear communication, empowering lab directors to make decisions, and pre-planning for recovery. Preventive measures and risk mitigation strategies you can take today to make it easier to respond during a future incident.

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 Alicia Algeciras-Schimnich, Ph.D., a professor of laboratory medicine and pathology at Mayo Clinic and co-director of the Clinical Immunoassay Laboratory. They discuss Mayo Clinic’s plasma test for detecting Alzheimer’s disease and how it supports increased access and early detection. Specific topics of discussion include:The phospho-Tau 217 plasma test (Mayo ID: PT217) used to evaluate individuals aged 50 years and older with symptoms of cognitive impairment who are being assessed for Alzheimer’s disease and other causes of cognitive decline.The benefits of a blood test versus the other diagnostic methods for Alzheimer’s disease.Why early diagnosis is so important for quality of life and treatment planning.How tests like Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ PT217 may change the landscape of Alzheimer's research and treatment.