In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, and William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, discuss recent news about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in healthcare.

Mayo Clinic Laboratories' specimen pickup and delivery schedules will be altered due to the upcoming Labor Day holiday. To ensure specimen stability and prevent delays, follow the guidelines outlined below for domestic clients and international clients.

A random urine test panel aids in diagnosing mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS), a complex condition often misdiagnosed due to overlapping symptoms. The panel improves access, speeds up diagnosis, and enables individualized treatment by detecting key mast cell mediators.

This July, Mayo Clinic’s Neuroimmunology Laboratory will showcase its revolutionary approach to autoimmune neurology testing at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Summer Conference: Autoimmune Neurology and Neurology Year in Review in San Francisco. During the meeting, Mayo Clinic Laboratories representatives will highlight our growing list of disease-specific tests and discuss how results can inform decision-making and improve treatment outcomes.

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins "Answers From the Lab" for his weekly leadership update with podcast host Bobbi Pritt, M.D. In this episode, Dr. Pritt and Dr. Morice discuss the latest developments in monkeypox, the reality of living in the age of pandemics, and the importance of testing and public-private partnerships.

As director of Regulatory Affairs for the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Shannon Bennett helps safeguard Mayo Clinic’s reputation for quality care by ensuring that its clinical laboratories operate at the highest level of regulatory compliance.

Cherisse Marcou, Ph.D., and Marissa Ellingson, M.S., CGC, discuss whole exome sequencing (WES) at Mayo Clinic Laboratories. The comprehensive evaluation uses next-generation sequencing to detect for single nucleotide variants, small insertions or deletions, and copy number variants on approximately 20,000 genes, enabling precision answers to accurately diagnose, manage, and treat patients with identified inherited illness.

Featured Abstract: Associations of amyloid and neurodegeneration plasma biomarkers with comorbidities.

Due to the Independence Day holiday, Mayo Clinic Laboratories' specimen pickup and delivery schedules will be altered. To ensure that your specimen vitality and turnaround times are not affected, plan ahead.

Today's highlights include: Moderna says updated vaccine works better against Omicron, FDA advisors back Novavax COVID shot, and disparities remain in opioid treatment access.

William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, joins "Answers From the Lab" for his weekly leadership update with podcast host Bobbi Pritt, M.D. In this episode, Dr. Pritt and Dr. Morice consider the recent uptick in cases of monkeypox and what labs can do to help facilitate accurate diagnosis of it and other viral infections.

This unique Mayo Clinic resource offers a novel portal into the study of gene mutations before they cause breast cancer.

John Black, M.D., co-director of the Personalized Genomics Lab at Mayo Clinic, joins the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for a discussion with Bobbi Pritt, M.D., about mental health awareness. In this episode, Dr. Black and Dr. Pritt review key takeaways from Mental Health Awareness Month, the role that lab testing plays in mental health, and the robust science behind treatment.

Featured abstract: Nuclear GSK-3β and oncogenic KRas lead to the retention of pancreatic ductal progenitor cells phenotypically similar to those seen in IPMN.

Working together, Mayo Clinic laboratory medicine specialists and clinicians helped Elyn Simmons get her life back — and welcome two new lives to the world.