COVID-19

Mayo Clinic Laboratories now offers multiplex testing for SARS-CoV-2 (the virus that causes COVID-19) and influenza A and B to all health care providers. This test is used to detect and differentiate between COVID-19 and influenza A and B in a single test using upper respiratory tract specimens.

Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., vice chair of practice for Mayo Clinic's Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, joins William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, for this week's "Answers From the Lab" leadership update. In this episode, Dr. Binnicker and Dr. Morice discuss the impact that emerging COVID-19 variants could have on virus testing, vaccine and spread.

Top highlights include: understanding the effectiveness and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine, COVID-19 terminology, and a patient's experience with a new Mayo Clinic platform.

At the beginning of the pandemic, pooled testing was seen as a way to potentially conserve valuable testing resources, but logistical hurdles and other challenges have limited its usefulness.

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 the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for his weekly leadership update. In this episode, Dr. Morice and Bobbi Pritt, M.D., discuss the new nationwide strategy that the Biden administration is rolling out to combat COVID-19.

Top highlights include: maintaining your mental health during challenging times, concerns with COVID-19 variants, and unchecked COVID-19 spread leads to virus variants.

Beginning Jan. 26, all air travelers entering the U.S. from other countries will need a negative COVID-19 test result before they can board their flights.

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 the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for his weekly leadership update. In this episode, Dr. Morice and Bobbi Pritt, M.D., tackle myths surrounding COVID vaccines and talk about where to find reliable vaccine information.

Dr. Matthew Binnicker addresses the dramatic decrease in flu cases, and the corresponding drop in serious illness and death related to influenza, seen throughout the country this year.

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 the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for his weekly leadership update. In this episode, Dr. Morice and Bobbi Pritt, M.D., discuss potential health care reform and other changes that could affect laboratory medicine in U.S. in the coming years.

Mayo Clinic Laboratories is carefully monitoring the emergence of two new variants of SARS-CoV-2 ― the virus that causes COVID-19 ― in the U.S. One variant is from the U.K. and one variant is from South Africa.

Dendritic cells play a crucial role in the body's immune response. Research has shown that too few of these cells in the blood may signal a defect in innate immunity. Up to this point, however, no clinical test has been available to count dendritic cells.

Top highlights include: how much protection do face masks actually provide, caring for older adults during COVID-19, and one man's story from being vaccine hesitant to vaccine proponent.