Hematology

Kenneth Hobby assumed his fever, fatigue, and aching pains in May 2018 were from another bout of malaria. He was on one of his frequent visits to Zambia in southern Africa, where the mosquito-borne parasite is common. But anti-malaria drugs didn't help, and soon Kenneth had such disabling pain that he could barely walk.

Rong He, M.D., describes how Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ NPM1Q assay detects all known forms of a genetic mutation found in about 30% of people with acute myeloid leukemia, or AML. Identifying the NPM1 mutation is critical for clinical decision-making.

Rajiv Pruthi, M.B.B.S., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ serotonin release assay achieves high sensitivity and specificity while avoiding the use of radioactive materials. Serotonin release testing is an important tool in the diagnosis of heparin induced thrombocytopenia, or HIT, which can have devastating consequences for patients.

In this month's "Hot Topic," Rajiv Pruthi, M.B.B.S., discusses heparin induced thrombocytopenia (HIT), approach diagnosis, and the role of the functional serotonin release assay (SRA).

In a world of ever-faster technical change, Mayo Clinic Laboratories is uniquely positioned to innovate. Collaboration with clinicians pinpoints unmet patient needs and facilitates the development of diagnostic testing that provides answers.

In this month's "Hot Topic," Jess Peterson, M.D., discusses changes to Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ hematology FISH menu to increase awareness, provide reasoning, and highlight some of the great things that are coming.

Michelle Kluge, M.S., CGC, explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ CYPZ assay provides accurate testing for congenital adrenal hyperplasia. Using an in-depth methodology that incorporates Sanger sequencing, MCL can provide clear answers for carriers and individuals clinically affected by the most common form of CAH.

Andrew Feldman, M.D., discusses the different tools and techniques Mayo Clinic Laboratories uses to accurately diagnose and classify T-cell lymphomas to help provide clinicians with the diagnostic answers they need to treat their patients.

Mayo Clinic’s Advanced Diagnostics Laboratory (ADL) is a visionary space designed to foster innovation. The ADL has a direct impact on patient lives, bringing promising tests and services to patients at Mayo and around the world.

For patients with chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) — the most common leukemia in adults — advanced testing can not only provide valuable information about their disease state, but peace of mind in the face of a progressive, incurable illness. Oftentimes, however, complex molecular and genetic tests to identify biomarker cues about disease trajectory and treatment intolerance are not performed, putting patients at risk for unmet expectations and unsatisfactory outcomes.

Meera Sridharan, M.D., Ph.D., explains Mayo Clinic Labs’ testing approach for atypical hemolytic uremic syndrome (aHUS). The serological complement panel examines nine analytes to gain a thorough understanding of the complement cascade to confirm diagnosis and direct care.

The assay is now recommended for diagnosing and monitoring patients with monoclonal protein disorders and exclusively available through Mayo Clinic Laboratories– Rochester.

Thank you to our staff at Mayo Clinic who step up daily during this time of need to provide access to testing during the global pandemic. We appreciate each one of you and all the sacrifices you personally have made throughout this past year.