MCL Featured Stories

Items flagged this category will appear in the listing on the home page of the MCL web site.

Divyanshu Dubey, M.B.B.S., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' unique PDE10A and TRIM46 tests facilitate the management of central nervous system disorders triggered by cancers. Early diagnosis and treatment are important for managing disabling neurological symptoms and malignancy.

By Barbara J. Toman • June 4, 2024

This page includes updates posted to Mayo Clinic Labs during the month of May.

By Michael Hutchison • June 3, 2024

Central nervous system infections, such as meningitis and encephalitis, can be devastating for affected patients. While specific treatments are available for some of these infections, it first requires identifying the precise cause of infection. To meet that need, Mayo Clinic Laboratories has developed a metagenomics assay that can identify more than 1,000 pathogenic organisms in cerebrospinal fluid. The innovative assay, which uses an approach known as shotgun metagenomic sequencing, is one of the only such tests currently available.

By Barbara J. Toman • June 3, 2024

This month's microlearning explores the significant impact of psychological safety on employees in the workplace.

By MCL Education • June 3, 2024

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 Peter Lucas, M.D., Ph.D., vice chair of Research for the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology (DLMP) at Mayo Clinic.

By Luci Gens • May 30, 2024

In this episode of Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ “Leveraging the Laboratory” podcast, host Jane Hermansen, outreach manager at Mayo Clinic Laboratories, speaks with outreach solutions strategists Ellen Dijkman Dulkes and Brianne Newton. They discuss how to proactively manage the variety of patient requests and interactions that occur in an outreach laboratory beyond the phlebotomy environment.

By Luci Gens • May 28, 2024

When patients are tasked with collecting specimens at home, the procedure can require special timing, collection steps, or storage conditions. If these aren’t clearly communicated to the patient beforehand, it can lead to confusion and unnecessary frustration. A laboratory can set up its patients for success by managing expectations when home collections are necessary. These steps can help ensure a successful experience for both patients and laboratory staff.

By Brianne Newton, MS, MT(ASCP) • May 20, 2024

Rapidly progressive dementia (RPD) is an umbrella term covering many devasting conditions, including Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (CJD). Gregory (Gregg) Day, M.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' unique RPD evaluation and new CJD test help pinpoint diagnosis, to guide prognosis and treatment decisions.

By Barbara J. Toman • May 14, 2024

Mayo Clinic Laboratories specimen pickup and delivery schedules will be altered due to the upcoming Memorial Day holiday on Monday, May 27, 2024. To ensure specimen stability and prevent delays, follow the guidelines below outlined for domestic clients and international clients.

By Mayo Clinic Laboratories • May 13, 2024

Short, interactive case studies from Mayo Clinic physicians, scientists, and allied health staff

By MCL Education • May 10, 2024

Situated in a sprawling geographic region in mid-Missouri, Boone Health expanded its reach to improve access to high-quality holistic care throughout the area, improving the health of community members and increasing net revenue along the way.

By Robin Huiras-Carlson • May 8, 2024

Paul Jannetto, Ph.D., explains the advantages that Mayo Clinic Laboratories' oral fluid drug screening offers over typical urine tests. Oral samples are easier to collect and harder to adulterate.

By Barbara J. Toman • May 7, 2024

What started as a persistent headache for Spencer Lodin soon devolved into slowed speech, seizures, and hallucinations, symptoms which stumped ER doctors into thinking he had meningitis or was suffering from psychosis. Finally, specialized testing at Mayo Clinic identified Spencer's condition as GFAP-IgG associated autoimmune encephalitis, which allowed for targeted treatment and a full recovery.

By Chris Bahnsen • May 6, 2024