Hot Topic

This is a 6-part series describing the products and clinical tools of a laboratory quality improvement project called Region 4 Stork, or R4S.

In this month’s “Hot Topic,” Andrew McKeon, M.B., B.Ch., M.D., reviews the use of neurological phenotype-based evaluations, the move away from the paraneoplastic evaluation, and upcoming changes to test profiles.

In this month’s “Hot Topic,” Paul Jannetto, Ph.D., discusses the use of qualitative urine screening assays and quantitative confirmatory testing to determine compliance in pain management patients.

In this month’s “Hot Topic,” Paul Jannetto, Ph.D., discusses the high-resolution targeted stimulant and PCP screening test from Mayo Clinic Laboratories, which offers sensitivity and specificity for use in the monitoring and management of patients who are prescribed CNS stimulant medications.

In this month’s Hot Topic, Robin Patel, M.D., discusses Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ new PCR assay for detection of Helicobacter pylori detection and determination of clarithromycin resistance directly from stool.

In this month’s “Hot Topic,” Julia Lehman, M.D., discusses serologic testing for Celiac Disease in patients with IgA deficiency.

In this month’s “Hot Topic,” Gessi Pino, a genetic counselor in the Biochemical Genetics Lab at Mayo Clinic, and Kimiyo Raymond, M.D., a clinical consultant in the laboratory and an expert in Congenital Disorders of Glycosylation (CDG), discuss glycosylation and its importance in human biology, highlight laboratory testing, and offer strategies to screen and diagnose CDGs.

In this month’s “Hot Topic,” John Mills, Ph.D., explains the central role of tissue immunofluorescence in the identification of neural antibodies and discusses the benefits of an integrated laboratory approach to the development and validation of novel antibody biomarkers.

In this month’s “Hot Topic,” Paul Jannetto, Ph.D., discusses the high-resolution targeted opioid screening test from Mayo Clinic Laboratories, which offers sensitivity and specificity for use in the monitoring and management of patients who are prescribed opioid pain-relieving medication.

In this month’s “Hot Topic,” Brad Karon, M.D., Ph.D., will discuss recent information on the advantages and disadvantages of using butterfly needles for blood collection.

In this month’s “Hot Topic,” Sounak Gupta, M.B.B.S., Ph.D., discusses selecting tissues and other tissue considerations for molecular testing. He also reviews tissue metrics and requirements, which differ based on test platforms. It is important to keep in mind that the details of tissue metrics change over time as they continue to evolve with technology.

In this month’s “Hot Topic,” Elitza Theel, Ph.D., talks about Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ serologic and molecular testing for the identification of infection with dengue virus. Dengue virus poses a significant public health threat worldwide. Rapid and accurate identification of the infection enables directed monitoring of patients who may be at increased risk of developing hemorrhagic fever of dengue shock syndrome.

In this month’s “Hot Topic,” Elitza Theel, Ph.D., will discuss the over utilization of IgM serologic testing for herpes simplex virus and the recommendation by multiple agencies, including the CDC and the Infectious Diseases Society of America, to avoid using this test for clinical decision making purposes. As a result of these recommendations and data generated at Mayo Clinic, Dr. Theel will summarize why HSV IgM testing will no longer be offered through Mayo Clinic Laboratories.