A Test in Focus

Joseph Yao, M.D., gives an overview of this new test available through Mayo Clinic Laboratories. He discusses when this testing should be ordered, how this testing improves upon other testing approaches, and what clinical action can be taken due to the results of this testing.

By Alyssa Frank • May 8, 2019

The diagnosis of mitochondrial disease can be particularly challenging as the presentation can occur at any age, involve virtually any organ system, and be associated with widely varying severities. Due to the considerable overlap in the clinical phenotypes of various mitochondrial disorders, it is often difficult to distinguish these specific inherited disorders without genetic testing.

By Alyssa Frank • May 3, 2019

Joshua Bornhorst, Ph.D., gives an overview of the new Copeptin test available through Mayo Clinic Laboratories. He discusses when this testing should be ordered, how this testing improves upon previous testing approaches, and what clinical action can be taken due to the results of this testing.

By Alyssa Frank • April 18, 2019

Jeffrey (Jeff) Meeusen, Ph.D., gives an overview of the new nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) lipoprotein profile available through Mayo Clinic Laboratories. He discusses when this testing should be ordered, how this testing improves upon previous testing approaches, and what clinical action can be taken due to the results of this testing.

By Alyssa Frank • March 22, 2019

Nikola Baumann, Ph.D., gives an overview of the new NASH-FibroTest available through Mayo Clinic Laboratories. She discusses when this testing should be ordered, how this testing improves upon previous testing approaches, and what clinical action can be taken due to the results of this testing.

By Alyssa Frank • March 18, 2019

David Viswanatha, M.D., gives an overview of the NGS testing for myeloid malignancies available through Mayo Clinic Laboratories. He discusses when this testing should be ordered, how this testing improves upon previous testing approaches, and what clinical action can be taken due to the results of this testing.

By Alyssa Frank • February 14, 2019

Robert Jenkins, M.D., Ph.D., a pathologist and cancer geneticist at Mayo Clinic, provides an overview of the new neuro-oncology expanded gene panel and chromosomal microarray testing available through Mayo Medical Laboratories. He discusses which types of patients should be tested, how these tests improves upon previous methods, and what clinical action can be taken from the results of this testing.

By Alyssa Frank • November 12, 2018

Necrotizing autoimmune myopathy (NAM) is a serious but rare muscle disease strongly associated with autoantibodies to either the protein signal recognition particle (SRP) or the enzyme 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase (HMGCR). NAM typically manifests with subacute proximal limb muscle weakness and persistently elevated serum creatine kinase (CK) concentrations, but slower onsets can occur and complicate diagnosis.

By Alyssa Frank • October 25, 2018

Chromium and cobalt blood tests are used to monitor exposure to these elements. Both of these elements are naturally occurring and widely distributed in the environment. Previously, serum samples were collected and used to monitor patients with metal-on-metal implants, but serum can easily be contaminated during the harvesting and separation of the serum from the cellular blood components causing incorrect results. By using the new EDTA anticoagulated whole-blood test, which is collected in a trace element tube instead of using serum, the risk of contamination is significantly reduced.

By Alyssa Frank • October 19, 2018

High-sensitivity troponin T is a new assay recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. This assay is most often used to evaluate patients with possible acute ischemic heart disease, but it also has a variety of uses in the more chronic setting.

By Mayo Clinic Laboratories • June 25, 2018

Ann Moyer, M.D., Ph.D., discusses an additional gene, NUDT15, which is important in the prediction of thiopurine-related toxicity This gene has been added to our TPMT genotyping assay available through Mayo Medical Laboratories.

By Mayo Clinic Laboratories • October 25, 2017

Devin Oglesbee, Ph.D., Director of the Biochemical and Molecular Genetics Laboratories at Mayo Clinic, provides an overview of the lysosomal storage disease panel, when it is appropriate to order this test, what actions the results allow you to take, and how this test improves upon previous approaches.

By Mayo Clinic Laboratories • September 6, 2017

Useful For Assessing the patient’s probability of having detectable prostate cancer when total prostate specific antigen (PSA) concentrations are between 4–10 ng/mL. Results from a[...]

By Mayo Clinic Laboratories • May 9, 2017