A Test in Focus

Sanjeev Sethi, M.D., Ph.D., discusses how Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ new immunohistochemistry test for the detection of NELL-1 antigen, a biomarker for membranous nephropathy found in 10% to 15% of patients, provides diagnostic certainty and insight on disease expression.

Bobbi Pritt, M.D., discusses how Mayo Clinic Labs’ updated PCR assay for West Nile virus provides increased sensitivity to detect virus RNA in multiple sources, identifies two virus lineages, and confirms diagnosis.

Kevin Halling, M.D., Ph.D., explains how the MayoComplete Solid Tumor panel uses next-generation sequencing to assess 514 clinically significant, cancer-related genes for genetic alterations that offer insight on treatment effectivity.

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.

Andrew McKeon, M.B., B.Ch., M.D., discusses updates that are being made to Mayo Clinic Laboratories' autoimmune profile that will remove some antibodies from those profiles. He describes the rationale behind the updates, reviews which antibodies are involved, and explains how the changes will streamline testing and enhance test interpretation.

Christopher Klein, M.D., discusses Mayo Clinic’s updated myasthenia gravis and Lambert-Eaton syndrome testing approach. Automatic reflex to second-line testing saves time and increases sensitivity and specificity to confirm diagnosis in patients with atypical presentation.

Andrew McKeon, M,B., B.Ch., M.D., provides an overview of Mayo Clinic Laboratories' new paraneoplastic vision loss evaluation — a test that can help direct a cancer diagnosis and guide treatment. He reviews why this test was developed, when it should be ordered, and how the results can affect patient care.

Puanani Hopson, D.O., a Mayo Clinic pediatric gastroenterologist, explains the pancreatic elastase test — a screening test that can be useful when symptoms point to the possibility of exocrine pancreatic insufficiency. Dr. Hopson reviews when this test should be ordered, how it compares to other test options, and how its results can guide further evaluation.

Xinjie Xu, Ph.D., co-director of Mayo's Genetics and Genomics Laboratory, explains Mayo Clinic Laboratories' updated approach to testing for risk stratification of patients newly diagnosed with plasma cell proliferative disorders, such as multiple myeloma. Based on recently published data, the new testing algorithms focus on use of fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) panels, rather than chromosome studies.

Joshua Bornhorst, Ph.D., associate director of Mayo Clinic's Clinical Immunoassay Lab, explains how humans can develop an allergy to the alpha-gal molecule, and he describes a new allergen antibody test that can be used to detect it. Dr. Bornhorst also reviews other tests that should be used in conjunction with alpha-gal testing to accurately identify the scope and underlying cause of the allergy.

Min Shi, M.D., Ph.D., a hematologist and co-director of Mayo Clinic's Flow Cytometry Laboratory, explains recent updates to the B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia minimal residual disease flow cytometry assay. This test is used to identify minimal residual disease in patients with a previously confirmed diagnosis of B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia who have completed chemotherapy, immunotherapy or bone marrow transplantation.

William Sukov, M.D., provides an overview of the MDM2 gene amplification assay — a test that looks for amplification of the MDM2 gene region on chromosome 12q. He reviews when this test should be ordered, how it compares to other test options, and how its results can affect patient care.

Divyanshu (Div), Dubey, M.B.B.S, gives an overview of the new Autoimmune Gastrointestinal Dysmotility Evaluation available through Mayo Clinic Laboratories. He discusses when this testing should be ordered, how this testing compares to previous testing approaches, and what clinical action can be taken due to the results of this testing.