In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, and William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, share insights from industry news and recent conferences, including PlatforMed. They explore:

• The significant interest in diagnostics for the advancement of cancer care.
• The Joint Commission’s collaboration with the Coalition for Health AI to establish guidelines for the responsible use of artificial intelligence.
• The growing understanding that platforms offer an opportunity to expand access and make knowledge more accessible as platform-driven solutions become a reality.
• The role of laboratorians in guiding the ethical and effective use of data and emerging technologies — and what this means for educating future healthcare professionals.
• The critical importance of values and ethics in deploying new tools.

Joshua Bornhorst, Ph.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' labile copper assay (Mayo ID: LBCS) improves upon standard blood tests for Wilson's disease. The new test measures not just overall copper but also the fraction of copper that is bioavailable, or labile bound.

(00:32)
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself and your background?

(01:33)
Could you give us a brief overview of this assay?

(02:47)
Which patients should have this testing, and when should it be performed?

(03:48)
How would the results be used in patient care?

John Lieske, M.D., and Sandra Taler, M.D., explain how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' mass spectrometry assay helps evaluate patients for resistant hypertension. The test detects antihypertensive medications in urine, providing evidence of whether patients are absorbing their medications or whether a new treatment approach might be needed.

Speaker 3: (00:33)
Could you tell us a little about yourselves and your backgrounds?

Speaker 3: (01:41)
Dr. Taler, could you provide us with a brief background on resistant hypertension?

Speaker 3: (03:43)
Can you provide a little bit more background on patients who aren't taking their medications?

Speaker 3: (05:11)
How do physicians currently assess whether patients are taking their medications?

Speaker 3: (07:03)
Dr. Lieske, could you tell us how this new assay can be used to help physicians manage their patients with hypertension?

Speaker 3: (09:43)
Dr. Taler, can you tell us how doctors can use this new testing to manage their patients?