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 William Morice II, M.D., Ph.D., CEO and president of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, to discuss recent news about drug-resistant infections. Later, Paul Jannetto, Ph.D., director of the Clinical and Forensic Toxicology Lab, Clinical Mass Spectrometry Lab, and Metals Lab, joins Dr. Pritt for the deep dive segment. Together, they explore how diagnostics are shaping the future of therapeutics.

• New podcast format launch (00:25): Drs. Morice and Pritt introduce the exciting new format for “Answers From the Lab,” including the addition of in-depth expert segments.
• Drug-resistant infections (02:05): Discover how clinical diagnostics play a critical role in combating the growing threat of antibiotic resistance.
• Diagnostics’ role in advancing precision medicine (13:28): Learn how diagnostics, specifically drug monitoring, are advancing personalized therapies and contributing to better outcomes.

Note: Information in this post was accurate at the time of its posting.

Resources

• Therapeutics testing: A clear path to accurate answers
• Therapeutics testing at Mayo Clinic Laboratories
• WHO warns of widespread resistance to common antibiotics worldwide
• Tests for infectious disease detection and identification

Connect with Us

• Is there a question or topic you’d like us to explore in a future episode? Email us at mayocliniclabs@mayo.edu.
• Learn more about our hosts and guests and connect with them on social media.
  • Bobbi Pritt, M.D. Bio | LinkedIn
  • Bill Morice, M.D., Ph.D. Bio | LinkedIn
  • Paul Jannetto, Ph.D. Bio | LinkedIn

Published October 16, 2025

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, discuss recent regulatory and policy developments. Together, they explore:

• FDA rescinds rule on LDTs (00:48): The FDA has officially withdrawn its rule that would allow oversight of laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) as medical devices. The conversation explores what this decision means and what might come next for LDT regulation.
• PAMA reform update and new RESULTS Act (05:13): The newly introduced Reforming and Enhancing Sustainable Updates to Laboratory Testing Services (RESULTS) Act aims to address reimbursement for laboratory tests.
• Getting engaged (12:37): Why it is important to understand new regulatory policies and help others understand their implications for the industry.

Resources

• Find past “Answers From the Lab” podcasts on LDTs and PAMA

Published October 2, 2025

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, and Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, discuss the latest developments in self-collection testing for women’s health and beyond. Together, they explore:

• New podcast format launching (00:01): Dr. Pritt previews exciting changes coming to “Answers From the Lab.”
• Emerging self-collection tests (01:21): Explore the growing range of self-collection tests now available for use in both clinical settings and at home.
• Validation of self-collection tests (03:19): Learn how laboratorians validated recent self- and home-collection tests to ensure quality and accuracy.
• Benefits for patients and public health (06:56): Understand the benefits self-collection tests offer to patients and how the tests impact public health.
• Limitations and implementation considerations (08:23): Review key factors to consider when incorporating self-collection testing into clinical care.
• Future innovation (11:34): Insights into where self-collection testing may evolve in the years ahead.

Published September 11, 2025

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, discuss troublesome organisms making headlines. Together, they explore:

• Vibrio vulnificus (01:09): How people get this “flesh-eating” bacteria, how it affects patients, and a recent case that brought it into the spotlight.
• Staying safe (03:44): Discover when to seek medical attention and how knowledge can protect you as Vibrio vulnificus bacterium becomes more prevalent.
• New World screwworm (06:50): How this parasitic infection damages human tissue, how it was previously eradicated, and why it's making the news again.
• ABCs of protection (12:16): A simple reminder to avoid exposure, use bug spray, and wear protective clothing to shield against hazardous organisms.
• Laboratory as first line of defense (13:34): Laboratorians have a critical role in identification and monitoring broader trends when these types of cases arise.

Resources

• A-Zs for prevention and exposure risks

Cherisse Marcou, Ph.D., and Kristen Rasmussen, M.S., CGC, explain how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' WESPR whole exome sequencing reflex test provides cost-effective diagnosis of complex genetic conditions. Using samples and data from previous targeted gene panels, WESPR's wider net can identify undetected genetic variants.

(00:32)
Would each of you share a little bit about yourselves and your background?

(01:42)

Could you provide us with an overview of the whole exome reflexing panel?

(02:53)
Is this different from our whole exome sequencing panel and our whole exome reanalysis panel?

(04:00)
Tell us more about who benefits from this test.

(06:17)
What is the clinical utility of this testing?

(08:07)

Would you help providers understand how to go about ordering?

(11:23)

Could you tell us more about the types of variants identified by this test?

(13:39)

Based on those performance characteristics, how does our test match up to other exome tests available in the market?

(14:30)

Are there any other unique features you would like to highlight?

(15:57)

What is the turnaround time for the reflex panel?

(16:14)

Can the results from the WESPR test be reanalyzed in the future as new genetic knowledge emerges?

(16:56)

How are variants reported, especially variants of uncertain significance? And does the report include recommendations?

(19:31)

Would you summarize the benefits of the WESPR at Mayo Clinic Laboratories?

Published August 28, 2025

In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Division of Clinical Microbiology at Mayo Clinic, and Matthew Binnicker, Ph.D., a microbiologist and virologist and chief scientific officer of Mayo Clinic Laboratories, discuss recent developments in viral infections. Together, they explore:

• Shope papilloma virus in rabbits (01:05): Unusual growths raise concern, though the virus poses minimal risk to humans and has actually benefitted research for other papilloma viruses.
• Chikungunya virus (07:07): What it is, how it spreads, who is at risk, and best practices for testing.
• Back-to-school viral trends (12:19): Common viruses that circulate during the school season, tips for keeping kids safe, and guidance for physicians on when to test.
• The laboratorian’s role (18:27): How laboratory professionals contribute to managing viral infections within hospital systems and the broader community.

Resources

• Forbes article: Is the ‘zombie rabbits’ virus a threat to humans?
• Mosquito-borne disease testing overview
• Mosquito-borne testing algorithms and interpretations
• Search our test catalog for more on testing for viral infections

Published August 14, 2025

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, discuss recent news about the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools in healthcare. Together, they explore:

• Applications of AI tools in clinical diagnostics to identify dementia, cardiovascular conditions, and parasites.
• Ethical considerations, including global disparities in access to AI tools and environmental impacts.

Resources

• Use of artificial intelligence and digital slide scanning for detection of intestinal protozoa in trichrome-stained stool specimens
• Mayo Clinic's AI tool identifies 9 dementia types, including Alzheimer's, with one scan
• AI computing power is splitting the world into haves and have-nots - The New York Times

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 Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, for a timely discussion on tick-borne diseases. Topics covered include:

• Observations from this year’s tick season as we approach the end of July — a peak month for tick-borne disease transmission — along with trends in reported tick-borne pathogens over the past two decades.
• Algorithms developed by Mayo Clinic to guide clinicians in selecting the right tests for tick-borne and mosquito-borne diseases.
• The emergence of rare and esoteric infections and the challenges posed by vectors that carry and transmit multiple pathogens in a single bite.
• Shotgun metagenomics’ growing role in the diagnosis of vector-borne infections.

More resources
Read "Update on North American tick-borne diseases and how to diagnose them" in the Journal of Clinical Microbiology for more insights from Drs. Pritt and Theel. You can also explore tools and information from Mayo Clinic Laboratories, including region-specific details, algorithms, prevention tools, and more.