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 how labs can enhance patient access to improve health equity.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• Innovations creating new possibilities, such as mobile clinics, at-home tests, and artificial intelligence.
• The responsibility of laboratory professionals to help guide the use of these new tools and the importance of collaboration between health systems.
• What’s needed to make solutions scalable and sustainable.

Learn more in Dr. Morice’s “Lab Manager” article.

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 genetic counselors Carrie Lahner, M.S., CGC, and April Studinski Jones, M.S., CGC, to discuss how family medical history can inform genetic testing strategies.

Specific topics of discussion include:

• The seven main types of genetic testing, and how clinicians know when and what genetic testing to order.
• Key family history details to collect to inform decisions about genetic testing.
• How genetic counselors collaborate with physicians and laboratorians to make testing decisions.
• Recent genetic testing advancements that are improving diagnostics.

John Logan Black, M.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' UGT1A1 tests (Mayo IDs: U1A1Q and UGTFZ) identify genetic variants that increase the risk of potentially life-threatening reactions to irinotecan, a chemotherapy agent.

Speaker 3: (00:32)
Could you give us a brief overview about your background and yourself?

Speaker 3: (02:16)
Could you explain the role of the UGT1A1 gene and its significance in the pharmacogenomics of irinotecan?

Speaker 3: (05:34)
What specific tests do we offer for UGT1A1 at Mayo Clinic Laboratories?

Speaker 3: (08:01)
Can you clarify the difference between targeted genotyping and full gene sequencing, and when each method is most appropriate?

Speaker 3: (10:36)

Could you elaborate on the specific clinical indications for testing in relation to irinotecan?

Speaker 3: (13:27)
How do UGT1A1 test results impact the dosing of irinotecan? What should clinicians consider when using those results?

Speaker 3: (14:02)
Are there any other factors or related genes that should be considered alongside UGT1A1, particularly for cancer therapy?