Every specimen represents a potential mystery, and laboratory professionals often play the role of detectives. For the 2025 Lab Week episode of LabMind, Amanda Openshaw, a genetic counselor at ARUP, shares examples illustrating the importance of good investigative work in the laboratory to discover accurate diagnoses.…

Every specimen represents a potential mystery, and laboratory professionals often play the role of detectives. For the 2025 Lab Week episode of LabMind, Amanda Openshaw, a genetic counselor at ARUP, shares examples illustrating the importance of good investigative work in the laboratory to discover accurate diagnoses.…

Why hasn’t there been more progress in developing therapies for Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia? One reason has been the lack of specific laboratory tests that can properly diagnose and characterize these diseases. In this interview, Dr. Qinwen Mao from the University of Utah describes how her research team is helping to bring new…

Why hasn’t there been more progress in developing therapies for Alzheimer’s disease and related forms of dementia? One reason has been the lack of specific laboratory tests that can properly diagnose and characterize these diseases. In this interview, Dr. Qinwen Mao from the University of Utah describes how her research team is helping to bring new…

As laboratory professionals, we may think we have a good understanding of how physicians use our services. But how often do we ask them for practical feedback? In this interview, family physician Dr. Keith Elkins shares his perspectives on what clinical laboratories and pathologists do well, and what opportunities they may be overlooking to better …

As laboratory professionals, we may think we have a good understanding of how physicians use our services. But how often do we ask them for practical feedback? In this interview, family physician Dr. Keith Elkins shares his perspectives on what clinical laboratories and pathologists do well, and what opportunities they may be overlooking to better …

Many people in the healthcare profession know that clinical laboratories are under more rigorous regulatory scrutiny than just about any other area of medicine. What they may not know is that the New York State Department of Health (NY DOH) was the pioneer in laboratory regulation, starting long before the implementation of either the FDA Medical D…

Many people in the healthcare profession know that clinical laboratories are under more rigorous regulatory scrutiny than just about any other area of medicine. What they may not know is that the New York State Department of Health (NY DOH) was the pioneer in laboratory regulation, starting long before the implementation of either the FDA Medical D…

In this age of ChatGPT, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning, laboratory professionals might think they need to be experts in sophisticated new technology to glean insights from laboratory data. But as ARUP’s medical director of operational informatics Dr. Jenna Rychert points out in this interview, data analysis doesn’t always have t…

In this age of ChatGPT, artificial intelligence (AI), and machine learning, laboratory professionals might think they need to be experts in sophisticated new technology to glean insights from laboratory data. But as ARUP’s medical director of operational informatics Dr. Jenna Rychert points out in this interview, data analysis doesn’t always have t…

Anatomic pathology is on the verge of its biggest technologic shift in over a century. Making a smooth transition will require leadership to pay as much attention to the human impact as to the technology itself. In this discussion, Dr. Suzanne Dintzis from the University of Washington explains why hospital and department leaders will need to partne…

Anatomic pathology is on the verge of its biggest technologic shift in over a century. Making a smooth transition will require leadership to pay as much attention to the human impact as to the technology itself. In this discussion, Dr. Suzanne Dintzis from the University of Washington explains why hospital and department leaders will need to partne…

As of September 2024, there remains enormous uncertainty about the FDA’s final rule on laboratory-developed tests (LDTs). Will it hold up in court? Which tests are subject to which requirements? How can laboratories best prepare? In this interview, Dr. Jonathan Genzen, ARUP’s chief medical officer and senior director of governmental affairs, respon…

As of September 2024, there remains enormous uncertainty about the FDA’s final rule on laboratory-developed tests (LDTs). Will it hold up in court? Which tests are subject to which requirements? How can laboratories best prepare? In this interview, Dr. Jonathan Genzen, ARUP’s chief medical officer and senior director of governmental affairs, respon…

Fixing American healthcare will require more than mere tweaks around the edges. Dr. Vikas Saini, president of the Boston-based Lown Institute, believes that it will require a return to medicine’s humanist roots. In this interview he describes some of the ways in which many healthcare organizations prioritize revenue and profit over patients and com…

Fixing American healthcare will require more than mere tweaks around the edges. Dr. Vikas Saini, president of the Boston-based Lown Institute, believes that it will require a return to medicine’s humanist roots. In this interview he describes some of the ways in which many healthcare organizations prioritize revenue and profit over patients and com…

Clinical laboratories offer great careers, but lack of awareness and other barriers can prevent excellent candidates from pursuing laboratory science professions. In this interview, Isak Schmidley, MLS(ASCP), explains how he first stumbled across medical laboratory science while attending community college in his early teens and then persevered pas…

Clinical laboratories offer great careers, but lack of awareness and other barriers can prevent excellent candidates from pursuing laboratory science professions. In this interview, Isak Schmidley, MLS(ASCP), explains how he first stumbled across medical laboratory science while attending community college in his early teens and then persevered pas…

Most hereditary cancers, including those associated with BRCA1 mutations and Lynch syndrome, can be prevented through a combination of genetic testing, surveillance, and surgery. Yet only a small minority of eligible individuals currently receive this lifesaving intervention. In this interview, Dr. Brian Shirts, director of the Institute for Public…

Most hereditary cancers, including those associated with BRCA1 mutations and Lynch syndrome, can be prevented through a combination of genetic testing, surveillance, and surgery. Yet only a small minority of eligible individuals currently receive this lifesaving intervention. In this interview, Dr. Brian Shirts, director of the Institute for Public…

Due to genetic variation, patients metabolize and respond to medications in vastly different ways, so why do most drug therapy regimens continue to be one-size-fits-all? In this interview, Dr. Yuan Ji, ARUP’s section chief of Molecular Genetics and Genomics, discusses how currently available genetic tests can be used to improve both the safety and …

Due to genetic variation, patients metabolize and respond to medications in vastly different ways, so why do most drug therapy regimens continue to be one-size-fits-all? In this interview, Dr. Yuan Ji, ARUP’s section chief of Molecular Genetics and Genomics, discusses how currently available genetic tests can be used to improve both the safety and …

Since its founding in 2013 at Seattle Children’s Hospital, PLUGS (Patient-Centered Laboratory Utilization Guidance Services) has brought together laboratory professionals, genetic counselors, clinicians, patients, and insurance companies across the country to improve the application of laboratory tests in clinical practice. In this interview, PLUGS…

Since its founding in 2013 at Seattle Children’s Hospital, PLUGS (Patient-Centered Laboratory Utilization Guidance Services) has brought together laboratory professionals, genetic counselors, clinicians, patients, and insurance companies across the country to improve the application of laboratory tests in clinical practice. In this interview, PLUGS…

Dr. Eddie Stenehjem, Vice Chair of Medicine at the University of Colorado, knows a lot about clinical laboratories. As an infectious disease physician and former cochair of Intermountain Healthcare’s laboratory stewardship committee, he has deep respect for the knowledge and dedication that laboratory professionals bring to patient care. In this in…

Dr. Eddie Stenehjem, Vice Chair of Medicine at the University of Colorado, knows a lot about clinical laboratories. As an infectious disease physician and former cochair of Intermountain Healthcare’s laboratory stewardship committee, he has deep respect for the knowledge and dedication that laboratory professionals bring to patient care. In this in…

There’s plenty of excitement around laboratory automation. But which tasks are good candidates for automation, and which are poor candidates? What risks need to be managed? And what are the implications of automation for lab professionals? In this interview, Dr. Joseph Rudolf, medical director of ARUP’s Automated Core Laboratory, shares his insight…

There’s plenty of excitement around laboratory automation. But which tasks are good candidates for automation, and which are poor candidates? What risks need to be managed? And what are the implications of automation for lab professionals? In this interview, Dr. Joseph Rudolf, medical director of ARUP’s Automated Core Laboratory, shares his insight…

Diagnosis involves much more than a number on a lab report. This is particularly true when the patient has disordered bleeding or clotting. In this interview, Dr. Karen Moser from the University of Utah Department of Pathology describes some of the ways she works with her laboratory and clinician colleagues to ensure that patients get the answers a…

Diagnosis involves much more than a number on a lab report. This is particularly true when the patient has disordered bleeding or clotting. In this interview, Dr. Karen Moser from the University of Utah Department of Pathology describes some of the ways she works with her laboratory and clinician colleagues to ensure that patients get the answers a…

What does it mean to have a quality culture? Technical competence and strict adherence to protocols are certainly part of the story. But so are factors such as workforce engagement and customer service. In this interview, Nancy Ross, assistant director of clinical pathology and quality at Montefiore Medical System and the founder of Improov, a labo…

What does it mean to have a quality culture? Technical competence and strict adherence to protocols are certainly part of the story. But so are factors such as workforce engagement and customer service. In this interview, Nancy Ross, assistant director of clinical pathology and quality at Montefiore Medical System and the founder of Improov, a labo…

A public debate is raging around the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI). One side argues that AI is potentially dangerous and needs to be carefully controlled, whereas the other side argues that any regulation would slow innovation. In this interview, Dr. Ryan Metcalf, section chief of Transfusion Medicine and medical director of Transfusio…

A public debate is raging around the regulation of artificial intelligence (AI). One side argues that AI is potentially dangerous and needs to be carefully controlled, whereas the other side argues that any regulation would slow innovation. In this interview, Dr. Ryan Metcalf, section chief of Transfusion Medicine and medical director of Transfusio…

The FDA recently announced a plan to regulate laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) as medical devices. In this interview, Dr. Meghan Delaney from Children’s National Hospital and Dr. Eric Konnick from the University of Washington explain why many tests that are critical to patient care, particularly in the areas of pediatrics, transplantation, and rar…

The FDA recently announced a plan to regulate laboratory-developed tests (LDTs) as medical devices. In this interview, Dr. Meghan Delaney from Children’s National Hospital and Dr. Eric Konnick from the University of Washington explain why many tests that are critical to patient care, particularly in the areas of pediatrics, transplantation, and rar…

Dr. Ila Singh, chief of laboratory medicine at Texas Children’s Hospital, founded the Test Renaming for Understanding and Utilization in the Laboratory (TRUU-Lab) initiative several years ago to tackle challenges related to the nonstandardized and uninformative naming of laboratory tests. In this interview, Dr. Singh describes the surveys her CDC-f…

Dr. Ila Singh, chief of laboratory medicine at Texas Children’s Hospital, founded the Test Renaming for Understanding and Utilization in the Laboratory (TRUU-Lab) initiative several years ago to tackle challenges related to the nonstandardized and uninformative naming of laboratory tests. In this interview, Dr. Singh describes the surveys her CDC-f…

Individuals pursue careers in academic medicine for many reasons. A love of organizational politics is rarely one of them, but faculty need to understand potential landmines if they are to avoid them. In this interview, Dr. Michael Cohen, a professor emeritus of pathology at Wake Forest University, draws on his experiences serving on faculty and in…

Individuals pursue careers in academic medicine for many reasons. A love of organizational politics is rarely one of them, but faculty need to understand potential landmines if they are to avoid them. In this interview, Dr. Michael Cohen, a professor emeritus of pathology at Wake Forest University, draws on his experiences serving on faculty and in…

Sustainability is a hot topic for American corporations, and health systems are no exception. In this interview, Glen Garrick, system sustainability director for Intermountain Healthcare, explains how his and other healthcare organizations are addressing their environmental, social, and governance responsibilities. He also describes how clinical la…

Sustainability is a hot topic for American corporations, and health systems are no exception. In this interview, Glen Garrick, system sustainability director for Intermountain Healthcare, explains how his and other healthcare organizations are addressing their environmental, social, and governance responsibilities. He also describes how clinical la…

Three and a half years after the emergence of COVID-19 is a good time to reflect on the capabilities of U.S. laboratories to respond to future pandemics. In this interview, Dr. Marc Couturier, medical director of Emerging Public Health Crises at ARUP Laboratories, explains how the U.S. laboratory sector has improved in its ability to respond quickl…

Three and a half years after the emergence of COVID-19 is a good time to reflect on the capabilities of U.S. laboratories to respond to future pandemics. In this interview, Dr. Marc Couturier, medical director of Emerging Public Health Crises at ARUP Laboratories, explains how the U.S. laboratory sector has improved in its ability to respond quickl…

Laboratory testing can either lead to the correct diagnosis or take a clinician down a blind alley, depending on how carefully the tests are selected and performed. In this interview, a practicing neurologist (Dr. Tammy Smith) and a clinical laboratory immunologist (Dr. Lisa Peterson) explain some of the complexities of laboratory diagnosis of auto…

Nurses and laboratory professionals rely on each other to ensure accurate test results, but their relationships are sometimes challenging. As president of St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Nampa, Idaho, as well as a registered nurse with a doctorate degree in nursing practice, Clint Child often mediates when these two professional cultures collide. I…

Nurses and laboratory professionals rely on each other to ensure accurate test results, but their relationships are sometimes challenging. As president of St. Alphonsus Medical Center in Nampa, Idaho, as well as a registered nurse with a doctorate degree in nursing practice, Clint Child often mediates when these two professional cultures collide. I…

Physicians and patients expect laboratory tests to produce the same results, regardless of where they are performed. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case, even for FDA-approved assays. As the current chair of the College of American Pathologists committee for accuracy-based proficiency testing, Dr. Andy Hoofnagle is an authority on this indust…

Physicians and patients expect laboratory tests to produce the same results, regardless of where they are performed. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case, even for FDA-approved assays. As the current chair of the College of American Pathologists committee for accuracy-based proficiency testing, Dr. Andy Hoofnagle is an authority on this indust…

The key to successful clinical lab automation doesn’t lie in the instruments or the conveyor belt. It lies in clarifying what the organization most needs to improve (labor efficiency? turnaround time? reliability?) followed by optimizing those factors through modeling and planning. In this interview, Dr. Lauren Pearson, ARUP’s chief medical officer…