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 blood and cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers into clinical practice to step up the fight against these devastating diseases.

Related Information: Webinar: Innovations in Diagnostics for Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (aruplab.com/AlzInnovations)

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 support frontline clinical care.