Answers from the Lab

David Murray, M.D., Ph.D., explains Mayo Clinic Laboratories' innovative approach to screening for plasma cell disorders and monitoring of patients being treated for multiple myeloma. This testing method, called MASS-FIX, employs matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry, or MALDI-TOF MS. It offers significant advantages over traditional testing approaches and marks the first major breakthrough in multiple myeloma screening since gel electrophoresis was developed in the 1960s.

Show Notes

(00:55)
 Dr. Murray, as we get started today, could you tell us a little bit more about yourself and your background here?

(01:50)
 As you developed this assay, can you just give us a brief overview of it and how it works?
 
(04:07)
 As you compare those two methods, what are some of the things that you're seeing that are the advantages of this new test?

(07:02)
 When should patients really have this testing, and when are we performing it here at Mayo?
 
 (11:54)
 What do you think is one of the most interesting findings as you've gone through this whole process and work to develop and validate this testing? Which one really stands out to you more than anything? 

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A Mayo Clinic curated podcast sharing Mayo Clinic knowledge and advancements on the state of testing, science, and people who are making it happen behind the scenes.