Shows
Editors in ConversationFavorite Clinical Microbiology Papers of 2025I almost can't believe that we are wrapping up yet another year on the podcast this month, which has been going strong for 6 years now! And it has been another exciting year in the world of Clin Micro as well with improvements and new assays available for some of our bread and butter tests, but the year also brought about significant developments in the application of AI and digital imaging, use of NGS methods, and probably some cool AST stuff in there too among other things, with many of these advancements published in JCM. And so, as has become...
2025-12-1958 min
Answers from the LabSelf-Collection Testing Expands to New Areas: Elitza Theel, Ph.D.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-collect...
2025-10-0214 minEditors in ConversationEmerging Technologies for Rapid Phenotypic AST of Clinical Isolates of Bacteria (JCM ed.)Antimicrobial resistance is one of the largest threats to global public health, compromising all other advances in modern medicine. At the forefront of detecting AMR is the clinical laboratory. However, walk into any clinical microbiology laboratory today and you will find this important task being accomplished using techniques that barely evolved from the methods proposed by Alexander Fleming, nearly 100 years ago. Bacteria are exposed to antimicrobials, in an in vitro culture system, and growth inhibition is measured after overnight incubation. In the time of laboratory automation, molecular testing and artificial intelligence – are we ready for an a...
2025-09-1739 minAnswers from the LabNew Tools for the Changing Landscape of Tick-Borne Diseases: Elitza Theel, Ph.D.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 mosqui...
2025-07-3115 minAnswers from the LabThe Impacts of STI Testing Innovation: Elitza Theel, Ph.D.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 conversation about innovation in testing for sexually transmitted infections (STI). Topics include: The advantages and challenges of new types of specimen collection and testing methods, including over-the-counter, at-home, and point-of-care options. Implications home testing has for clinicians and public health. Barriers to making more at-home collection and over-the-counter testing products for STI testing.The growing need for tes...
2025-02-2714 minAnswers from the LabAlarming Increase in Dengue Cases: Elitza Theel, Ph.D.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, to discuss the increase of dengue cases in the United States and around the world.Specific topics of discussion include:The characteristics and symptoms of dengue virus.Current dengue activity in the United States, why cases are increasing, and how it may impact public health.Whether an individual infected with dengue has future immunity against the viru...
2024-07-2516 minAnswers from the LabTick Season Outlook: Elitza Theel, Ph.D.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, to discuss tick-borne diseases and the latest testing options.Specific topics of discussion include:The types of tick-borne diseases found throughout the United States. Algorithmic approaches and testing methods used to diagnose tick-borne diseases.Helpful resources for clinicians, including Mayo Clinic Laboratories’ Acute Tickborne Disease Testing Algorithm and Lyme Neuroborreliosis Diagnostic Algorithm.New tests recently developed by Mayo...
2024-04-1117 minAnswers from the LabSyphilis Testing Updates: Elitza Theel, Ph.D.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, to follow up on the syphilis epidemic and discuss updated testing recommendations.Specific topics of discussion include:Background information on syphilis and the epidemic occurring in the United States.The report recently published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) with updated laboratory recommendations for syphilis testing.The different testing methods used to diagnose syph...
2024-03-1419 minAnswers from the LabEvolution of Syphilis: Elitza Theel, Ph.D.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, to talk about the sexually-transmitted disease syphilis. Specific topics of discussion include:The history, cause, and symptoms of syphilis.A rare recent outbreak of ocular syphilis cases.The dramatic rise in syphilis and congenital syphilis cases in the United States over the last few years.The variety of syphilis testing options.
2024-01-1813 minAnswers from the LabFlea-borne Typhus: Elitza Theel, Ph.D.In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, is joined by Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic. They talk about murine typhus, also known as flea-borne typhus, and the recent increase in cases in Los Angeles County and Texas.Specific topics of discussion include:How flea-borne typhus is transmitted to humans and common symptoms.How the disease is diagnosed, treated, and prevented.Typhus testing available through Mayo Clinic Laboratories.
2023-08-3111 minAnswers from the LabDengue and Chikungunya Outbreaks: Elitza Theel, Ph.D.In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, and Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, talk about dengue and chikungunya arboviral infections. Specific topics of discussion include:Why cases of dengue and chikungunya viral infections have rapidly increased in South America.What happens when a human is infected with dengue virus or chikungunya virus.Testing options available through Mayo Clinic Laboratories for these mosquito-borne diseases.
2023-07-2014 minAnswers from the LabWest Nile virus: Elitza Theel, Ph.D.In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, and Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, talk about West Nile virus and why laboratories and the public need to be aware as mosquitoes reemerge.Specific topics of discussion include:Why the mosquito is the deadliest animal in the world.Symptoms, testing options, and prevention strategies for West Nile virus infections.The importance of testing for West Nile virus.
2023-05-1817 min
Mayo Clinic TalksThe Tick Talk of Lyme Disease: How to Diagnose & When to TreatHost: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD]
Guest: Elitza S. Theel, Ph.D.
Lyme disease is quite common with more than 400,000 new cases per year in the United States alone. It’s associated with a constellation of typical symptoms, but it can also produce symptoms which are very unusual and vague. As a result, it can mimic a variety of other diseases. An accurate diagnosis of Lyme disease can be challenging, often resulting in a delay or even lack of treatment. In this podcast, we’ll discuss the typical presentation of Lyme disease as well as s...
2023-05-0924 minAnswers from the LabEndemic fungal infections in North America: Elitza Theel, Ph.D.In this episode of “Answers From the Lab,” host Bobbi Pritt, M.D., chair of the Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology at Mayo Clinic, and Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, discuss endemic fungal infections that can be found in North America, specifically blastomycosis and histoplasmosis. Specific topics of discussion include:The basics of Blastomyces and Histoplasma fungi, which can cause serious lung infections.The recent blastomycosis outbreak at a Michigan paper mill.How these fungal infections are diagnosed in the laboratory.The cost-effectiveness of testing for the t...
2023-05-0413 min
Answers from the LabAn efficient, cost-effective, fungal testing alternative: Elitza Theel, Ph.D.Elitza Theel, Ph.D., explains how Mayo Clinic Laboratories' unique Histoplasma and Blastomyces test provides cost-effective evaluation for fungal infections that cause pulmonary illness. The assay reliably detects both Histoplasma and Blastomyces pathogens in a single test.(00:32) Will you please give us a brief introduction of yourself and your role at Mayo Clinic? (01:34) Can you tell us which specific group of patients this test would be best suited for, how a provider would determine a patient might benefit from this test, and when during the care process it should be ordered?...
2023-03-2812 minAnswers from the LabTick-borne Disease Testing: Elitza Theel, Ph.D.Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Lab at Mayo Clinic, joins the "Answers From the Lab" podcast for a discussion with Bobbi Pritt, M.D. about tick-borne disease testing. In this episode, Dr. Theel and Dr. Pritt look at emerging tick-borne illnesses, the tests available to detect these infections, and how to prevent them.
2022-05-2410 minAnswers from the LabCOVID-19 Antibody Testing: Dr. Elitza TheelThis week on the podcast, Elitza Theel, Ph.D., director of Mayo Clinic’s Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory, joins "Answers From the Lab" with Bobbi Pritt, M.D. In this episode, Dr. Pritt and Dr. Theel discuss antibody testing for COVID-19, including why this testing is done and when it’s most useful.
2021-11-1110 minMayo Clinic TalksVariants, Virulence, and Vaccines, Oh My!Guest: Elitza S. Theel, Ph.D. (@ElliTheelPhD)
Host: Amit K. Ghosh, M.D. (@AmitGhosh006)
Dr. Elitza Theel, Professor of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology and Director of Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic’s Rochester Campus, discusses our immune response to vaccination and natural infection and outlines the different types of antibody assays currently available. Dr. Theel also discusses the concept of herd immunity in the context of different circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants and the increased need to get higher rates of vaccination in the community as the infectivity and transmissibility of circulating SARS-CoV-2 variants changes. We also discuss t...
2021-09-0727 minEditors in ConversationAdvances in Serologic Testing for COVID-19 (JCM ed.)Tests for antibodies, or serological testing, for SARS-CoV-2 have come a long way since the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic. There are now several commercial tests available and some laboratories have developed tests for specific purposes. Tests can determine whether a person has had COVID-19 in the past, or whether someone has had an antibody response to vaccination or even whether someone has antibodies that can neutralize the virus, preventing it from infecting host cells. Guests: - Dr. Elitza Theel, Director of the Infectious Diseases Serology laboratory at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota. ...
2021-07-2340 minAnswers from the LabCOVID-19 Antibody Testing Update: Elitza Theel, Ph.D.(01:07) Has the utility or the role of antibody testing changed or evolved in any way for you over the past months or since the pandemic began? (04:06) What do we know about the antibody response to the virus and how is our knowledge grown in that area? I think one question that people have is do we all make antibodies to the virus and how long do those antibodies last, and will they protect us from re-infection? (06:41) You mentioned briefly there's a neutralizing antibody test that recently received FDA emerg...
2020-11-2416 minEditors in ConversationCOVID-19 Diagnostic Testing Redux (JCM ed.)Laboratory testing for COVID-19, what's new since we talked about this in August? A lot. Here are some of the questions we'll talk about. • Do positive antibody tests indicate that people are immune to infection by SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19? • What sample types might replace the dreaded nasopharyneal swab for more comfortable sample collection? • What are the new rapid tests for COVID-19, and how should they be used? Alex is joined by two expert guests to discuss diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2. - Dr. Melissa Miller, who is the Di...
2020-10-1647 min
Mayo Clinic TalksCOVID-19 Miniseries Episode 47: Answers from the Lab - Serology Testing for COVID-19This episode is shared from Answers from the Lab and was originally published June 16, 2020.
Guest: Elitza Theel, Ph.D. (@ElliTheelPhD)
Host: Bobbi S. Pritt, M.D. (@ParasiteGal)
Elitza Theel, Ph.D., Laboratory Director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, led the efforts to evaluate and implement the serologic antibody test for COVID-19. She gives an overview of Mayo Clinic’s COVID-19 antibody test, as well as the role of antibody testing during the pandemic, and how sensitivity, specificity, and prevalence play a large role in the positive predictive value of a tes...
2020-08-1712 minEditors in ConversationDiagnostic Tests for COVID-19 ( JCM Journal)A discussion about laboratory testing for COVID-19 with two experts, Dr. Melissa Miller and Dr. Elitza Theel. Hosted by Journal of Clinical Microbiology Editor in Chief, Dr. Alexander McAdam. Get the current issue of the Journal of Clinical Microbiology at https://jcm.asm.org/
2020-08-0539 minAnswers from the LabSerology Testing for COVID-19: Dr. Elitza TheelFull Show Notes (Timestamps)Speaker 1: (00:56) So there continues to be a lot of interest in antibody testing for COVID-19. Can you refresh our memories on what antibody testing is? Speaker 1: (02:12) Now that we are actually six months into this outbreak, what is our understanding about using serologic testing? Will it be the magic bullet that will allow us to go back to work?Speaker 1: (05:26) Can you explain that to everyone in ways that we could all understand? What does this mean exactly? How does this impact serologic testing and...
2020-06-1612 min
CAPcast from the College of American PathologistsUsing Proficiency Testing to Ensure Accurate Serologic Testing of SARS-CoV-2As we move into the next phase of the pandemic, laboratories are ramping up efforts to implement SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing to identify individuals who may have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 in the past.
In this CAPcast, Dr. Daniel Rhoads, Section Head of Microbiology at the Cleveland Clinic and Dr. Elitza Theel, Director of Infectious Disease Serology from Mayo Clinic explain the clinical use of antibody testing for SARS-CoV-2 and describe the work of the CAP’s Microbiology and Diagnostic Immunology and Flow Cytometry Committees to develop the new proficiency testing program SARS-CoV-2 Serology (COVS).
The new SARS-CoV-2 Serology PT program is...
2020-05-2608 minAnswers from the LabSerology Testing for COVID-19: Dr. Elitza TheelA discussion with Dr. Elli Theel, the Laboratory Director of the Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory at Mayo Clinic, who led the efforts to evaluate and implement the antibody test for COVID-19. Topics covered include an overview of antibody testing, why Mayo is testing for IgG only, ordering scenarios, sensitivity and specificity of the Mayo test, a comparison with other serology test offerings, and what will be included with the test result.
2020-04-2114 min
Mayo Clinic Health MattersMayo Clinic Laboratories launches serology testingA new serology test from Mayo Clinic Laboratories is being used to identify the presence of immune response to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The serology test is intended only to detect antibodies to the virus. It does not diagnose recent or active infection. Mayo Clinic Laboratories also offers a molecular test to diagnose very recent or active infection. Both tests are important tools in the pandemic response.
On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Elitza Theel, director of Mayo Clinic’s Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory, explains why serology testing is initially focused on identifying people...
2020-04-2010 minMayo Clinic Health MattersMayo Clinic Laboratories launches serology testingA new serology test from Mayo Clinic Laboratories is being used to identify the presence of immune response to SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. The serology test is intended only to detect antibodies to the virus. It does not diagnose recent or active infection. Mayo Clinic Laboratories also offers a molecular test to diagnose very recent or active infection. Both tests are important tools in the pandemic response.
On the Mayo Clinic Q&A podcast, Dr. Elitza Theel, director of Mayo Clinic’s Infectious Diseases Serology Laboratory, explains why serology testing is initially focused on identifying people...
2020-04-2010 min
Lab Medicine RoundsOne Small Bite, Deadly for MankindTime Stamps00:00 Podcast Intro00:48 Introduction of Elitza Theel, Ph.D. 1:03 What is the deadliest creature in the world?2:30 How many types of mosquitoes are there?3:50 Why do mosquitoes bite us?4:54 What types of infections do they cause?6:33 What advice do you give students and learners regarding this topic? 7:37 How does somebody make the diagnosis?7:54 How can you use lab testing to keep on the right track?10:49 What are some of the frequent calls received as a Laboratory Di...
2019-09-0622 min