Diverse Health Hub

12/19/2025

Have you ever wondered what happens after your blood is drawn or how lifesaving decisions are made in a hospital?

This fascinating piece from UAB Reporter takes us inside the hidden world of hospital laboratories, the engines behind clinical decisions, trauma care, cancer treatments, and so much more. From the hashtag that dispensed 78,000+ units of blood in FY24 to molecular and cell therapy labs pushing the boundaries of precision medicine, the work happening here is nothing short of extraordinary.

Read “Take a trip inside the hidden world of Hospital Labs” for an eye-opening look at the people and processes saving lives every day:
👉 https://www.uab.edu/reporter/people-of-uab/take-a-trip-inside-the-hidden-world-of-hospital-labs
uab.edu

Take a trip inside the hidden world of Hospital Labs

12/10/2025

Meet Rachel Siddall, M.S., MLS(ASCP)CM, a laboratory professional building impact across microbiology, diagnostic advancement, and professional leadership.

Rachel began her journey in , earning her B.S. from Ferris State University before continuing on to complete her M.S. at Rutgers University. She has worked hands-on in microbiology and laboratory test development with teams at Michigan Medicine and Mayo Clinic, gaining experience that spans both clinical operations and innovation.

Rachel has held roles within state chapters of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science, advocating for the profession and supporting fellow laboratory professionals.

Now pursuing her Doctor of Clinical Laboratory Science degree at Rutgers University, Rachel continues to bridge science, systems thinking, and patient-centered diagnostics, helping shape where the field is headed next.

12/09/2025

A patient recently submitted this question:

"My platelet count has been hovering around 90 for a year, but this last test it went down to 55. The doctor told me just to monitor for bruising, but does a drop like that usually mean something is changing?"

Here’s a summary of how Eric Walradth, MA, MLS(ASCP)cmSHcm explained it:

> Platelets help your body stop bleeding, so a drop can make bruising or bleeding more likely.

> Sudden changes can happen for reasons other than blood disease, such as recent infections, new medications, nutritional deficiencies, alcohol use, or even platelet clumping in the tube after the blood draw.

> Medical laboratory scientists are trained to detect these issues when reviewing results, but no test tells the full story alone.

> A platelet count is only one piece of your complete blood count (CBC), and interpreting values together gives more clarity than viewing numbers in isolation.

> Follow-up bloodwork helps determine whether the change is temporary or something requiring further evaluation and reporting any new symptoms to your care team matters.

👉 This is in action, numbers matter most when someone helps you understand what they mean.



What lab value confused you recently?

11/25/2025

Meet Abby Carroll,MS-CLS, MLS (ASCP)cm, a clinical laboratory professional who has spent the last eight years working at the bench, supporting clinicians, and now advancing the future of diagnostic stewardship as a resident.

Abby began her career as a , rotating through immunohematology, hematology, and clinical chemistry in fast-paced clinical settings. She’s managed complex antibody investigations, interpreted challenging hematology differentials, and ensured accurate, timely results during some of the most critical moments in patient care.

As her career evolved, Abby realized her passion wasn’t only in generating results, it was in helping clinicians understand and use those results effectively.

That drive led her to pursue the Doctor of Clinical Laboratory Science (DCLS) at Rutgers University, where she now serves as a resident focused on diagnostic stewardship and evidence-based laboratory practice.

From crossmatches to clinical consults, Abby’s journey illustrates how modern laboratory professionals are shaping the future of patient-centered care.

Learn more about Abby here: [https://lnkd.in/gE4e4t5u]

11/18/2025

Vitamin D testing has surged in recent years, but does more testing always mean better health?

Chemist Joe Indovina breaks down what vitamin D does in the body, which form labs actually measure, why test results can vary, and when testing is truly recommended.

✔️ How the body makes and activates vitamin D
✔️ Why 25-OH vitamin D is the key marker
✔️ Current evidence on screening & supplements
✔️ Questions to ask your provider
✔️ How clinical labs support appropriate testing

Read more: [https://diagnosticequity.org/discovery-hub/vitamin-d-lab-tests-impacts-and-key-answers-on-diagnostics]

11/06/2025

Meet Eric Walradth, MA, MLS(ASCP)cmSHcm, a Medical Laboratory Scientist whose 20+ year career has been grounded in and supporting oncology/hematology .

Eric’s expertise runs deeper than performing tests, he teaches practicing laboratorians and students how to recognize abnormal blood cell morphology, helping the care team better understand what the microscope is revealing about a patient’s health.

He is a strong for evidence-based practice and works closely with physicians and other providers to promote thoughtful, appropriate laboratory test utilization. This peer-to-peer collaboration ensures patients receive care guided by accurate results and meaningful interpretation.

Eric’s work underscores a truth we hold close at Diagnostic Equity: When laboratory professionals are part of the conversation, patients benefit.

Learn more about Eric here: [https://diagnosticequity.org/pro-hub/eric-walradth]

10/29/2025

Meet Xander van Wijk, PhD, DABCC, FADLM, a board-certified and Associate Professor in Laboratory Medicine at UCSF.

Author of more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters, his expertise covers laboratory developed tests, cardiac biomarkers, toxicology, pharmacogenomics, and blood gas analysis.

Dr. van Wijk’s leadership and research continue to shape the future of clinical chemistry and .

10/23/2025

Join LaShanta Brice, DCLS, MLS (ASCP)SH for an empowering discussion on how laboratory professionals shape hospital strategy, improve diagnostic accuracy, and strengthen patient safety.

With 15 years of expertise in hematology, coagulation, and lab leadership, Dr. Brice will help us understand how elevating lab voices leads to smarter policies and better outcomes for all.

November 12th | Noon PT / 3 PM EST
Register now to access the full program:[https://diagnosticequity.org/programs/]

10/21/2025

Meet Heidi Schutz, a lab professional whose career spans , , information systems, and leadership across both clinical and community settings.

Heidi began her journey in clinical laboratory science with a focus on hematology and transfusion medicine, later expanding her expertise into laboratory information systems. Her work in a hematology/oncology practice honed her phlebotomy and patient-centered skills, giving her a deep appreciation for how accurate diagnostics directly impact care.

After taking time to focus on family, Heidi returned to the bench in family medicine, where she quickly advanced into leadership roles that strengthened her regulatory and management expertise. She later re-entered the hospital environment, managing point-of-care testing technologies that improved workflow efficiency and patient outcomes.

Today, Heidi brings her cross-disciplinary experience to the non-profit sector, supporting initiatives that expand access to laboratory testing in under-served communities and during disaster relief efforts. Her work reflects a lifelong commitment to equitable healthcare and the critical role of diagnostics in every patient’s story.

Learn more about Heidi here: [https://diagnosticequity.org/pro-hub/heidi-schutz]

10/15/2025

In an AI-driven world, human judgment in the lab remains irreplaceable.

Join Dr. Susan Leclair on 10/16 as she explores the ethical insight, intuition, and contextual thinking that only trained experts bring to medical testing.

Register now to access to the full program:
[https://lnkd.in/dBS45gxb]

10/14/2025

When we talk about diagnostic safety, we often start with data.
But this time, the data starts with patients.

A new open-access study in Frontiers in Public Health amplifies the voices of nearly 4,000 Americans who shared their experiences with diagnostic problems — from missed tests to delayed diagnoses.

Their stories reveal a powerful truth:
> 38% experienced at least one diagnostic problem in four years
> Younger adults ( Cis-women, transgender and gender-independent individuals, multiracial patients, low-income households, and people with disabilities reported the most harm.

These findings remind us that diagnostic equity isn’t just a goal — it’s a measure of trust.

Read the full study: [https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2025.1444005/full]

10/07/2025

Can eating more plant-based proteins actually help your kidneys or does it just make your lab test results look better?

Clinical chemist, Joseph Indovina, MLS(ASCP)CM, breaks it down clearly: how red meat affects creatinine levels, why plant-based proteins are easier on the kidneys, and what to discuss with your doctor before making changes.

Read the full Q&A: https://diagnosticequity.org/discovery-hub/can-eating-plant-based-proteins-improve-kidney-lab-test-results-or-just-lower-creatinine-levels