Healthier World with Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics
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Healthier World with Quest Diagnostics aims to prompt action from insight as we keep you up to date on current clinical and diagnostic topics in cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness medicine.

  1. FEB 9

    31 - Pharmacogenetics: How genes can influence prescribing (20 min)

    Pharmacogenetics (PGx) testing is a field that can transform how clinicians select and dose medications by accounting for individual genetic variability in drug metabolism, transport, and response. In this episode, Maeson Latsko, PhD, and Kathleen O’Brien, CGC, DABMG, discuss the clinical utility of PGx testing and how providers can integrate it into routine care. This episode will Describe pharmacogenetics (PGx) testing (2:45) Review different types of pharmacogenes and their clinical utility (12:15) Walk through Quest Diagnostics PGx test offerings (16:30) To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions. Date: February 2026 Speaker(s):  Maeson Latsko, PhD; Kathleen O’Brien, CGC, DABMG Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Kathleen O’Brien, CGC, DABMG; Rebecca Johnson, CGC; Trisha Winchester, PhD; Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC   Additional Resources Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link] Test summary: Pharmacogenomics   Ordering information: Pharmacogenomics Panel with Coriell Life Sciences (CLS) Report | Test Detail | Quest Diagnostics Pharmacogenomics Panel | Test Detail | Quest Diagnostics References:     Ingelman-Sundberg M. Pharmacogenetics: an opportunity for a safer and more efficient pharmacotherapy. Journal of Internal Medicine. 2001;250(3):186-200. doi:10.1046/j.1365-2796.2001.00879.x   Chanfreau-Coffinier C, Hull LE, Lynch JA, et al. Projected prevalence of actionable pharmacogenetic variants and level a drugs prescribed among US veterans health administration pharmacy users. JAMA Netw Open. 2019;2(6):e195345. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.5345   Swen JJ, van der Wouden CH, Manson LE, et al. A 12-gene pharmacogenetic panel to prevent adverse drug reactions: an open-label, multicentre, controlled, cluster-randomised crossover implementation study. Lancet (London, England). 2023;401(10374):347-356. Doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01841-4   Bousman CA, Stevenson JM, Ramsey LB, et al. Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) Guideline for CYP2D6, CYP2C19, CYP2B6, SLC6A4, and HTR2A Genotypes and Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor Antidepressants. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2023;114(1):51-68. doi:10.1002/cpt.2903   Johnson JA, Caudle KE, Gong L, et al. Clinical Pharmacogenetics Implementation Consortium (CPIC) Guideline for Pharmacogenetics-Guided Warfarin Dosing: 2017 Update. Clin Pharmacol Ther. 2017;102(3):397-404. doi:10.1002/cpt.668   Oslin DW, Lynch KG, Shih MC, et al. Effect of Pharmacogenomic Testing for Drug-Gene Interactions on Medication Selection and Remission of Symptoms in Major Depressive Disorder: The PRIME Care Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2022;328(2):151-161. doi:10.1001/jama.2022.9805 Bradley P, Shiekh M, Mehra V, et al. Improved efficacy with targeted pharmacogenetic-guided treatment of patients with depression and anxiety: A randomized clinical trial demonstrating clinical utility. J Psychiatr Res. 2018;96:100-107. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2017.09.024 Greden JF, Parikh SV, Rothschild AJ, et al. Impact of pharmacogenomics on clinical outcomes in major depressive disorder in the GUIDED trial: A large, patient- and rater-blinded, randomized, controlled study. J Psychiatr Res. 2019;111:59-67. doi:10.1016/j.jpsychires.2019.01.003 Swen JJ, van der Wouden CH, Manson LE, et al. A 12-gene pharmacogenetic panel to prevent adverse drug reactions: an open-label, multicentre, controlled, cluster-randomised crossover implementation study. Lancet. 2023;401(10374):347-356. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(22)01841-4

    20 min

  2. JAN 26

    30 - Instant insights: hs-CRP in cardiovascular risk (7 min)

    In this special episode of Healthier World designed to give you Instant Insights, Dr Maeson Latsko discusses the critical role of inflammation in cardiovascular events, focusing on the importance of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) levels. Cardiovascular events often stem from the rupture of soft plaque, which is fueled by inflammation. Hs-CRP can be used to gauge cardiovascular risk, above even when LDL-C is considered normal. Hs-CRP should be thought of as a red flag for chronic conditions that increase risk for CVD, such as metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and hypertension, emphasizing the importance of addressing inflammation to prevent heart attacks and strokes. This episode will Differentiate hs-CRP from general CRP levels in the context of acute and chronic inflammation (1:10) Introduce hs-CRP as a critical biomarker for assessing cardiovascular risk (1:50) Highlight the integration of hs-CRP into cardiovascular prevention guidelines (5:00) To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions. Date: 1/2026 Speaker(s):  Maeson Latsko, PhD Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD; Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC; Mouris Saghir, PhD    Additional Resources: Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link] Test summary: hs-CRP Ordering information: Hs-CRP | Test Detail | Quest Diagnostics   References:   Ridker PM, Everett BM, Thuren T, et al. Antiinflammatory therapy with canakinumab for atherosclerotic disease. N Engl J Med. 2017;377 (12):1119-1131. doi:10.1056/NEJMoa1707914 Singh TP, Morris DR, Smith S, et al. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between C-reactive protein and major cardiovascular events in patients with peripheral artery disease. Eur J Vasc Endovasc Surg. 2017;54 (2):220-233. doi:10.1016/j.ejvs.2017.05.009 Jellinger PS, Handelsman Y, Rosenblit PD, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists and American College of Endocrinology guidelines for management of dyslipidemia and prevention of cardiovascular disease. Endocr Pract. 2017;23 (suppl 2):1-87. doi:10.4158/EP171764.APPGL US Preventive Services Task Force. Risk assessment for cardiovascular disease with nontraditional risk factors: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2018;320 (3):272-280. doi:10.1001/jama.2018.8359 Grundy SM, Stone NJ, Bailey AL, et al. 2018 AHA/ACC/AACVPR/AAPA/ABC/ACPM/ ADA/AGS/APhA/ASPC/NLA/PCNA guideline on the management of blood cholesterol: a report of the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association Task Force on Clinical Practice Guidelines. Circulation. 2019;139 (25):e1082-e1143. doi:10.1161/CIR.0000000000000625 Ridker PM, Bhatt DL, Pradhan AD, et al. Inflammation and cholesterol as predictors of cardiovascular events among patients receiving statin therapy: a collaborative analysis of three randomised trials. Lancet. 2023;401(10384):1293-1301. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(23)00215-5 Alam M, Kontopantelis E, Mamas MA, et al. Meta-analysis of the effect of colchicine on C-reactive protein in patients with acute and chronic coronary syndromes. Coron Artery Dis. 2023;34(3):210-215. doi:10.1097/MCA.0000000000001220 Pearson TA, Mensah GA, Alexander RW, et al. Markers of inflammation and cardiovascular disease: application to clinical and public health practice: a statement for healthcare professionals from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Heart Association. Circulation. 2003;107 (3):499-511. doi:10.1161/01.cir.0000052939.59093.45

    7 min

  3. JAN 5

    29 - Encore episode: The insulin resistance revolution (17 min)

    Metabolic dysfunction is a common root cause of many cardiometabolic conditions that burden the healthcare system. This episode will address insulin resistance, a syndrome that underlies metabolic dysfunction, and how tools can catch risk early, allowing actions that may prevent and reverse the onset of chronic illness. Today’s episode is with Quest Diagnostics experts Kenneth French, Senior Clinical Consultant, and Maeson Latsko, PhD, Clinical and Education Specialist.  This episode will Identify how early identification of insulin resistance can prevent the rise in metabolic dysfunction and Type II Diabetes (3:00) Describe the insulin resistance panel with score (8:11)  Elucidate how identifying insulin resistance can prevent other chronic illness, such as liver related disorders and kidney disease (12:41)  The content was current as of the time of recording. To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions.   Date: 09/2024 Speaker(s): Kenneth French; Maeson Latsko, PhD Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD; Kenneth French   Additional Resources: Podcast: Action from Insight: Tackling Insulin Resistance (18 min) Webinar: Early Identification of Type 2 Diabetes Risk for the Primary Care Setting Ordering information: Insulin Resistance Panel with Score | Test Detail | Quest Diagnostics Insulin Resistance Panel with Score | Test Summary | Quest Diagnostics         References: Ward ZJ, Bleich SN, Cradock AL, et al. Projected U.S. State-Level Prevalence of Adult Obesity and Severe Obesity. N Engl J Med. 2019;381(25):2440-2450. doi:10.1056/NEJMsa1909301 Abbasi F, Shiffman D, Tong CH, et al. Insulin resistance probability scores for apparently healthy individuals. J Endocr Soc. 2018;2(9):1050-1057. doi:10.1210/js.2018-00107 Bril F, McPhaul MJ, Kalavalapalli S, et al. Intact fasting insulin identifies nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients without diabetes. J Clin Endocrinol Metab. 2021;106(11):e4360-e4371. doi:10.1210/clinem/dgab417 Healy, M. By 2030, nearly half of all U.S. adults will be obese, experts predict. New York Times. https://www.latimes.com/science/story/2019-12-18/nearly-half-of-us-adults-will-be-obese-by-2030 Khan RMM, Chua ZJY, Tan JC, et al. From Pre-Diabetes to Diabetes: Diagnosis, Treatments and Translational Research. Medicina (Kaunas). 2019;55(9):546. doi:10.3390/medicina55090546

    18 min

  4. 12/22/2025

    28 - Actions from insight: Spotlight on healthy holidays (24 min)

    The holidays are a time of celebration, but they can also be a challenging time to maintain heart-healthy habits. In today’s episode, Maeson Latsko, PhD and Patty Bianchi, MS, RDN discuss how disrupted routines, rich foods, and elevated stress can impact well-being. We discuss realistic, evidence-based ways to enjoy the holidays while supporting cardiometabolic health. This episode will Discuss common challenges faced during the holiday season (2:15) Review ways to avoid holiday weight gain (5:42) Provide practical tips to enjoy the holiday season while supporting your physical health, mental health and well-being (15:10)   To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions. Date: December 2025 Speaker(s):  Maeson Latsko, PhD; Patty Bianchi, MS, RDN Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Patty Bianchi, MS, RDN; Trisha Winchester, PhD; Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC   Additional Resources Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]

    24 min

  5. 12/11/2025

    27 - Viral infections and cardiometabolic complications (12 min)

    Most people recognize that acute inflammation occurs when a person experiences a viral illness. However, many people are unaware that this inflammatory response can increase risk for cardiometabolic events. In this episode, Dr Marc Penn and Maeson Latsko, PhD, discuss how viral infections such as influenza and SARS-CoV-2 trigger inflammation, which can destabilize plaque, accelerate atherosclerosis, and increase the likelihood of cardiovascular events. A cardiometabolic risk assessment is an essential tool to reduce cardiovascular events linked to viral illnesses. This episode will Explain how acute and chronic viral illness increase cardiovascular risk and how vaccinations and infection prevention strategies are key for lowering viral-related cardiovascular complications (1:00) Highlight how metabolic dysfunction such as insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, obesity, and MASLD amplifies the cardiovascular impact of viral infections (7:00) Demonstrate how noninvasive screening tools such as the FIB-4, hs-CRP, and ApoB help identify high-risk patients (9:00) To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions. Date: December 2025 Speaker(s):  Maeson Latsko, PhD; Marc Penn, MD Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD; Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC   Additional Resources Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link] Website: Cardiometabolic disease | Quest Diagnostics Ordering information: Cardiometabolic Disease Assessment (CMDA) Panel References:   Kawai K, Muhere CF, Lemos EV, Francis JM. Viral infections and risk of cardiovascular disease: Systematic review and meta-analysis. J Am Heart Assoc. 2025;14(21):e042670. doi:10.1161/JAHA.125.042670 Kobayashi E, Linden-Santangeli NJ, Chan N, et al. Longitudinal metabolic trajectories in diabetes prevention program participants reveal subgroups with varying micro- and macrovascular complication risks. Diabetes Care. 2025;48(10):1704-1712. doi:10.2337/dc25-0866

    12 min

  6. 11/17/2025

    26 - Type 1 Diabetes: From autoimmune origin to cardiometabolic consequences (15 min)

    Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is an autoimmune disease that remains underrecognized, especially in adults. Once thought of as a childhood condition, nearly half of new cases are now diagnosed in adulthood. T1D can lead to serious complications, including diabetic ketoacidosis, severe hypoglycemia, and eventually cardiometabolic disease. In today’s episode, Maeson Latsko, PhD and Franklin Warren discuss the T1D screening recommendation by the American diabetes Association and how this guidance gives physicians the opportunity to provide more timely, effective interventions, increasing the possibility of preventing complications. This episode will Outline what T1D is and the prevalence of T1D in both children and adults (2:00) Recognize the risk and complications associated with delayed or missed diagnosis, including diabetic ketoacidosis and long-term organ damage (6:20) Review the latest ADA recommendations for screening and early detection of T1D (8:00) To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions. Date: November 2025 Speaker(s):  Maeson Latsko, PhD; Franklin Warren Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Franklin Warren; Trisha Winchester, PhD; Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC   Additional Resources Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link] T1D Autoantibody Panel Overview T1D Autoantibody Panel Test Summary FAQ: Autoantibodies and Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) Staging presymptomatic patients using Diabetes Type 1 Autoantibody Panel   Ordering information: Diabetes Type 1 Autoantibody Panel | Test Detail | Quest Diagnostics   References:   Smith R, Eisenberg S, Turner-Pfifer A, et al. We are on the verge of breakthrough cures for Type 1 Diabetes, but who are the 2 million Americans who have it? J Health Econ Outcomes Res. 2024;11(2):145-153. doi:10.36469/001c.124604 Leslie RD, Evans-Molina C, Freund-Brown J, et al. Adult-onset Type 1 Diabetes: Current understanding and challenges. Diabetes Care. 2021;44(11):2449-2456. doi:10.2337/dc21-0770 American Diabetes Association Professional Practice Committee. 2. Diagnosis and classification of Diabetes: Standards of care in diabetes-2025. Diabetes Care. 2025;48(1 Suppl 1):S27-S49. doi:10.2337/dc25-S002 Roche EF, Menon A, Gill D, Hoey H. Clinical presentation of Type 1 Diabetes. Pediatr Diabetes. 2005;6(2):75-78. doi:10.1111/j.1399-543X.2005.00110.x Phillip M, Achenbach P, Addala A, et al. Consensus guidance for monitoring individuals with islet autoantibody-positive pre-stage 3 Type 1 Diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2024;47(8):1276-1298. doi:10.2337/dci24-0042 Krishnan S, Short KR. Prevalence and significance of cardiometabolic risk factors in children with Type 1 Diabetes. J Cardiometab Syndr. 2009;4(1):50-56. doi:10.1111/j.1559-4572.2008.00034.x Type 1 Diabetes Complications - Breakthrough T1D (https://www.breakthrought1d.org/t1d-resources/complications/) Accessed 10.28.2025

    15 min

  7. 11/03/2025

    25 - Instant insights: Albuminuria (6 min)

    In this special episode designed to give you Instant Insights, we explore how protein in the urine is a powerful marker for both kidney and cardiovascular health. We break down how albumin leaks into the urine when the kidney’s filtration barrier is damaged, review traditional cut points for albumin-to-creatinine ratio (uACR), and discuss emerging evidence showing that even “normal” or low-level albuminuria predicts vascular dysfunction, chronic kidney disease progression, and increased cardiovascular risk. This episode will Explain how albumin appears in the urine and what this indicates about kidney damage (1:00) Discussed different nomenclature used for albuminuria (1:45) Interpret the clinical significance of uACR values (2:15) Describe why albumin levels in the upper end of the normal range may still represent vascular or renal dysfunction (3:00) Recognize that any degree of proteinuria signals increased risk for chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular events (4:30)   To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions. Date: 11/2025 Speaker(s):  Maeson Latsko, PhD Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Trisha Winchester, PhD, Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC, Nathan Adamo     Additional Resources   Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]     Ordering information:  Albumin, Random Urine with Creatinine Kidney Profile   References:   Verma A, Schmidt IM, Claudel S, Palsson R, Waikar SS, Srivastava A. Association of Albuminuria With Chronic Kidney Disease Progression in Persons With Chronic Kidney Disease and Normoalbuminuria : A Cohort Study. Ann Intern Med. 2024 Apr;177(4):467-475. doi: 10.7326/M23-2814. Epub 2024 Apr 2. PMID: 38560911; PMCID: PMC12124184

    6 min

  8. 10/20/2025

    24 - Noninvasive biomarkers for MASLD: FIB4 and ELF (16 min)

    One in three adults worldwide are affected by fatty liver disease, and most are unaware that they have it. Today’s conversation between Andrew Hunt and Maeson Latsko, PhD will dive into Metabolic Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD), a new terminology that replaces NAFLD, emphasizing the close relationship with metabolic risk factors like obesity, diabetes, and dyslipidemia. We focus on the importance of identifying patients at risk for advanced fibrosis early—before irreversible liver damage occurs. A key tool in this early identification is the use of a fibrosis 4 (FIB-4) score, which is a noninvasive blood-based biomarker that uses age, AST, ALT, and platelet count to estimate fibrosis risk and guide next steps in management. We discuss follow-up testing for some at-risk patients using the Enhanced Liver Fibrosis (ELF) test and the need for continued monitoring  of comorbid cardiometabolic conditions. This episode will Explain the shift in terminology from NAFLD to MASLD (4:00) Highlight the importance of early identification of fatty liver disease using the FIB-4 score (5:45) Outline appropriate follow-up testing, including the use of the ELF test to assess liver fibrosis (9:00) Explore the link between MASLD and other cardiometabolic conditions (12:10)   To learn more, please review the additional resources below for information on our cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness offerings as well as educational resources and insights from our team of experts. At Quest Diagnostics, we are committed to providing you with results and insights to support your clinical decisions. Date: 10/2025 Speaker(s):  Andrew Hunt; Maeson Latsko, PhD Contributor(s): Maeson Latsko, PhD; Andrew Hunt; Trisha Winchester, PhD, Millicent Kee, MSN, FNP-BC     Additional Resources   Quest Diagnostics Clinical Education Center [Link]  ELF test detail  FIB4 test summary  2022 AACE algorithm for fatty liver assessment   Ordering information:  CMP + Fib4  Enhanced Liver Fibrosis Score    References:   Ciardullo S, Vergani M, Perseghin G. Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with type 2 diabetes: Screening, diagnosis, and treatment. J Clin Med. 2023;12(17):5597. doi:10.3390/jcm12175597  Rinella ME, Neuschwander-Tetri BA, Siddiqui MS, et al. AASLD Practice Guidance on the clinical assessment and management of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Hepatology. 2023;77(5):1797-1835. doi:10.1097/HEP.0000000000000323  Cusi K, Isaacs S, Barb D, et al. American Association of Clinical Endocrinology Clinical Practice Guideline for the Diagnosis and Management of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Primary Care and Endocrinology Clinical Settings: Co-Sponsored by the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases (AASLD). Endocr Pract. 2022;28(5):528-562. doi:10.1016/j.eprac.2022.03.010  Stern C, Castera L. Identification of high-risk subjects in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Clin Mol Hepatol. 2023;29(Suppl):S196-S206. doi:10.3350/cmh.2022.0431

    17 min
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Healthier World with Quest Diagnostics aims to prompt action from insight as we keep you up to date on current clinical and diagnostic topics in cardiovascular, metabolic, endocrine, and wellness medicine.

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