LabReflex
Making diagnostics clearer, smarter, and more effective. Bringing the story behind the numbers.
Latest Episodes
Government Returns!
November 17, 2025
Government Returns! Episode Summary: In this episode of LabReflex, Dr. Chris Zahner breaks down four major developments every laboratory should be watching closely. The federal government is open again after the longest shutdown in U.S. history — but agencies are not fully back to normal. At the same time, severe global flu activity is signaling a challenging U.S. season, host-response diagnostics are advancing rapidly (including UTMB’s own TriVerity validation study), and the FDA’s new fast-track pathway for personalized therapies is poised to shift significant workload onto clinical labs. This solo episode gives you a clear, practical, lab-centered view of what’s happening now and what’s coming next. 🔹 Topics Covered 1. Government Shutdown Ends — But Labs Should Stay Alert Federal agencies like FDA, CMS, and NIH have reopened. Operations are funded only through a temporary patch. Regulatory guidance, reimbursement updates, and grants all have backlogs. Labs should expect delays and uncertainty into early 2026. 2. Global Flu Season Looks Severe — What U.S. Labs Should Prepare For Several countries are experiencing unusually heavy flu activity. The U.S. typically follows global trends by 4–8 weeks. Expected lab impacts: Increased PCR testing for flu, RSV, and COVID More full respiratory panels More bacterial coinfection testing (PCT, CRP, cultures) Potential assay verification for strain drift Winter readiness recommendations for labs: Staffing plans Inventory and supply chain checks Clear respiratory testing algorithms Early communication with ED and clinicians 3. Host-Response Diagnostics — A New Diagnostic Era Host-response diagnostics read immune activity instead of pathogen presence. UTMB is actively validating TriVerity, an mRNA-based immune-response test. Other major technologies: MeMed, Cytovale, Immunexpress, Predigen. Why labs should care: Faster viral vs. bacterial differentiation Early sepsis severity scoring Better ED triage during respiratory season Changing test menus and workflows in clinical labs 4. FDA’s Personalized Therapy Pathway — And the New Burden on Labs FDA is fast-tracking personalized therapies using mechanistic evidence. Smaller clinical trials shift post-market evidence collection to labs. Labs should prepare for: New companion diagnostics Rare or patient-specific LDT development Complex molecular biomarkers Long-term toxicity/genomic monitoring Molecular, genetics, and pathology labs will feel the pressure first. 🔹 Key Takeaways Government is open, but regulatory and reimbursement pipelines are still slow. A heavy flu season is likely coming — labs must prepare early. Host-response diagnostics are quickly moving from research to clinical practice. Personalized therapies require personalized diagnostics — and labs will be the backbone.
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Government Shutdown...
November 11, 2025
Summary: This week, we explore two powerful forces shaping the future of clinical laboratories — the policy storm around the RESULTS Act vs. PAMA and the economic slowdown rippling through major IVD and automation vendors. Together, they reveal how reimbursement pressure and upstream supply constraints could redefine what stability looks like for hospital and independent labs alike. Segments: The RESULTS Act & PAMA Cliff – What Congress is trying to fix, what happens if they don’t, and how labs can model 2026 scenarios now. Vendor Slowdown & Supply Chain Shifts – What’s driving slower product rollouts, higher reagent costs, and what labs can do to stay ahead. Key Takeaways: Plan for the cliff — model 10–15% reductions on core tests for 2026. Push for the fix — advocacy still matters; RESULTS could cap cuts at 5%. Watch vendor behavior — slower innovation and rising costs are early warning signs. Build resilience — diversify supply, automate intelligently, and align with finance. Host: Dr. Chris Zahner Produced by: LabReflex Media Tags: #ClinicalLaboratory #PAMA #RESULTSAct #Diagnostics #LabOperations #HealthcarePolicy
Listen Now →Introduction
June 18, 2025
In this inaugural episode of LabReflex, host Dr. Chris Zahner sets the stage for what this podcast is all about: bringing clarity, curiosity, and clinical relevance to the world of laboratory medicine. Whether you're a pathologist, laboratorian, clinician, or health tech enthusiast, this episode gives you a preview of what’s to come: Why reflex testing, stewardship, and decision support matter How the lab can lead (not just support) clinical care What to expect from future episodes — including interviews, real-world stories, and bold ideas This is your backstage pass to a high-impact, low-bull podcast that’s smart, efficient, and worth your time.
Listen Now →About LabReflex
Diagnostics sit underneath almost every decision in medicine, but most people only see the numbers and not the story behind them. LabReflex brings that story forward, giving it context, and helping people understand what matters and what does not.
Direct, practical, and grounded in actual work rather than theory. Join Dr. Christopher Zahner, a clinical pathologist and former NASA engineer, as he explores the intersection of precision, systems thinking, and diagnostic medicine.
Meet the Creator