LabReflex
For People Running Labs
What's really happening in the lab and how to make it better
Practical insights on inspections, operations, and performance.
Latest Episodes
Pulse: After the Cookout Parasites, Pneumonia, and the Lab’s Summer Surge
July 13, 2026
# After the Cookout: Parasites, Pneumonia, and the Lab’s Summer Surge ## Summary The conversation covered outbreaks like Cyclosporiasis and Legionnaires Disease, showing how laboratory testing connects to public health investigations. It also discussed the need for better data integration within labs and the potential for diagnostic informatics to drive organic growth in the lab industry. ## Key takeaways * Outbreaks like Cyclosporiasis and Legionnaires Disease highlight the need for laboratories to act as central hubs connecting patient diagnostics with environmental and public health investigations. * Connecting local testing data with broader signals, such as social media searches, could alert labs to potential outbreaks faster. * The laboratory needs to move upstream by driving decisions based on aggregated data rather than just responding to requests from health systems. * Integration of genomic profiling and molecular assays into platforms like EHRs can improve availability and utilization of testing. * The focus for the lab industry should shift toward data informatics to facilitate organic growth, rather than solely focusing on vendor sales pitches. ## Chapters * Welcome To LabReflex * Summer Outbreak Effects * Legionnaires Disease Investigation * Connecting Data And Outbreaks * Oncology Integration Story * Lab As Central Hub ## Mentioned Quest Diagnostics, Flatiron Health, ADLM 2026 (00:00) - Intro (00:08) - Welcome To LabReflex (03:54) - Summer Outbreak Effects (08:20) - Legionnaires Disease Investigation (13:10) - Connecting Data And Outbreaks (15:08) - Oncology Integration Story (24:43) - Lab As Central Hub (26:00) - Outro
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Deep Dive: The DMT Defined (Part 2 of 6)
July 9, 2026
DMT Defined Defining what a DMT is and what it is not. Summary The discussion focuses on defining Diagnostic Management Teams (DMTs) by emphasizing that a true DMT must be expert-driven, patient-specific, and aim to establish a single diagnosis in the context of the patient's illness. It contrasts this with simpler processes like reflex testing or utilization management, highlighting the need for comprehensive interpretation rather than just providing test results. Key takeaways A DMT must recommend necessary tests and provide a patient-specific diagnosis within the clinical context. The value of a finding depends on whether it is provided at a time when clinical decisions are being made. Reflex testing is a tool, not the DMT itself; the DMT establishes the diagnosis based on that information. A true DMT requires expert-driven input and aims for a single diagnosis, unlike utilization management which focuses on groupthink. The process needs to be patient-specific, requiring time, which is why it is often avoided in favor of case conferences for less complex issues. Chapters 0:00 Defining What A DMT Is 1:10 The Evolution Of DMTs 3:29 Critical Ingredients Of A DMT 12:45 DMT Versus Utilization Management 14:04 Reflex Testing Is Not A DMT 37:10 Checklist For Real DMTs Mentioned Dr. Michael Appasada, Penn, Mass General, Spalding Rehabilitation Hospital, Amazon One, Amazon Health, Open Evidence AI, Plavix. Quotes > You have to say what tests are necessary and you have to provide a diagnosis for that patient, patient specific in the clinical context of that patient. > It is a consult that is expert driven and patient specific in the context of the patient's illness. And its goal is to conclusively establish a single diagnosis. > Reflex testing is not the DMT because reflex testing says to figure out the diagnosis, you would want to do this test first based upon that you do this test or that test. (00:00) - Intro (00:08) - Defining What A DMT Is (01:19) - The Evolution Of DMTs (03:38) - Critical Ingredients Of A DMT (12:53) - DMT Versus Utilization Management (14:13) - Reflex Testing Is Not A DMT (37:18) - Checklist For Real DMTs
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Pulse: What’s Happening Now and What We’re Watching Before ADLM
June 30, 2026
(00:00) - Intro (00:08) - Start (00:08) - Welcome To LabReflex (02:31) - Measles Outbreak And Preparedness (10:07) - Enterprise Ready Clinical AI (22:39) - Point Of Care Testing Ecosystem (25:21) - Who Owns The AI Data (29:08) - Lab Business And Future Growth (31:33) - Outro
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Professional profiles for the people behind the conversations. Pathologists, lab leaders, and topic experts connected through LabReflex.
Dr. Christopher Zahner
Division Chief of Clinical Pathology · The University of Texas Medical Branch
Clinical Pathologist • Former NASA Engineer • Division Chief of Clinical Pathology at UTMB
Aakash Bhatia, M.D., FCAP
Director of Hematopathology & Flow Cytometry · The University of Texas Medical Branch
Hematopathologist • Director of Hematopathology & Flow Cytometry at UTMB • Digital and AI Pathology Enthusiast
Michael Laposata, M.D.
Former Chair of Pathology · University of Texas Medical Branch
Deep Dive
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Longer explorations of one topic
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Stories from the bench and beyond
Pulse
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Quick takes on lab medicine
Useful lab insights. No noise. Only what matters.
Short updates on operations, inspections, and lab leadership.
About LabReflex
Diagnostics drive nearly every decision in medicine, but most people only see the numbers. LabReflex gives those numbers context -- what matters, what doesn't, and what to do about it.
Direct, practical, and grounded in actual work. Hosted by Dr. Christopher Zahner, a clinical pathologist and former NASA engineer, alongside Dr. Aakash Bhatia, a hematopathologist focused on diagnostic precision and the future of pathology.
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