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Mendelspod PodcastThe 21st is the Century of Biology. A radical advancement in the knowledge of basic biology and human disease is transforming our world. We interview the heroes beneath the headlines. Author: Theral Timpson
Offering a front row seat to the Century of Biology, veteran podcast host Theral Timpson interviews the who's who in genomics and genomic medicine. www.mendelspod.com Language: en Genres: Natural Sciences, News, Science, Tech News Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Mass Spec Comes to the Routine Core Lab: Don Mason of Roche on a New Era in Clinical Testing
Tuesday, 22 September, 2026
Mass spectrometry has been one of the most powerful technologies in clinical testing for decades. So why is it still largely confined to specialty labs?Don Mason has spent more than 25 years in clinical mass spectrometry. Now Senior Marketing Manager for Mass Spectrometry at Roche Diagnostics, he says the technology’s strength has also been its weakness: “Part of its power and part of its challenges are linked.” Mass spec is extraordinarily sensitive, selective and flexible, but traditionally requires specialized operators, complicated workflows and batch processing.That may finally be changing. Last year Roche launched their new cobas Mass Spec solution designed to automate the process from sample preparation through result reporting. It also brings random-access mass spectrometry into the routine clinical lab. Mason says a sample can now produce a numerical result in as little as 34 minutes, compared with turnaround times that can stretch into days with traditional workflows. He points to transplant drug monitoring and antibiotic and antifungal monitoring in critically ill patients as examples where that difference could matter clinically.But automation isn’t simply about replacing expertise. Mason argues that moving established assays onto standardized systems could free mass spectrometrists to develop the next generation of tests: “This in turn becomes the innovation engine for tomorrow’s routine mass spectrometry-based tests.”Roche currently has seven assays available in the U.S., with more expected beginning in 2027. Looking further ahead, Mason sees a much bigger transition. Just as MALDI-TOF transformed microbial identification, he predicts LC-MS will become standard equipment in more and more clinical laboratories over the coming decade. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit www.mendelspod.com/subscribe
