ARUP Laboratories will join the community of pediatric professionals at the annual American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) National Conference and Exhibition, which will be held October 2-6 in San Diego. The conference provides an opportunity for the medical community to share research and collaborate on how to better treat diseases that affect pediatric patients.

As an academic reference laboratory with deep subspeciality expertise, including in pediatric diseases, ARUP has always recognized that pediatric patients need testing solutions that address their developing physiology. Participating in the conference is the latest of ARUP's many long-standing efforts to support pediatric care.

In April 2025, ARUP launched a dual-target molecular measles assay in response to increasing cases of measles throughout the United States. ARUP is the only national reference laboratory to offer an assay that distinguishes between infection-causing and vaccine-related strains of the virus, enabling clinicians to quickly determine true infections and appropriate next steps to care for their patients. As of September 24, 2026, the CDC had reported 3,659 confirmed cases of measles in the United States in 2026. Of those cases, 61% have occurred in patients who are 19 years or younger. By providing a highly sensitive, specific, and rapid assay, ARUP has aided in response efforts to minimize disease spread, protecting children not only from infections but also from the adverse consequences of infection.

In November 2025, ARUP expanded the variants included in its whole genome and rapid genome sequencing assays. The new variant classes, including copy number variants (CNVs), mitochondrial sequence variants, and SMN1 deletions associated with spinal muscular atrophy, make it possible to detect more pathogenetic variants and better identify genetic causes of disease. ARUP's rapid whole genome sequencing (rWGS) assay provides final results within 3-7 days, significantly shortening the time to diagnosis and making a crucial difference for newborns in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

ARUP has also expanded its allergen testing menu, including allergen component testing. Component testing provides more detailed information about which exact proteins within an allergen cause the reaction, facilitating better management of allergies and minimizing risk of allergic reactions.

The ARUP Institute for Learning offers a free video lecture, Role of Component-Resolved Testing in Food Allergies: From Peanuts to Red Meat Allergies, that explores the role of component-resolved diagnostics in managing common food allergies. The video lecture, which provides free continuing education credit, including CME, is presented by Abdulrahman Saadalla, MB, BCh, ARUP medical director of the Immunology Section, and Patricia R. Slev, PhD, D(ABCC), ARUP medical director of Immunology.

Attendees at the AAP conference will be able to visit booth #2641 to learn about ARUP's latest advancements in pediatric testing and even add their own artistic flair to the ARUP booth.

To learn more about how ARUP has tailored laboratory medicine to support pediatric patients, read the following stories:

• Diagnosing Critically Ill Newborns: The Evolution of Testing and the Promise of Rapid Whole Genome Sequencing
• ARUP Supports Clinicians With Broad Menu, Expert Guidance in Pediatric Laboratory Medicine
• Identifying Genetic Drivers of Childhood Leukemia: ARUP's Cytogenetics Team Leverages Expertise To Provide Answers for Patients in Children's Oncology Group Trials
• ARUP Uses Statistical Modeling To Establish Reference Intervals for Pediatric Patients
• Beckett's Journey: Overcoming the Challenges of Rare Disease Diagnosis With Help From ARUP Autoimmune Disease Testing

Kellie Carrigan, [email protected]