Skip to content
Elizabeth Holmes- Case Archive
personpersonMehrl EllsworthMehrl EllsworthFormer Theranos patient who received sharply conflicting prostate-specific antigen results.← All People
Witness

Mehrl Ellsworth

Former Theranos patient who received sharply conflicting prostate-specific antigen results.

AppearedFederal Criminal Trial
49 lines·6 proceedings·5 mentions

About

Mehrl Ellsworth testified during the prosecution case about obtaining blood testing before international volunteer service. He said he used Theranos primarily on the advice of his physician, Mark Burnes, and expected the laboratory to provide accurate results.

Ellsworth identified a report from a self-paid May 2015 finger-prick test that showed a PSA value of 26.1, although he said his prior results had never exceeded 2. He then described two additional self-paid finger-prick tests and a fourth, no-charge venous draw performed at his office by a phlebotomist sent by Theranos.

Burnes's testimony and the admitted laboratory records supported Ellsworth's account of repeated testing after sharply inconsistent results. Burnes described values of 26.1, 1.71, 22.8, and 0.95, his request for traditional testing, and corrected reports that later voided the first and third results. The defense did not question Ellsworth.

Trial Record (6)

FederalFederal Criminal TrialAug 31, 2021 – Jan 3, 2022Called by prosecution

Mehrl Ellsworth testified that he used Theranos on his physician's advice and received sharply inconsistent PSA results across four tests. The defense did not question him.

Day 35

CrossMark Burnes — CrossMark BurnesKatherine TrefzMentioned

Summary

Burnes acknowledged Theranos's early appeal, limited his reported use of its testing, and said he knew of no earlier Theranos problem besides Ellsworth's PSA result. He accepted that laboratory errors and method differences occur but characterized significant PSA errors as rare and expected ordinary variation to be small.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

DirectMehrl Ellsworth — DirectMehrl EllsworthJeff Schenk6highlights49lines spoken

Summary

Mehrl Ellsworth described personally purchasing Theranos testing, receiving a reported PSA value of 26.1 after prior values below 2, and undergoing three repeat tests, including a Theranos-directed venous draw.

Highlights (6)

testimony highlightEllsworth explained that he obtained the testing before international volunteer service, went to Theranos primarily on his physician's advice, and expected accurate results because laboratory accuracy was important to him.Open in transcript →
Quote“I HAVE A DEGREE IN MICROBIOLOGY AND A MINOR IN CHEMISTRY, AND I WORKED IN SCIENCE ALL OF MY LIFE, AND ACCURACY WITH MY LAB RESULTS WAS IMPORTANT.”— Mehrl EllsworthEllsworth explained why the accuracy of the Theranos result mattered to him personally.Open in transcript →
evidence eventUsing admitted Exhibit 4938, Ellsworth identified a May 2015 finger-prick test for which he paid personally and confirmed a reported PSA value of 26.1, compared with prior values that had never exceeded 2.Open in transcript →
Quote“YES, I HAD NEVER EXCEEDED A 2.”— Mehrl EllsworthEllsworth contrasted his prior PSA history with the 26.1 value shown in the Theranos record.Open in transcript →
Show all 6 highlights
testimony highlightEllsworth traced three additional Theranos tests, including two more self-paid finger-prick draws and a fourth venous draw performed at his office without charge.Open in transcript →
Quote“A PHLEBOTOMIST WAS DIRECTED BY THERANOS TO COME TO MY OFFICE AND DO A VENOUS BLOOD DRAW.”— Mehrl EllsworthEllsworth distinguished the fourth test from the earlier finger-prick draws and attributed its arrangement to Theranos.Open in transcript →

Day 46

ClosingClosing Argument by the ProsecutionJeff SchenkMentioned

Summary

The prosecution argued that Holmes knowingly deceived investors and patients, linked the documentary and testimonial record to the conspiracy and wire-fraud elements, rebutted the principal defense themes, and requested guilty verdicts on all remaining counts.

Mentioned in this proceeding.

Day 47