Media Coverage

In 2020, Covid-19 prompted a delay of non-urgent in-person medical care and concurrently exacerbated contributors to substance use disorders, including job loss, economic hardship and mental health issues. A Health Trends report from Quest Diagnostics found that 70% of physicians fear they missed signs of drug misuse during the pandemic, and the large majority fear overdose deaths will continue to rise even as the pandemic subsides.

Governor Kathy Hochul today recognized Choose Healthy Life for its work during the pandemic for offering COVID-19 testing and vaccinations through its Black churches across the five boroughs of New York. The state’s commitment is part of a public-private collaboration that includes funding support from founding CHL partner Quest Diagnostics Foundation to hire the church-based community health workforce that has been established in New York and engaging the underserved communities in preventive care and wellness.

Quest for Health Equity (Q4HE) and several Quest employees participated in an Earth Day weekend community event with the Black Church Food Security Network; an association of congregations, farmers, food advocates, and community activists working together to create an alternative food system in the Baltimore metropolitan area.

Before the COVID-19 pandemic, at Quest Diagnostics, we were in the midst of challenging what a traditional lab looked like to enhance quality, capacity, and efficiency while improving the employee experience. We remained committed to moving our East Region lab operations from our legacy lab in Teterboro, NJ, to Clifton, NJ, despite the pandemic challenges. The Clifton lab was built for our employees, with our employees.

As drugs to treat Alzheimer's disease come to market, led by the US Food and Drug Administration approval of Biogen's Aduhelm nearly a year ago, diagnostic tests to detect the disease are following suit. Blood-based biomarker tests have gained particular prominence, as they're less invasive and cheaper than both PET imaging and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarker testing – two current standards of care for patients presenting with Alzheimer's symptoms. Michael Racke, medical director for neurology at Quest Diagnostics, said in an interview that plasma tests are beneficial because they can be used to screen patients who are "normal cognitively" and may be candidates for intervention before they decline.

"Allergy and Omicron symptoms may mimic one another," Jeffrey Dlott, MD, senior medical director at Quest Diagnostics, told Health. "Because of this, someone may confuse COVID symptoms for allergy symptoms and not take the proper precautions to reduce spread." Here's what to know about how similar Omicron symptoms can look compared to allergies, and steps to take to confirm either diagnosis.

Liquid biopsy is proving itself as both an efficacious and cost-effective way to provide a cancer diagnosis to patients. However, to fully realize its potential there will need to be a paradigm shift with a focus on primary care physicians and collaboration across the healthcare enterprise. By Yuri Fesko, MD

Springtime can be a beautiful time of year. Flowers are blooming, trees are budding, and vibrant colors are simply popping out all over. If you deal with seasonal allergies, though, the side effects aren't too pretty. We spoke with Dr. Jeffrey Dlott, Medical Director, QuestDirect to get the lowdown on the ugly side effects of seasonal allergies.

By predicting which individuals are most likely to require therapies for chronic kidney disease within the next year, health plans can better organize resource allocation to smooth or delay the transition for the patient, according to Rehan Waheed, MD of Quest Diagnostics.

The rate of positive drug test results among America’s workforce in 2021 reached its highest level since 2001 and was up more than 30% in the combined workforce from an all-time low in 2010-2012, Quest Diagnostics’ annual Drug Testing Index found. Although year-over-year comparisons showed only small increases in 2021 over 2020, Quest said it rose substantially over the previous five years in most drug categories.

A Harris Poll conducted by Quest Diagnostics suggests that more than 65% of US physicians believe the Alzheimer disease field is on the cusp of a breakthrough, with more than 80% noting that earlier evaluation with blood testing may help improve therapeutic approaches.

"2022 Health at Work" report from Quest Diagnostics reveals the attitudes and expectations of HR executive decision makers (HREs) and employees about the changing world of work, employee health and COVID-19, and what it takes to compete for today's scarcest resource–people.

A majority of physicians believe medicine is on the verge of groundbreaking new treatments for Alzheimer's disease, according to research from Quest Diagnostics.

While value-based care contracts have long played a role in the lab industry, recent comments by Quest Diagnostics executives suggest that such arrangements are growing more prominent and more profitable.

As millions of U.S. employees voluntarily resign and employers desperately scramble to find workers, a new survey suggests employee health strategy might be critical not only to keeping employees well but also keeping them at work. The “2022 Health at Work” report, released by Quest Diagnostics, addresses such hot-button topics as the changing world of work, employee health, and COVID-19.

Digital pathology is here to stay – and we need to embrace it. About the Author: Martin Potash is Managing Director of AmeriPath Denver, Quest Diagnostics, Colorado, USA.

Testing giant Quest Diagnostics is diving into the market for blood tests that aid in the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. The disease afflicts millions of people around the world. But early detection typically relies on costly methods such as brain imaging and cerebrospinal fluid taps. Blood tests like the one developed by Quest promise to make detection easier, less costly and more accessible.

Testicular cancer is highly treatable when diagnosed before reaching advanced stages, and like most cancers, early detection is key in helping to combat it. It’s recommended that males perform routine self-testicular exams, especially between the ages of 18 and 40, and pay close attention to any new findings such as changes of size of the testicle, differences with new firm areas or bumps that have not been there before. "Whether you’re regularly going to the doctor’s office or not, anyone with testicles should administer an at-home check every month or so,” said Dr. Jeffrey Dlott, the medical director of QuestDirect.

Returning guest, Dr. Jeffrey Dlott, Medical Director at QuestDirect, discusses the new “Future of Personalized Healthcare Insights Study 2022” that was conducted by Leaf Group in collaboration with QuestDirect and Well+Good. The study provides a deeper understanding of perceptions and preferences around telehealth, health data usage, and tech adoption, as well as ways to improve a patient’s healthcare journey.

Some in the clinical lab space are concerned that the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recently updated draft guidelines for prescribing opioids downplays the role of toxicology testing in patient monitoring and management. Jeff Gudin, an anesthesiologist and pain management specialist at the University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine as well as senior medical advisor to Quest Diagnostics' drug monitoring and toxicology franchise, said that toxicology testing is essential to physician's understanding of what other drugs might be in a patient's system and whether or not they are using their medication as prescribed.

The rate of American workers testing positive for cocaine and marijuana is at its highest point since 2001, according to an analysis from Quest Diagnostics. The Quest study is based on more than 11 million de-identified urine, hair and oral fluid drug test results collected between January and December 2021.

Quest Diagnostics, as part of its Quest for Health Equity initiative, is providing a grant for SAT college prep and AP courses for 300 students who are economically disadvantaged. Through conversations with the city of Marlborough's mayor's office and the Marlborough Economic Development Corporation, Quest became aware of the large number of high school students who do not have access to college-prep programs due to financial hardship.

Quest Diagnostics announced a collaboration with IRIS (Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems) to deliver diabetic retinal imaging services through designated Quest Diagnostics patient service centers across the United States to aid in screening patients for retinal assessment by a healthcare provider, according to a news release.

Jay Wohlgemuth, chief medical officer at Quest Diagnostics, said competing laboratories, manufacturers and academics are working together to compile data and come up with messaging for how to use the test results that federal regulators will approve.

Through a thoughtful agrarian-focused program with roots in one of the nation’s poorest communities in the South Bronx, the Green Bronx Machine cultivates a one-of-a-kind experience through hands-on activities related to planting, growing, cooking, and eating nutritious food. This spring, GBM is expanding its reach as they team up with the Quest Diagnostics Foundation, as part of the Quest for Health Equity (Q4HE) initiative, expanding the esteemed Green Bronx Machine Classroom Curriculum to 30 more schools in New York, Colorado, and Ohio reaching 15,000 additional students across the US.