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Lab giants Quest Diagnostics and Laboratory Corporation of America both launched consumer-initiated testing services this month, empowering consumers to select laboratory testing kits to monitor their health. The new testing services — Pixel by LabCorp, introduced on Nov. 1, and QuestDirect, launched on Nov. 7 — reflect changing trends in how consumers access healthcare, according to company executives.

New data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) show tickborne diseases are again on the rise. In 2017, state and local health departments reported a record number of cases of tickborne disease to CDC. Lyme disease in the US: The Quest Diagnostics Health Trends report

Doctors, hospitals and medical labs used to be concerned about patients who didn’t have insurance not paying their bills. Now they’re scrambling to get paid by the ones who do have insurance. Even large medical companies with national operations are facing the problem. Quest Diagnostics Inc., the lab-testing giant, said 20 percent of services billed to patients in the third quarter of this year went unpaid, costing the company about $80 million in lost revenue.

It is unclear whether supplementation with vitamin D reduces the risk of cancer or cardiovascular disease, and data from randomized trials are limited. Blood samples were obtained at baseline during the run-in period from all willing participants — 16,956 of the 25,871 persons who underwent randomization (65.5%). At no cost to the trial, Quest Diagnostics donated and performed serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D assays with the use of liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry on all samples that could be analyzed.

Clinical Genomics and Quest Diagnostics today announced a five-year extension to a US supply agreement for the InSure One fecal immunochemical test (FIT). Clinical Genomics manufacturers FIT tests, including InSure One FIT. Under the supply agreement extension, Quest will continue to provide the tests to physicians and organized provider groups across the US, including specialized programs to improve colorectal cancer screening rates for accountable care organizations and other organizations focused on value-based care models.