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.

Quest Diagnostics recently surveyed over 500 physicians in coordination with The Harris Poll to uncover attitudes about the rising drug overdose crisis and the role of clinical drug testing in safely prescribing opioids. A key theme emerged from the findings: physicians believe clinical drug testing is critical for managing opioids and other prescribed controlled medications, but feel clearer guidelines are needed to help optimize its use.

Diabetic retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness in the U.S., according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Now, an expanded collaboration between Quest Diagnostics and IRIS (Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems) aims to increase convenience and improve screening rates for this condition.

As society begins to open back up again, we wanted to know your thoughts on health care and what you personally need to live fully. So together with QuestDirect™—a service from Quest Diagnostics® that makes it easy to buy lab tests online for at-home or in-person collection without visiting a doctor first—we asked Well+Good readers in a survey, and over 1,400 of you responded.

Working Americans tested positive for drugs last year at the highest rate in more than two decades, mostly due to an increase in positive marijuana tests, according to research from Quest Diagnostics.

Allergy responses start because you've come in contact with allergens, but a lot of them might be invisible to you, says Harvey Kaufman, MD, senior medical director at Quest Diagnostics, with a specialization in allergy testing. "Understanding the cause of your allergies and identifying sensitivity plays a pivotal role in managing seasonal allergies," Dr. Kaufman says.

Positive drug tests among U.S. workers hit the highest level since 2001 last year, according to an analysis released Wednesday by Quest Diagnostics, one of the largest drug-testing laboratories in the country.

The percentage of working Americans testing positive for drugs hit a two-decade high last year, driven by an increase in positive marijuana tests, as businesses might have loosened screening policies amid nationwide labor shortages. Of the more than six million general workforce urine tests that Quest Diagnostics Inc., one of the country’s largest drug-testing laboratories, screened for marijuana last year, 3.9% came back positive, an increase of more than 8% from 2020, according to Quest’s annual drug-testing index.

COVID-19 mandates in the U.S. are loosening or in some cases the restrictions are being eliminated. However, one thing that remains strong is the desire to understand more about the respiratory disease, which is caused by the SARS-CoV-2. To that end, the Centers of Disease and Control and Prevention has contracted Quest Diagnostics to employ a comprehensive menu of COVID-19 antibody tests and data analytics services to research the disease. Quest won the $19.5 million contract in a competitive bid.

The Quest Diagnostics Foundation has donated $500,000 to Project Health Opportunities for People Everywhere (HOPE) to aid humanitarian crisis relief for Ukraine and for Ukrainian refugees in Eastern Europe.

The Covid-19 pandemic has hastened consumers’ willingness to test for more medical conditions at home, test makers said, expanding the market for self-diagnostic products. Manufacturers are developing new types of at-home tests, including for flu and strep throat, aimed at consumers who are increasingly monitoring and managing their own health through fitness apps and smartwatches. Cathy Doherty, an executive at Quest in charge of the consumer-testing business, said Quest’s research shows that consumers are interested in a wider range of at-home tests, but many still prefer visiting a doctor’s office or testing center to make sure the tests are performed correctly.

Choose Healthy Life's lead church in Newark, Metropolitan Baptist Church and its Senior Pastor Rev. Dr. David Jefferson Sr. Esq., along with all the pastors from Choose Healthy Life churches in the city joined with the Mayor of Newark Ras Baraka and Choose Healthy Life Founder Debra Fraser-Howze to acknowledge the major contribution of the Black clergy to address the COVID-19 pandemic with testing and vaccination events. “We saw firsthand the disproportionate impact COVID-19 had on the Black community and the vast health inequities it unveiled,” said Ruth Clements, Vice President and General Manager of Infectious Diseases & Immunology and leader for Quest for Health Equity at Quest Diagnostics.

Serving consumers interested in ordering their own clinical laboratory tests is a goal in an expanded collaboration involving Quest Diagnostics and Walmart. This is also consistent with The Dark Report’s prediction that retail pharmacies are poised to expand the diagnostic testing services they offer to customers. The development gives Quest a greater chance to meet patients online while also capitalizing on the growing familiarity of consumer-initiated testing, said Cathy Doherty, Senior Vice President and Group Executive of Clinical Franchise Solutions and Marketing at Quest.

Businesses are in a hiring spree in the middle of what’s called “the Great Resignation.” Meanwhile, they’re also working to keep their current employees by conducting the opposite of an exit interview. The number one reason employees stay or leave is how much they trust their immediate supervisor. It's a message that resonated with Cecilia McKenney, the head of human resources for Quest's 50,000 employees.

A new study found an increasing amount of younger adults are being diagnosed with colorectal, rectal, and colon cancer. The research found those in their 20’s had a 133% increase in rectal-only, distant-stage cancer over a 16 year period. Doctors continue to encourage getting colon cancer screenings and talking to your doctor about family health history. Harvey Kaufman, M.D., senior medical director of Quest Diagnostics adds that colorectal cancer has a link to weight, and given adolescent obesity rates are on the rise, there could be a connection there.

Quest Diagnostics' longtime CEO Stephen Rusckowski seems to be taking the old adage to "quit while you're ahead" very seriously. On Thursday, the same day that it published a 2021 earnings report illustrating what was easily its strongest year yet, the lab testing giant announced that Rusckowski will step down from his place at the helm at the end of October.

Steve Rusckowski discusses how the omicron variant impacted Q4 earnings on 'The Claman Countdown.'

The at-home testing market is bigger than just Covid tests, and it's bigger than over-the-counter pregnancy tests. In fact, the emerging marketplace of consumer-initiated lab testing may be worth more than $2 billion by 2025, according to Quest Diagnostics.

Quest Diagnostics said Monday that it will offer consumer-initiated lab testing in collaboration with Walmart. Quest said it is making more than 50 tests, including those for general health, digestive health, allergy, heart health, women's health, and infectious disease, available at Walmart.com through its QuestDirect service.

Clinical laboratory Quest Diagnostics is launching an at-home COVID-19 rapid antigen test service that can certify results 24/7 via telehealth. The service enables the 15-minute self-administered Abbott BinaxNow COVID-19 home test to be used under observation from a certified telehealth proctor.

Quest Diagnostics will acquire the patient engagement company Pack Health, the organizations announced. "Quest Diagnostics and Pack Health have complementary capabilities that, when combined, will strengthen our ability to help health plans and other risk-bearing organizations deliver value-based care," Dermot Shorten, senior vice president of strategy, mergers and acquisitions, and ventures at Quest Diagnostics, wrote in an email.

Harvey Kaufman, MD, MBA, senior medical director at Quest Diagnostics, led a study for the company examining the impact of COVID-19 on prostate cancer screening and diagnoses. The results of the study are part of Quest Diagnostics Health Trends, which he has been involved with since it began in 2005 and now leads. CLP sat down with Kaufman prior to the Omicron surge to discuss the findings of the study and about the future of diagnostic testing in general.

Quest Diagnostics signaled an upbeat 2021 profit as COVID-19 testing volumes surged with the spread of the Omicron coronavirus variant in the United States. Quest said it performed over 120,000 PCR tests per day in the last couple of weeks of 2021, and over 150,000 tests a day at the beginning of this year.

At-home COVID-19 antigen tests are in high demand, and for good reason. They're quick, convenient, and can help you contain the spread of the infection. That said, the FDA has acknowledged that certain rapid antigen tests may be less sensitive to the Omicron variant, prompting speculation that there's got to be a better way. "As more countries continue the double-swab method, it may impact future FDA and CDC guidelines for those of us in the US. But it's important to reiterate that this method is currently not authorized by the FDA," says Jeffrey Dlott, MD, the medical director of consumer health at Quest Diagnostics, which conducts testing for COVID-19 and other infectious diseases.

Quest Diagnostics, a diagnostic information services provider based in New Jersey, announced Dec. 14 it has acquired Labtech Diagnostics, an independent clinical diagnostic laboratory provider in Anderson, for an undisclosed sum.

A study published in JAMA Pediatrics this fall suggested that more than half of all US children have detectable levels of lead in their blood – and that elevated blood lead levels were closely associated with race, poverty and living in older housing. “Most American children are exposed to lead, a substance that is not safe at any level,” said co-author Dr Harvey Kaufman, a senior medical director at Quest Diagnostics, which led the study.