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Two years after legalizing recreational marijuana, Nevada is telling job seekers: Light 'em up![CR-LF][CR-LF]Starting next year, employers won't be allowed to reject potential job seekers because they failed a test for marijuana use. According to a new law signed this month, an employer can't "fail or refuse to hire a prospective employee because the prospective employee submitted to a screening test and the results of the screening test indicate the presence of marijuana."[CR-LF][CR-LF]The substance remains illegal on the federal level, and is the most commonly detected illicit drug in employment drug testing, according to Quest Diagnostics. Traces of the drug can persist in someone's body for as long as 30 days after the last time they used it, some studies have found.

A positive test for marijuana in pre-employment drug screenings won't be a problem for most people in Nevada, beginning next year.[CR-LF][CR-LF]Nevada became the first state to approve such a drug test law last week, two years after recreational marijuana sales began in the Silver State. The law will not apply to EMTs, firefighters and those who drive vehicles, however. Employers can also reject job applicants for marijuana drug test results if usage can put others' safety at risk.Nationally, about 2.8% of urine-based workplace drug screenings tested positively for marijuana in 2018, according to Quest Diagnostics, a drug-testing service. Marijuana is also the most commonly detected illicit drug, according to the service.

Quest Diagnostics, Secaucus, NJ, has launched three laboratory testing packages for some of the most prevalent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), and is making them available for online purchase by individuals across the continental United States.[CR-LF][CR-LF]The new STD testing packages are the first that any major national laboratory has made available for individuals to order at their discretion. The packages have been designed to meet the needs of individuals who want access to accurate basic or comprehensive STD testing, but are reluctant to engage their healthcare providers directly.

Last fall, Quest Diagnostics, a major drug-and-alcohol-testing provider, dug further into testing results by industry sector. Looking at both random and non-random testing, it found that between 2015 and 2017, the transportation and warehousing sector saw the largest overall increase in positive tests of any sector, in large part due to significant increases in positive tests for cocaine and marijuana. The sector’s overall positivity rate was lower than the majority of other sectors Quest reported on, but the rate of increase is a concern. Year over year, the rate of positive tests for cocaine increased 23% and for marijuana by 33%, Quest reported.

Why do companies use pre-employment drug testing? There are three circumstances in which workers encounter drug tests during the hiring process.[CR-LF][CR-LF]The first is when workers have applied for jobs subject to federally mandated safety testing. Some of those positions are government jobs, such as Customs and Border Patrol agents, while others are in private sector industries such as transportation and nuclear power production. Companies test for drugs using three main specimen types: urine, hair and oral fluid. Each one has different detection windows, advantages and disadvantages.[CR-LF][CR-LF]Urine is the most common sample type, and it's currently the only type permitted by federal testing rules, says Barry Sample, senior director of science and technology at Quest Diagnostics, a clinical laboratory that performs drug testing for employers.

HealthLynked Corp, a leading digital healthcare company, announced today that it has integrated over 400 Quest Diagnostic Collection Center locations throughout the Southeast into the HealthLynked Network's responsive mapping program. Quest Collection Centers are marked by the distinctive Quest logo in the map window of the HealthLynked application, allowing patient members to locate the nearest collection center for lab testing. Hours of operation and that location's services appear in an expanding window above the map pin. The company also has paired participating insurance providers with its patient members.

An agreement has been reached between the HSE and a US laboratory to process the backlog of smear tests in the Cervical Check screening programme.[CR-LF][CR-LF]It follows weeks of uncertainty, with slides put into storage as there were no labs to process them.[CR-LF][CR-LF]The Irish Times reports the deal with Quest Diagnostics will ensure the survival of the screening programme.

The prospect of marijuana legalization might inspire visions of weed-smoking breaks at work, or grabbing a joint with co-workers after a hectic day at the office.[CR-LF][CR-LF]But the reality of legalization in Illinois will likely be much hazier. Some employers might start turning a blind eye to employee use - as long as workers can still do their jobs - a trend that's already happening in some other states where it's legal. Other employers, however, might still ban its use, taking action against employees who test positive for pot, bolstered by federal law under which marijuana is still illegal, experts say.For example, in Colorado, about 96% of employers who used the drug testing company Quest Diagnostics in 2017 still included marijuana in their employee drug testing, said Dr. Barry Sample, senior director of science and technology for Quest's employers solutions business. In Nevada, where recreational cannabis use is also legal, that number was 91% in 2017.

Steve Rusckowski was appointed CEO of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated. This analysis aims first to contrast CEO compensation with other large companies. After that, we will consider the growth in the business. Third, we'll reflect on the total return to shareholders over three years, as a second measure of business performance. The aim of all this is to consider the appropriateness of CEO pay levels.

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated Strategy, SWOT and Corporate Finance Report, is a source of comprehensive company data and information. The report covers the company's structure, operation, SWOT analysis, product and service offerings and corporate actions, providing a 360 view of the company.

Quest Diagnostics announced this week that it is participating in the NCI-Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice clinical trial as a designated laboratory. The firm said both its Med Fusion 50Seq cancer panel and IBM Watson Genomics from Quest Diagnostics service fulfill the trial's criteria for tumor profiling. Under the terms of the collaboration, when oncologists at participating NCI-MATCH sites order tumor profiling to guide clinical care for their patients, Quest will look for trial matches for the patients.

Blockchain holds much promise for improving data privacy, integrity, and quality, although a lot of companies are taking a wait-and-see approach to the model. Quest Diagnostics is not one of them. The provider of clinical lab services for more than a year has been involved in pilot project with other healthcare companies to apply blockchain technology to improve data quality and reduce administrative costs associated with changes to healthcare provider demographic data.

When you have an illness, you begin to learn a whole new language when it comes to taking responsibility for your health. Your physical triggers like (cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, leaky gut, IBS, TSH, fibromyalgia, Type II Diabetes, hypothyroidism, dementia, autism, Parkinson’s, bipolar, autism, schizophrenia, colon, rectal and breast cancers), take center stage in your search for wellness. If you’re not sure if you have MTHFR Gene Mutation, but you have symptoms, you can order the test through your doctor. Most insurance will cover some of the expense. Other options will require you to create a user login: MTHFR Support, dnalife Spectracell Labs, Quest Diagnostics and Lab Corp.

Quest Diagnostics (DGX), a leading provider of diagnostic information services, today announced it is participating as a designated laboratory in the NCI-Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice (NCI-MATCH or EAY131) precision medicine trial, the largest precision medicine trial of its kind. The trial is co-led by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN). Tumor gene testing by a designated lab is the only pathway for patients to enroll.

Sonora Quest Laboratories, Arizona’s leading provider of diagnostic information services, is pleased to welcome Sonya Engle as Chief Operations Officer. An executive with extensive experience leading laboratory testing, program expansion and strategic relationship management initiatives, Engle will head Sonora Quest's laboratory and technical operations.[CR-LF][CR-LF]As COO, Engle will combine operations and talent development, while focusing on motivating and leading a high-performance team to accommodate the rapid growth, services, and innovation at Sonora Quest.

Rejenevie™ Therapeutics announced the commencement of the company's Phase II clinical trial to study the safety and effectiveness of its proprietary AR-100 immune restoration therapy to boost the function of the aging immune system. The clinical-stage biotechnology company develops first-in-world stem cell restoration treatments targeting age-related diseases.[CR-LF]Upon arrival at the Okyanos Center, the restored stem cells are delivered back into the patient through intravenous infusion in a process lasting approximately one hour. After the patient is discharged and returns home, he or she receives periodic blood testing over a 12-month period using a kit developed with global diagnostics company Quest Diagnostics to ensure safety and to determine the therapy's effectiveness.

Quest Diagnostics, a leading provider of diagnostic information services, today announced it is participating as a designated laboratory in the NCI-Molecular Analysis for Therapy Choice (NCI-MATCH or EAY131) precision medicine trial, the largest precision medicine trial of its kind. The trial is co-led by the National Cancer Institute (NCI), part of the National Institutes of Health, and the ECOG-ACRIN Cancer Research Group (ECOG-ACRIN). Tumor gene testing by a designated lab is the only pathway for patients to enroll.

Nonfasting and fasting lipid levels from the same patients had similar results for associations with incident coronary and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, according to results published in JAMA Internal Medicine. Mora reports receiving grants from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute and Pfizer during the conduct of the study; personal fees from Amgen, Pfizer, and Quest Diagnostics, and grants from Atherotech Diagnostics Lab outside the submitted work. Please see study for all other authors’ relevant financial disclosures.

UnitedHealthcare, the health insurance arm of UnitedHealth Group, has once again been named the most valuable healthcare brand in the world by Brand Finance, a business valuation and strategy consultancy.[CR-LF][CR-LF]Each year, Brand Finance uses a seven-step process to assess and rank the value of thousands of companies' brands from around the world. Brand Finance uses a variety of metrics, including marketing investment and business performance, to evaluate brands to determine their strength. Access additional information about the brand valuation methodology here. Quest Diagnostics appeared at number 25.

The rate of workforce drug positivity hit a fourteen-year high in 2018, according to a new analysis released by Quest Diagnostics, a provider of diagnostic information services. Positivity rates in the combined U.S. workforce increased nearly 5% in urine drug tests (4.2% in 2017 versus 4.4% in 2018), climbing to the highest level since 2004 (4.5%) and are now more than 25 % higher than the thirty-year low of 3.5% recorded between 2010 and 2012.

Over the past several decades, public health experts and physicians have pinned a hefty portion of the blame for heart disease on saturated fat. That’s not without reason. The long-chain saturated fatty acids found in foods like steak, butter, and coconut oil raise artery-clogging low–density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol, a cause of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. At the same time, diets high in red meat have been strongly associated with heart disease and mortality.For now, there’s no official guidance on whether to test TMAO levels or in whom. (As a coinventor of the TMAO blood test offered by Quest Diagnostics, Hazen and the Cleveland Clinic are eligible to receive royalties from its use.) There’s also no consensus on whether the metabolite should be reduced and to what level—or how. (One study suggests that low-dose aspirin partially reduces elevated TMAO.) As such, far fewer physicians offer TMAO screening compared with routine cholesterol testing.

The grass-roots trend is back and it’s bringing cannabis with it. Now that CBD is considered legal under federal law, it’s been turned into all types of wellness concoctions, from food and drink to body balms and makeup products. The wellness claims are rampant, but users still have plenty of questions regarding what goes on inside their bodies when they start using CBD (cannabidiol), and if it’s fully legal, safe and effective. The testing surrounding this topic is limited, but according to Barry Sample, director of Science and Technology at Quest Diagnostics Laboratories, only marijuana metabolites, i.e. THC, will show up in drug screenings. Until this is proven, however, it may be wise to avoid all CBD products before being screened for drugs.

In Quest Diagnostics’ decision to change addresses from Madison — its longtime corporate headquarters — to Secaucus, there was one benefit that prevailed above all others in considerations: It would be going where the talent was.[CR-LF][CR-LF]Cecilia McKenney, Quest’s senior vice president and chief human resources officer, said that’s why those in the health care company’s human resource department were the staunchest proponents of the 2016 move.

Lyme disease is in the spotlight this month in Franklin County. [CR-LF][CR-LF]The chronic and debilitating tick-borne illness is more prevalent in Pennsylvania than any other state, and has been since 2011. The number of cases varies depending on the reporting source, but the commonwealth's status as No. 1 in the nation is common among them. [CR-LF][CR-LF]Lab testing company Quest Diagnostics reported 10,001 Pennsylvanians were infected with Lyme disease in 2017. The number of cases increased significantly from 2016 and increased by 78 percent from 2015.

Ticks and the diseases they carry are on the move, rapidly expanding into new territories once considered inhospitable.[CR-LF][CR-LF]While many factors are to blame, the U.S. government affirmed with "high confidence" in a report that one reason is warmer weather connected to climate change.In the last decade, the number of cases of Lyme disease in the U.S. have tripled, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The risk of this tick-borne disease was historically concentrated in the Northeast and upper Midwest, but a recent study by lab giant Quest Diagnostics found cases of Lyme have been detected in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Oxford Immunotec Global PLC, a global, high-growth diagnostics company, today announced that it welcomes the updated Tuberculosis Screening, Testing, and Treatment of U.S. Health Care Personnel: Recommendations from the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association and CDC, 2019, published by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)1. These guidelines increase the focus on eradicating tuberculosis (TB) disease in the United States through an individual risk-based approach to screening and treatment for Healthcare Personnel (HCP).[CR-LF]T-SPOT.TB is available nationally through Quest Diagnostics and regionally through laboratory partners.

The good news for New Jersey? The state is home to 20 Fortune 500 companies, including four in the Top 100 — Johnson & Johnson, Prudential Financial, Merck and Honeywell — according to the latest rankings by the magazine, which were released Thursday.[CR-LF][CR-LF]The bad news? Two of those 20 companies are in the process of relocating their headquarters out of state.[CR-LF][CR-LF]No. 404: Quest Diagnostics (Secaucus);

CBD here, CBD there, CBD seems to be everywhere. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or confused about all the CBD-infused coverage lately, you’ve come to the right place. [CR-LF]Can you take CBD and fail a drug test?[CR-LF]It’s possible. Quest Diagnostics’ Barry Sample told Consumer Reports the urine test most commonly used for drug tests doesn’t look for CBD; it actually looks for a compound created by the body after THC is metabolized.

This year’s Fortune 500 marks the 65th running of the list. In total, Fortune 500 companies represent two-thirds of the U.S. GDP with $13.7 trillion in revenues, $1.1 trillion in profits, $22.6 trillion in market value, and employ 28.7 million people worldwide. Quest Diagnostics is number 404.

A southern Alabama police department is dropping a field test officers use to detect marijuana after the test suggested THC was in bottled CBD water that didn’t contain the marijuana chemical — a mishap that “exposed the deficiencies” of the test, police said.[CR-LF]Barry Sample, senior director of science and technology at the major drug testing company Quest Diagnostics, said the most common urine tests employers use don’t check for CBD, according to Consumer Reports.

The 26-year-old video producer from Reno, Nev., was shocked when a drug test he took as part of a job application came back positive for marijuana. The problem? He hadn’t used marijuana, he says. Instead, J.C., who prefers not to use his name, had taken CBD, or cannabidiol, from hemp to help with sleep and anxiety. And unlike THC, a related compound in cannabis plants, CBD can’t get you high.[CR-LF][CR-LF]So how can you fail a drug test after taking CBD? The urine test most commonly used doesn’t even look for CBD but instead a compound created by the body when it metabolizes THC, says Barry Sample, senior director of science and technology at Quest Diagnostics, the largest administrator of drug tests in the U.S. “There isn’t going to be a laboratory analytical false positive confusing CBD with a THC metabolite.”

Statistics Canada’s most recent National Cannabis Survey estimates 514,000 Canadians are using cannabis before or during work.[CR-LF][CR-LF]While age and gender don’t play a factor in terms of increasing the likelihood of consumption on the job, frequency of cannabis use does. Of cannabis consumers who use cannabis daily or almost daily, 27% of survey respondents say they also consume just before starting work or during working hours. By comparison, a mere 7% of respondents who enjoy cannabis on a more casual basis admit to doing so on the job.[CR-LF]American diagnostics firm Quest Diagnostics reports that the number of positive drug tests in the workplace hit a 14 year high in 2018, including rising numbers in every state where recreational cannabis is legal. The problem with these figures, however, is that they may just show increases because more tests are being conducted. It doesn’t necessarily mean an increase in consumption.

Quest Diagnostics Inc. announced a quarterly dividend on Tuesday, May 14th, RTT News reports. Stockholders of record on Monday, July 8th will be paid a dividend of 0.53 per share by the medical research company on Monday, July 22nd. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.19%.

Some employers choose to build their drug-free workplace programs by leveraging multiple specimen types such as oral fluid, urine, and hair. This diversity allows for accurate, reliable, flexible options that can help to meet a variety of program goals and objectives. Hair drug testing in particular, with its longer window of detection, can detect repetitive drug use for up to 90 days. The ability for a hair drug test to produce a long-term drug use history leads many employers to question whether a hair drug test can consistently and effectively detect one-time drug use.[CR-LF][CR-LF]The simple answer is probably not. Jarod Rowland, Laboratory Supervisor at Quest Diagnostics, specializes in hair testing technology. Rowland explained the strengths and limits of hair tests.

Many employers in New York City will no longer be able to test job applicants for marijuana or THC—the psychoactive ingredient in cannabis—under a rule that was just adopted in the Big Apple. The new mandate will take effect in 2020.[CR-LF][CR-LF]"Prospective employers don't test for alcohol, so marijuana should be no different. But in no way does this bill justify individuals going to work under the influence," said Jumaane Williams, New York City's public advocate and the legislation's sponsor. [CR-LF][CR-LF]We've rounded up the latest news on this topic. Here are SHRM Online resources and news articles from other trusted media outlets.

A friend gave me a great tip tonight! I don't know how I was unaware of this for the past two years![CR-LF][CR-LF]Create a user account with LabCorp and Quest Diagnostics, the two big medical companies. Then go into the Apple Health app, tap the Health Data tab, and then the Health Records. Under the Accounts section, Add Account and connect to LabCorp and Quest. In a minute or so, it will suck down all your medical records, from routine health checks (cholesterol and blood pressure) to whatever you've got special to your health situation.

resident and chief executive officer of Quest Diagnostics, Rusckowski is a keen conceptual thinker and his experience and knowledge of the issues facing the industry make him the ideal leader to capitalize on the opportunities that lie ahead in a dynamic health care environment. Before Quest, Rusckowski was CEO of Philips Healthcare, the largest unit of Royal Philips Electronics. During his time with Philips, revenues increased from approximately 6 billion euros in 2005 to approximately 9 billion euros in 2011, accounting for approximately 39 percent of Philips consolidated revenues, from 21 percent when he became CEO. Before joining Philips, Rusckowski held numerous management positions with the health care division of Hewlett-Packard/Agilent Technologies. He joined Philips when it acquired Agilent’s Healthcare Solutions Group in 2001.

Why do companies use pre-employment drug testing? There are three circumstances in which workers encounter drug tests during the hiring process.[CR-LF][CR-LF]The first is when workers have applied for jobs subject to federally mandated safety testing. Some of those positions are government jobs, such as Customs and Border Patrol agents, while others are in private sector industries such as transportation and nuclear power production.[CR-LF][CR-LF]Urine is the most common sample type, and it's currently the only type permitted by federal testing rules, says Barry Sample, senior director of science and technology at Quest Diagnostics, a clinical laboratory that performs drug testing for employers.

For most of the nearly 30 years I’ve been covering trucking, the industry has been trying to get a federal clearinghouse put in place that will help prevent drivers who test positive for illegal drugs at one company from simply going down the road and getting a job at a different fleet.[CR-LF][CR-LF]It looks like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will finally have one in place in 2020. It’s none too soon, as several factors point to the likelihood that there are more drivers out there under the influence of drugs than the official statistics indicate – and that it’s getting worse.[CR-LF]Last year, Quest Diagnostics, one of the primary labs used to conduct employment drug and alcohol tests, reported that the transportation and warehousing industry saw a 21% increase in positivity rates between 2015 and 2017. And that was before four semi-synthetic opioids (including hydrocodone) were added to the federally mandated drug-testing panel for safety-sensitive workers in January 2018.

For most of the nearly 30 years I’ve been covering trucking, the industry has been trying to get a federal clearinghouse put in place that will help prevent drivers who test positive for illegal drugs at one company from simply going down the road and getting a job at a different fleet.

It looks like the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration will finally have one in place in 2020. It’s none too soon, as several factors point to the likelihood that there are more drivers out there under the influence of drugs than the official statistics indicate – and that it’s getting worse.

It's the time of year when seemingly everyone in D.C. is sneezing and rubbing their eyes.

Especially for newcomers, allergies seem to be worse in D.C. than in other areas of the country. But one allergist said that might actually be true.

Jenni Yoon works at the Allergy and Asthma Center in Silver Spring, Md. She said she can't be sure why allergies seem to be worse in the district. But Yoon said she's seen a steady increase in the severity of symptoms in the past few years -- with 2019 being the worst.

Employers concerned about the increasing use of marijuana among their workers, especially in states that allow it recreationally, may want to reevaluate their policies dealing with drug testing and/or use. That’s one suggestion from the authors of a recent report on workplace drug testing positiviity rates.

Quest Diagnostics’ analysis this month showed the positive rate of workplace drug tests climbed to its highest level since 2004, mainly due to marijuana. The relaxation of some state laws, combined with the tight labor market have prompted some employers to exclude THC from their drug tests. But others seeking to protect their employees and customers, are advised to weigh the risks the drug may pose to their businesses, as they craft policies.

Oxford Immunotec reported today a 27 percent year-over-year increase in first quarter revenues primarily on growth in tuberculosis testing in all geographies.

For the three months ended March 31, 2019, Oxford Immunotec logged $14.8 million in total revenues compared to $11.7 million in the year-ago period. On a constant-currency basis, Q1 revenues increased 39 percent year over year.

On a conference call following release of the company's earnings, Oxford Immunotec CEO Peter Wrighton-Smith noted that revenues came in above the company's implied guidance range of $13.4 million to $14.1 million.

Investors with a long-term horizong may find it valuable to assess Quest Diagnostics Incorporated's (NYSE:DGX) earnings trend over time and against its industry benchmark as opposed to simply looking at a sincle earnings announcement at one point in time. Below is my commentary, albiet very simple and high-level, on how Quest Diagnostics is currently performing.

Before diving into an analysis of these and similar questions, it’s important to get on the same page regarding the substance. Cannabidiol – or CBD – is a chemical found in marijuana and its close relative, hemp. Pure CBD does not contain tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the psychoactive ingredient found in marijuana that produces a high.[CR-LF][CR-LF]The most common CBD formulation started as oil, but CBD is also sold as an extract, a vaporized liquid, and an oil-based capsule. CBD-infused beverages are probably the most common CBD product, but use of CBD-based cosmetic and skincare products is surging in both retail stores and online.[CR-LF][CR-LF]This means that one of your workers or applicants might think they are staying on the right side of the law when using a CBD product, but could inadvertently ingest substances that violate your valid drug policies. Barry Sample, the Director of Science and Technology for the drug testing laboratory Quest Diagnostics, recently observed that the government is not ensuring the level of THC remains low because CBD oil is not regulated in the United States. Therefore, he said, “if somebody is using a CBD oil that contains residual THC in it, they very likely could test positive on a urine drug test. Not because of the CBD itself – but because of a contaminant that is in that oil.”

Shares of LabCorp moved lower following the afternoon disclosure and are trading down $1.51 to $164.12. LabCorp competitor Quest Diagnostics (DGX) gave up some of its gains as well but the shares remain up 51c to $98.67 in afternoon trading.

While the ultimate impact of UnitedHealthcare's newly launched Preferred Laboratory Network remains to be seen, some clinical lab players are suggesting it could be the first step in a broader trend.[CR-LF][CR-LF]Last week UHC announced the lab companies — AmeriPath/DermPath, a division of Quest Diagnostics; BioReference and its GeneDx business; Invitae; Laboratory Corporation of America; Mayo Clinical Laboratories; and Quest — it had selected as participants in its PLN program, which will go into effect on July 1, 2019.

Healthcare Technology Analyst Gill holds a conference call with CEO Rusckowski on May 2 at 1 pm hosted by JPMorgan.

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated executed a shelf takedown of $500 million aggregate principal amount of its 4.200% senior notes due 2029. Goldman Sachs, Mizuho Securities, Morgan Stanley, J.P. Morgan Securities and Wells Fargo Securities acted as joint book-running managers for the offering.[CR-LF][CR-LF]Quest Diagnostics Incorporated is the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information services.

The most recent version of an annual report issued by Quest Diagnostics indicates that 4.4 percent of workplace drug tests in 2018 were positive for illicit drugs, an increase over the 4.2 percent positivity rate in 2017 and the highest rate since 2004. According to Quest, the increase was largely fueled by marijuana use. Across the U.S. work force, the percentage of drug tests that were positive for marijuana rose from 2.6 percent in 2017 to 2.8 percent in 2018.