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A laboratory test that evaluates high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol function provides unique and novel information for assessing cardiovascular disease risk, according to data presented today (Abstract #1020) by Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) at the 2019 American Heart Association Scientific Sessions. The study is one of four the company will present at the conference, which runs November 16-18, in Philadelphia (Booth #1502).

Technology’s role in health care is creating new opportunities for established health care providers and insurers, as well as entrepreneurs.[CR-LF][CR-LF]That was the conclusion of a panel of health care experts at the Newark Regional Business Partnership series entitled: How Technology is Changing Health Care on Thursday in Newark.[CR-LF]Dr. Damian Alagia, chief clinical officer, Health Systems at Quest Diagnostics said that for an entrepreneur it is a great time to be in medicine.[CR-LF][CR-LF]“Anyplace in health care where you can put the patient in the center of everything you can do … if you look at health systems and doctors offices that are successful, they are the ones that kept the patients at the center, everything emanates from that patient care model. If you get that right everything else falls into place,” said Alagia.

Oxford Immunotec is seeing positive signs emerging from its strategic partnership with Quest Diagnostics in the US for sales of its interferon-gamma release assay for latent tuberculosis while new initiatives and an overhaul of its China business model are driving international growth.[CR-LF][CR-LF]This week, Oxford Immunotec reported third quarter financial results that beat the analysts' average expectations on both the top and bottom lines. On Tuesday, the maker of the T-Spot.TB test, with headquarters in Abingdon, UK, reported 32 percent growth year over year in total revenue and EPS $.03

Quest Diagnostics today announced that it has achieved Gold status in the American Heart Association's 2019 Workplace Health Achievement Index, ranking the company's workplace health initiative among the best in the nation. 2019 marks the second year in a row that Quest has earned this distinction.[CR-LF][CR-LF]More than 1,000 companies completed the Index assessment this year and those which received Gold recognition have demonstrated the highest level of achievement. The Index uses science-based best practices to evaluate the overall quality and comprehensiveness of workplace health programs.

With simpler acquisitions largely done, the larger labs may be in the next phase of their acquisition strategies — deals that require more labor and sweat.[CR-LF][CR-LF]During Quest Diagnostics' recent Q3 2019 earnings call, Chairman, President, and CEO Steve Rusckowski noted that while the company's lab "acquisition pipeline remains strong … most deals in our pipeline are taking more time to develop than they have in the past."[CR-LF][CR-LF]He cited the greater "complexity" of the acquisitions Quest was currently pursuing, saying that "conversations with hospital systems are getting broader," and added that hospital CEOs are interested in how the company "can help them with professional lab services and taking on more of their reference work."

Construction workers and others handling heavy duty machinery in hazardous conditions are more likely to misuse prescription opioid medication and use cocaine than other workers, according to a study released Thursday.[CR-LF][CR-LF][CR-LF]Earlier this year, Quest Diagnostics DGX, -0.46%, a company performing drug-test laboratory work, said there were double-digit increases in drug detection for six of 17 sectors. The tests look for the presence of drugs, including marijuana, amphetamines, cocaine and opiates.

During its Q3 earnings call last week, Quest Diagnostics provided an update on its plans to move its immunoassays to a single vendor as Chairman, President, and CEO Steve Rusckowski said that the company planned to announce that vendor in the near future.[CR-LF][CR-LF]The move to a single vendor will enable "greater throughput, a more efficient footprint, and is expected to save tens of millions of dollars per year," Rusckowski said, noting that this will help offset declines in test reimbursement due to the Protecting Access to Medicare Act (PAMA).

Did you know that our body produces Cannaboid (CBD)? Yes, that’s right! Our body has something called an Endocannabinoid system (ECS) which is also known as “the survival system”. Our ECS regulates everything from rest and relaxation to digestion to inflammation to organ and muscle performance, basically everything in our body that is connected to our brain and central nervous system. The ECS produces CBD which stimulates responses to naturally reduce aches, pains, improve mobility, flexibility, even moods, headaches, and sleep. If this is true, then you might be asking yourself, “Is my ECS even working?” Or maybe you are wondering, “If my body produces CBD why do some tell me this is a controlled substance and I could lose my job if I am using a CBD supplement?”[CR-LF][CR-LF]According to Quest Diagnostics Director of Science and Technology, Barry Sample, "If the product contains only CBD and has had the THC removed, then an individual being tested would not be expected to test positive for marijuana or marijuana metabolite." In other words, drug tests screen for THC, not CBD.

A federal court has given preliminary approval to a class action lawsuit against Quest Diagnostics field on behalf of individuals whose HIV testing data was exposed in a 2016 data breach.[CR-LF][CR-LF]The US District Court for the District of New Jersey approved on October 25, 2019, a $195,000 settlement between the plaintiffs and Quest under which lawsuit class members who are able to show they incurred monetary damages due to the breach can collect $250 each and members whose HIV test results were exposed can collect $75 each.

A federal court granted approval Oct. 25 to Quest Diagnostics to settle a class-action lawsuit that stemmed from a 2016 data breach for $195,000, according to GovInfoSecurity.com.[CR-LF][CR-LF]In November 2016, around 34,000 individuals may have had their protected health information exposed after an unauthorized third party gained access to the lab testing company's web application.