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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.”