Quest Diagnostics Incorporated announced today that its Care360 eMaxx physician portal now offers enhanced electronic prescribing services with online access to patients' pharmacy benefit information. The patient-centric Care360 eMaxx physician portal was developed by MedPlus™, Quest Diagnostics' healthcare information technology subsidiary.

The Care360 eMaxx physician portal features a live connection to RxHub, an electronic exchange for the prescribing industry, that lets physicians view medication histories for their patients, check pharmacy plan eligibility and formulary information, and write prescriptions electronically within seconds.

Earlier this year Quest Diagnostics signed agreements with RxHub, Medco Health Solutions and Express Scripts to gain online access to their pharmacy benefit services and information. Quest Diagnostics is the only laboratory company with access to RxHub. RxHub is a joint venture formed in 2001 by Medco, AdvancePCS (acquired by Caremark Rx), and Express Scripts, three of the leading pharmacy benefit managers in the United States.

"Quest Diagnostics advances the use of information technology solutions that help improve patient care, and doctors naturally look to us for innovative tools like the Care360 eMaxx patient-centric portal," said Richard A. Mahoney, Vice President, Healthcare Information Solutions at Quest Diagnostics. "No other laboratory provider offers doctors this combination of actionable information -- labs, pharmacy benefits and other clinical information -- through a single log-on that can help them to glean important clinical insights and deliver better patient care."

The Care360 eMaxx physician portal enables physicians to order diagnostic tests and review laboratory results online; prescribe medication at the point of care; view clinical and administrative information from multiple sources; file documents received electronically or in hard copy into a health record; and share confidential patient information with medical colleagues in a manner that is consistent with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act) privacy and security requirements.

In three easy steps physicians can create and send online prescription orders with the Care360 eMaxx physician portal to the majority of retail pharmacies in the nation. Beginning next year the physician portal will offer enhanced two-way communication between physicians and retail pharmacies through SureScripts, the largest network provider of electronic prescribing services. It will allow physicians to electronically respond to prescription renewal requests in addition to transmitting prescription orders, minimizing time spent phoning and faxing. Today, more than 75% of the nation's retail pharmacies are in the process of establishing connections to the SureScripts network.

Visit MedPlus and see the Care360 eMaxx physician portal at booth 2274 at the American Academy of Family Physicians Scientific Assembly in Orlando, Florida, October 14-17, 2004.

About Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics Incorporated is the nation's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, providing insights that enable healthcare professionals to make decisions that improve health. The company offers the broadest access to diagnostic testing services through its national network of laboratories and patient service centers, and provides interpretive consultation through its extensive medical and scientific staff. Quest Diagnostics is the leading provider of esoteric testing, including gene-based medical testing, and provides advanced information technology solutions to improve patient care. Quest Diagnostics' healthcare information technology subsidiary, MedPlus, is a leading developer and integrator of clinical connectivity and data management solutions for healthcare organizations and clinicians. Additional company information is available at: http://www.questdiagnostics.com/

The statements in this press release which are not historical facts or information may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to be materially different. Certain of these risks and uncertainties may include, but are not limited to, competitive environment, changes in government regulations, changing relationships with customers, payers, suppliers and strategic partners and other factors described in the Quest Diagnostics Incorporated 2003 Form 10-K and subsequent filings.

SOURCE: Quest Diagnostics Incorporated

CONTACT: Investors - Laure Park, +1-201-393-5030, Media - Jennifer
Somers, +1-201-393-5700, both for Quest Diagnostics Incorporated

Web site: http://www.questdiagnostics.com/