Quest Diagnostics Incorporated , a leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic testing, today announced its sponsorship to support the distribution of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's (NCCN) new CD-ROM entitled Cancer Testing: Work up, Staging, and Follow-up within the Complete Library of NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. The guidelines for cancer testing are intended to acquaint primary care physicians and non-cancer specialists with the specific tests indicated for each cancer at a specific point in a patient's disease. Quest Diagnostics is distributing the CD-ROM to physician offices nationally and will offer it to physicians attending select medical conferences.
The guidelines cover cancer-related testing for more than 100 different cancers and focus on work-up and follow-up testing that patients undergo as part of their initial evaluation for cancer and their ongoing monitoring following therapy. Additional goals of the NCCN's cancer testing guidelines are to facilitate primary care physicians' understanding of the rationale for a specific set of tests and to enable them to reassure patients about the adequacy and appropriateness of the scope and scheduling of their tests. For more information, or to obtain a copy of the NCCN cancer testing guidelines on CD-ROM, physicians may contact their Quest Diagnostics sales representative.
Quest Diagnostics provided an unrestricted educational grant that supports the distribution of the CD-ROM, which was developed independently by the NCCN, a non-profit alliance of 19 of the world's leading cancer centers that develops educational materials related to the current best practices in the detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. The NCCN publishes NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, which are the recognized standards for clinical policy in the oncology community. These guidelines, which are updated annually, are the result of an evidence-based, consensus-driven process by multi-disciplinary panels of expert physicians from NCCN member institutions. Now, for the first time, physicians who typically detect and diagnose cancer, including primary care physicians, gynecologists and gastroenterologists, will have access to a comprehensive set of clinical practice guidelines that focus on cancer testing for detection and follow-up monitoring.
"As a leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic testing, we feel it is imperative that healthcare professionals who represent the front lines in cancer prevention and early detection have rigorous guidelines available to assist them in the most appropriate use of cancer tests," said Surya N. Mohapatra, Ph.D., President and Chief Operating Officer of Quest Diagnostics. "We are fully committed to helping healthcare professionals and their patients by supporting initiatives like this that guide best practices in cancer testing."
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 in the United States 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 also empowers healthcare organizations and clinicians with state-of-the-art connectivity solutions that improve patient care. Additional company information is available at: 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, unanticipated expenditures, changing relationships with customers, payers, suppliers and strategic partners, competitive environment, changes in government regulations, conditions of the economy and other factors described in the Quest Diagnostics Incorporated 2002 Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
SOURCE: Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
CONTACT: Media - Jennifer Somers, +1-201-393-5700, or Investors - Laure
Park, +1-201-393-5030, for Quest Diagnostics
Web site: http://www.questdiagnostics.com/