Quest4Health.com Lauded in Healthcare Category for 'Visionary Application of Information Technology to Promote Positive Social and Economic Progress'

MADISON, N.J., June 3 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, today announced that its subsidiary Quest Diagnostics India Pvt. Ltd. has been recognized as a Laureate by the International Data Group's (IDG) Computerworld Honors Program. The award, honoring the company's leadership in the healthcare category for using information technology to benefit society, recognized the contributions that its comprehensive internet-based portal www.Quest4Health.com has made toward the improved health of the people of India.

"Each year, the Computerworld Honors Program seeks to recognize organizations, from a variety of sectors, for their ongoing efforts to utilize technology in order to benefit society," said Ron Milton, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for the Computerworld Information Technology Awards Foundation and Executive Vice President of Computerworld. "We congratulate Quest Diagnostics for introducing a visionary application of information technology to the healthcare industry that demonstrates a commitment to the people of India, an informed understanding of the needs of a diverse population, and an ability to foster a community's improved health through innovative technologies."

Founded by International Data Group (IDG) in 1988, the Computerworld Honors Program is governed by the not-for-profit Computerworld Information Technology Awards Foundation. Each year, the program's Chairmen's Committee, a group of 100 Chairmen/CEOs of global technology companies, nominates individuals and organizations around the world whose visionary application of information technology promotes positive social and economic progress.

"With Quest4Health.com, Quest Diagnostics introduced a first in health portals, one that combines online diagnostics and social networking, and that works to spread awareness about prevalent lifestyle diseases and empower patients with information about risks, prevention and treatment," said Devi Prasad Karuppur, Ph.D., Vice President, International Market Development. "We are honored to receive this industry distinction, and gratified to see healthcare providers, employers and patients in India taking advantage of the profound benefits that technology-based health information and services can provide."

More than 300 million people comprise India's middle class, and that number is growing rapidly. Diabetes alone affected 40 million people in India in 2007. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that diabetes, heart disease and stroke together will cost about $333.6 billion over the next 10 years in India alone.

Quest4Health.com, which was developed by Quest Diagnostics India with the support of HCL Technologies Ltd., allows patients, physicians and employers in India to securely order tests, schedule appointments and make payments online, and allows users to sponsor medical tests and wellness packages for family and friends across geographical distances. Consumers view their results online through user-friendly wellness reports, which include auxiliary data to help interpret results and improve community awareness of key lifestyle diseases, symptoms, diagnosis and prevention. The health portal facilitates patient interaction with medical specialists and physicians through blogs, forums, and stories, and provides access, for a second opinion, to independent medical experts at Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute laboratories. By fostering online support groups and communities, it harnesses the power of social networking to help patients share information about disease, therapies, symptoms, and physicians. A source for general health and disease-related information, it empowers consumers with access to interactive health tools and an extensive online health library.

Quest Diagnostics began operating its 65,000 square-foot, state-of-the-art laboratory in Gurgaon, a satellite city of Delhi, in March 2008. The business offers the broadest range of diagnostic and wellness testing services in the industry, including esoteric testing, clinical trials central lab and support services, and risk assessment services to life insurance companies under the ExamOne® brand. For more information about Quest Diagnostics India, visit www.QuestDiagnostics.in. For more information about the health portal serving residents in India, visit www.Quest4Health.com.

About Quest Diagnostics

Quest Diagnostics is the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services that patients and doctors need to make better healthcare decisions. The company offers the broadest access to diagnostic testing services through its network of laboratories and patient service centers, and provides interpretive consultation through its extensive medical and scientific staff. Quest Diagnostics is a pioneer in developing innovative new diagnostic tests and advanced healthcare information technology solutions that help improve patient care. Additional company information is available at: www.QuestDiagnostics.com.

About Computerworld

Computerworld is the leading source of technology news and information for IT influencers worldwide. Computerworld's award-winning Web site (www.computerworld.com), weekly publication, focused conference series and custom research form the hub of the world's largest (40+ edition) global IT media network. In the past six years alone, Computerworld has won more than 100 awards, including Folio Magazine's 2006 Gold EDDIE Award for the best technology/computing magazine, the 2004 and 2006 Magazine of the Year Award, and 2006 Best Overall Web Publication from the American Society of Business Publication Editors (ASBPE). In addition, in 2007 Computerworld's then editor in chief, Don Tennant, received the prestigious Timothy White Award from American Business Media. Computerworld leads the industry with an online audience of over 2 million unique, monthly visitors and a print audience of 1,222,000 readers each week (IntelliQuest CIMS Spring 2007).

SOURCE: Quest Diagnostics Incorporated

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