United States Quest Tender

Quest Diagnostics the worlds leading provider of diagnostic information services launched three new sexually transmitted disease STD laboratory test packages that individuals can purchase online for some of the most prevalent STDs in the United States. The new STD test packages are the first to be offered directly by Quest Diagnostics or any other major national laboratory to allow individuals to purchase tests at their discretion. These new packages have been designed to meet the needs of individuals who want accurate basic or comprehensive STD testing.The new services are designed to empower individuals to access STD screening when they are reluctant to engage their healthcare provider directly. Research by Quest Diagnostics shows that patients and healthcare providers often fail to discuss sexual behavior and STD risk. According to a survey commissioned by Quest 51 percent of females age 18-24 years say they dont want to bring up for discussion the topics of sex or STDs with their clinicians and 49 percent claim their clinician has never asked if they want STD testing.Rates of syphilis gonorrhea and chlamydia have climbed for four consecutive years in the U.S. and are at epidemic levels with nearly 2.3 million cases of diagnosed STDs in 2017 alone according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Half of all new STD cases are acquired by young people between the ages of 15-24 and one in four sexually active adolescents has a sexually transmitted disease.Too many people are not being screened for STDs and one reason is reluctance to discuss risk with healthcare providers said Damian Pat Alagia III MD FACOG FACS an OBGYN and medical director of womans health for Quest Diagnostics. Services that empower individuals to access STD testing extend physician-based care so more people can receive the evaluation and treatment they need.Clinical Grade Testing Made EasyThe STD test services are available in 45 states starting today through QuestDirect an enhanced online consumer-initiated testing service provided by Quest Diagnostics to empower patients to manage and take control of their healthcare by purchasing health and wellness lab testing from the convenience of their home.1 Test results are available on MyQuest the companys secure patient portal accessible on a smartphone tablet or desktop typically within a week and may be shared with the individuals own physician.Licensed physicians provide oversight for all lab tests based upon the information that individuals provide to Quest. This includes ordering tests if appropriate and evaluating results once available. Individuals have the opportunity to speak with a physician to discuss any of the lab results. These physicians may provide treatment for certain conditions in some states and recommend further medical follow-up.Our research shows consumers believe that the ability to purchase certain tests and receive results would facilitate better communication with their physicians and improve their health. Greater access to accurate testing diagnoses and treatment is particularly critical in sexual and reproductive health where medications can often quickly cure many common STDs said Cathy Doherty senior vice president and group executive clinical franchise solutions and marketing Quest Diagnostics. With these services Quest is meeting consumers where they are empowering them to access and take actions from diagnostic insights to improve their health.QuestDirect provides the convenience of access to the companys national network of 2250 patient service centers and uses the same clinical-grade lab technology and STD test services physicians order on behalf of patients. The packages include tests for chlamydia and gonorrhea trichomonas hepatitis B and C syphilis and human immunodeficiency virus HIV. Individual STD tests begin at 49 and the new STD test packages beginning at 199.Many STDs are asymptomatic for various people so infected individuals may be unaware they are infected and unknowingly spread disease to partners. Untreated some STDs can lead to pelvic inflammatory disease chronic pain and infertility in both women and men untreated HIV can lead to acquired immune deficiency syndrome AIDS. The new services are the latest addition to the companys QuestDirect offerings. Launched in November 2018 QuestDirect now offers more than 35 individual tests and test packages focused on general health mens and womens health digestive health heart health infectious disease and sexually transmitted disease testing.Quest Diagnostics has long been a leader in the movement for consumer empowerment in healthcare. The company has been a strong advocate in the effort to provide patients with direct access to lab testing. The company further expanded convenient access to testing services through its collaborations with Safeway and Walmart and has approximately 200 patient service centers in retail store locations. Additionally Quest performs genotyping test services on behalf of Ancestrys AncestryDNA a service that today identifies and quantifies an individuals ethnic origins based on results of DNA testing. Blueprint Fit the first athlete-specific direct-to-consumer service from Quest Diagnostics includes an at-home self-collection option.