SECAUCUS, N.J., Jan. 18, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Quest
Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading
provider of diagnostic information services, today announced that
it has entered into an agreement with the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC) to provide genomic sequencing to
identify new mutations in, and patterns of transmission of
SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19. Financial terms of the
agreement are not disclosed.
The goal of the collaboration is to aid the CDC in
conducting a large-scale longitudinal genomic survey of the
SARS-CoV-2 virus using a random set of samples collected from
Quest's labs across the United
States. The company will perform the sequencing from its
advanced diagnostics laboratory in San
Juan Capistrano, Calif.
Viruses can mutate over time. In recent weeks, highly
transmissible variants of the SARS-CoV-2 virus first discovered in
the United Kingdom and
South Africa have been identified
in the United States.
Quest Diagnostics will sequence the viral genomes of random
de-identified samples that test positive in the course of providing
molecular diagnostic testing for SARS-CoV-2 for providers and
patients, and provide the CDC with completed whole viral
sequences. These data will be combined with the results of other
data provided to the CDC by national, state, academic, and
commercial labs to help meet the CDC survey's aims.
"Public and private collaboration is essential to mobilizing an
effective response to COVID-19," said Jay
G. Wohlgemuth, M.D., Senior Vice President and Chief Medical
Officer. "Quest has the expertise in genomics and infectious
diseases, as well as extensive COVID-19 testing data and access to
patient samples. Our program will complement and extend the
efforts of the CDC to discover and track new virus mutations and
thereby improve public health response to the pandemic."
The CDC's survey aims to provide important baseline information
for national and state-level surveillance, help define changes in
transmission, identify new variants of the virus, and improve the
public health response to the virus.
Quest Diagnostics and the CDC have a long history of
collaboration to improve public health initiatives. Most recently,
Quest joined the CDC's seroprevalence survey, which analyzes
results of de-identified COVID-19 antibody tests to identify rates
of COVID-19 prevalence in the United
States. In addition, Quest is a member of the SARS-CoV-2
Sequencing for Public Health Emergency Response, Epidemiology and
Surveillance (SPHERES) consortium, which launched in
May 2020. Quest and the CDC are also
long-time collaborators to identify trends in screening, diagnosis
and treatment in viral hepatitis, HIV and sexually transmitted
infections in the United
States, based on insights revealed by analysis of Quest's
national testing database.
About COVID-19 Testing at Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics is at the forefront of the response to the
COVID-19 pandemic, working to broaden access to laboratory insights
to help us all lead healthier lives. We provide both
molecular diagnostic and antibody serology tests to aid in the
diagnosis of COVID-19 and immune response. Through our team
of dedicated phlebotomists, air fleet team, couriers and laboratory
professionals, Quest Diagnostics works hard every day to help
patients and communities across the
United States access quality COVID-19 testing.
For more information about the latest developments with our
COVID-19 testing, visit:
newsroom.questdiagnostics.com/COVIDTestingUpdates
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve
health outcomes. Derived from the world's largest database of
clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to
identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve
health care management. Quest annually serves one in three adult
Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United
States, and our 47,000 employees understand that, in the right
hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can
inspire actions that transform lives. Learn more about Quest
Diagnostics at www.QuestDiagnostics.com or follow us on social
media: Linkedin, Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.
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SOURCE Quest Diagnostics