Questhealth.com Announces 13 New Blood Test for Micronutrients

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Quest Diagnostics announced 13 new blood tests for micronutrient levels to be released by its QuestHealth.com brand.¹ These tests are designed to be consumer-initiated tests to help individuals who want to determine if they have a micronutrient deficiency. According to Quest, about a third of Americans are at risk of deficiencies, which can have both minor and severe impacts on their health.

Americans face risks of micronutrient deficiencies for a variety of reasons, such as food allergies, lack of access to certain foods, and chronic health conditions.

In a press release, Quest’s medical science liaison of consumer-initiated testing Dr. Katrina Sutton, PharmD, said, “Studies have shown that key vitamins and nutrients such as iron, calcium, and magnesium are under-consumed or may be poorly absorbed in the body, which may have an adverse effect on people's health. What people may not realize is that their medications, allergies, chronic conditions and diets can affect how well their bodies can absorb these essential nutrients. In providing medically-informed testing solutions and detailed results through our various nutrient panels, we hope to empower people to seek the best pathway to help their overall wellbeing."

Richard Adams, senior vice president and general manager of Quest Consumer, added, “This expansion underscores our commitment to offering accessible, personalized, and consumer-driven health insights that can make a meaningful difference in our daily lives. Whether micronutrient deficiencies stem from dietary restrictions, medications, or chronic conditions, our tests provide consumers with valuable tools to take better control over their health."

Micronutrient deficiencies aren’t the only conditions that require more testing. In August, Quest released the results of a new study that suggests that pregnant women in the United States are under tested and treated for two prevalent STIs.²

In a press release issued at the time, the study’s co-author and medical director of women’s health at Quest Diagnostics Damian P. Alagia, MD, said, “Our study adds to a troubling body of evidence highlighting inconsistent quality in maternal and child healthcare in the U.S. Our analysis shows that improved adherence to existing recommendations, harmonization of guidelines across agencies, and even updated recommendations for STI testing will be critical to ensuring the mothers and babies in the United States receive medically appropriate testing and treatment."

In July, Quest announced that it had acquired select assets of OhioHealth’s outreach laboratory system.³ OhioHealth is a not-for-profit, charitable, integrated health system.

In a press release issued at the time, OhioHealth Regional Market president Chris Clinton said, “As healthcare transforms, we need to ensure we can continue to provide high-quality care to our patients that also provides them value. As a trusted industry leader, Quest has the specialization and scale to ensure our patients have continued access to high quality lab services that, in many cases, will be more affordable for patients. Our relationship with Quest is the right strategic step to enable us to continue to deliver exceptional care to improve the health of those we serve."

In the same press release, OhioHealth’s interim president of shared services Juanita Swickard said, “Quest has the expertise and economies of scale to deliver meaningful cost savings in lab services, while our patients continue to access the high quality of care they have been accustomed to from OhioHealth.”

Sources

1. questhealth.com Introduces 13 New Blood Tests to Identify Micronutrient Deficiencies. Quest Diagnostics. August 15, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/questhealthcom-introduces-13-new-blood-tests-to-identify-micronutrient-deficiencies-302223361.html
2. Pregnant Women Undertested for STIs, Finds Quest Diagnostics Health Trends® Study of Over 4 Million Pregnancies. Quest Diagnostics. August 12, 2024. Accessed August 15, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pregnant-women-undertested-for-stis-finds-quest-diagnostics-health-trends-study-of-over-4-million-pregnancies-302219894.html
3. Quest Diagnostics to Acquire Outreach Laboratory Services of OhioHealth. Quest Diagnostics. July 10, 2024. Accessed August 15, 2024. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/quest-diagnostics-to-acquire-outreach-laboratory-services-of-ohiohealth-302193553.html