• New Panels Aimed at the Millions of Americans Still Suffering From COVID-19 Side Effects

SECAUCUS, N.J., March 21, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The consumer-initiated testing business from the leader in diagnostic testing, Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), has introduced two innovative Post-COVID-19 panels. These laboratory tests are the only comprehensive tests currently available for consumers to purchase that offer information about lingering health issues associated with previous COVID-19 virus infections. These panels give consumers a deeper look into their health, helping to prepare them for meaningful discussions with their healthcare providers.

It's been three years since the world was introduced to COVID-19. While the U.S. administration declared the COVID-19 public health emergency is soon set to end, according to the Centers for Diseases Control (CDC), nearly 1 in 5 American adults who had COVID-19 still suffer adverse side effects, otherwise known as long COVID-19, leading to a secondary health crisis. As we continue to learn about the long-term impacts of COVID-19, Quest is committed to innovating testing capabilities to provide much needed information to the consumer.

"Millions of COVID-19 survivors have been seeking further insight into their persistent symptoms that just won't go away," said Richard Adams, Vice President and General Manager of Consumer-Initiated Testing at Quest. "The best way to assess what's happening inside your body is through a trusted laboratory test that offers actionable insights."

Long COVID-19 side effects, which are still relatively new to researchers, can occur for four or more weeks post-infection. These symptoms include heart palpitations, fatigue, hair loss, chest pain, joint pain, and brain fog. More so, according to the CDC, nearly 80% of people who experience long COVID-19 say they have limitations during their day-to-day activities.

The Post-COVID-19 Basic Panel collects Data for:

• C-Reactive Protein (CRP) Test to measure the amount of CRP in your blood, a protein produced by the liver and is a marker of inflammation.
• Thyroid function Test to indicate abnormal thyroid function, which is a potential parallel to long COVID.
• Vitamin B12 levels as many symptoms of long COVID are the same as those with a vitamin B12 deficiency.
• Vitamin D levels since many health conditions that put you at high risk for severe COVID symptoms and complications are also related to vitamin D deficiencies.
• Urinalysis to identify lower urinary tract symptoms and kidney injury caused by inflammation from a severe COVID-19 infection.

In addition to the above analytes, the Post COVID-19 Expanded Test Panel includes:

• Basic Metabolic Panel (BMP) and Hepatic Function Panel are comprehensive screening tools that assess over 15 different substances to evaluate glucose levels, kidney function, liver function, electrolyte, and fluid imbalance, and more.
• Complete Blood Count (CBC) to measure 15 components of your blood to help identify bleeding disorders or infections and to evaluate abnormal levels of specific blood components. Red blood cells and T cells could be impacted due to a previous COVID-19 infection, and the CBC can detect COVID-19-related blood abnormalities.
• Ferritin levels correlate to the body's iron status. Low ferritin levels may indicate an iron deficiency, while high ferritin levels could indicate signs of disease.

"These two post-COVID-19 panels will empower consumers with the data they need to find the best recovery path and ease long COVID-19 symptoms.  Further, they will help ignite conversations among researchers and healthcare providers to understand COVID-19 side effects better," according to Yuri Fesko, MD, Vice President for Medical Affairs, Quest.

Quest's consumer-initiated test service allows people access to the same quality tests used by doctors and hospitals, providing the information and insights they need about their health. With more than 50 lab tests available at questhealth.com, from general health profiles to tests for conditions ranging from heart health to sexually transmitted diseases, consumers can shop, schedule test appointments, and access results securely from a phone or computer. PWNHealth and its affiliates will review the patient's purchase to ensure it is medically appropriate before submitting a test order for processing. PWN will also review the test results and contact patients directly if the results require prompt attention. Consumers can view and share results with their personal physicians or can discuss them with PWN Health physicians or affiliates.

These panels can be purchased on questhealth.com, priced from $149-$199. For more information, please visit questhealth.com or follow @testwithquest on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter.

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 nearly 50,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com

*Quest^® is the brand name used for services offered by Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and its affiliated companies. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and certain affiliates are CLIA certified laboratories that provide HIPAA covered services.  Other affiliates operated under the Quest^® brand, such as Quest Consumer Inc., do not provide HIPAA covered services.