Quest Diagnostics Inc. - DGX STOCK NEWS

On June 5, 2024, Quest Diagnostics' Director of Sustainability, Karen Braun, visited East Norriton Middle School to engage with Healthy NewsWorks student reporters. Healthy NewsWorks, a grantee of Quest for Health Equity, empowers students to become skilled health journalists.

During the visit, Karen discussed Quest Diagnostics' commitment to sustainability, including reducing single-use plastic waste by 105 standard tons in 2022 through modified specimen cups and stool containers. She highlighted the importance of continuous improvement and employee engagement in sustainability initiatives.

The students were inspired to launch a 'Look in Your Lunchbox' project to minimize cafeteria waste and explore composting opportunities. Karen's interview will be featured in the fall edition of For Kids, By Kids magazine.

The spring edition of the magazine includes a foreword by Quest for Health Equity Executive Director Michael Floyd. Further details on Quest's sustainability efforts can be found in their 2022 Corporate Responsibility Report.

A study published in JAMA Health Forum suggests that blood-based minimal residual disease (MRD) testing, specifically the Haystack MRD™ ctDNA test, can reduce healthcare costs in colorectal cancer treatment. Conducted by Quest Diagnostics and its subsidiary Haystack Oncology, the study found that testing half of eligible stage II colorectal cancer patients could cut costs by up to 21%. The study showed that ctDNA MRD tests could help identify patients who may safely skip chemotherapy, reducing both costs and adverse events. Results showed cost savings of $221,684 for commercial plans and $116,720 for Medicare Advantage plans, assuming 50% of eligible patients are tested. The findings are significant, considering that colorectal cancer is among the most diagnosed cancers in the U.S., with over 106,970 new cases projected in 2023.

Quest Diagnostics celebrated Lab Week 2024, acknowledging the contributions of medical laboratory professionals and pathologists nationwide.

A highlight of the event was the career journey of Mimi Perdue-Loan, a Change Management Director in the Great Midwest Region, who has been with Quest for 44 years. Mimi shared insights on career progression, the importance of continuous improvement, and the impact of new technologies in healthcare. She emphasized the value of cross-functional team participation and networking within the organization to discover one’s true passion in the field.

Mimi also highlighted the significance of Quest's tools such as Six Sigma, Kaizen, and Total Quality Management in enhancing leadership skills and process excellence. Her advice to others includes volunteering for diverse roles and maintaining a customer-first approach. She remains committed to educating young students about careers in clinical lab science.

Ruth Clements, East Region President of Quest Diagnostics, spoke at the National Action Network Convention about addressing health inequities. She emphasized the importance of routine diagnostic testing in bridging healthcare gaps, particularly in the Black community. Clements highlighted Quest's initiatives, including the launch of Quest for Health Equity (Q4HE) in 2020, which aims to reduce health disparities through improved access to testing and screenings. In 2023, Q4HE conducted over 6,000 no-cost Blueprint for Wellness tests in marginalized communities.

Quest Diagnostics celebrated Lab Week 2024 from May 21, 2024, recognizing their medical laboratory professionals and pathologists nationwide. The event showcased inspiring professional journeys of Quest colleagues, including Deepika Kumar, who evolved from a Lab Assistant to an Associate Scientist over 11 years in Lewisville, Texas. Deepika highlighted her motivation for financial independence, joy in cytogenetics, and the importance of continuous improvement. She shared her career progression, emphasizing the role of Quest's training programs and a supportive work environment in her professional growth.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) announced the election of Robert B. Carter, CIO of FedEx , to its Board of Directors. With this addition, Quest's Board now comprises 10 members. Carter, 64, boasts over 31 years at FedEx, where he oversaw technology direction and infrastructure. He will retire from his roles in June but will stay on as an advisor until December. This strategic move aims to leverage Carter's expertise in technology, cloud, and cybersecurity to drive Quest's growth and IT initiatives. Quest's leadership highlighted the valuable insights Carter brings, acknowledging his extensive public and private board experience.

Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) has announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.75 per share.

This dividend will be payable on July 22, 2024, to shareholders who hold Quest Diagnostics common stock as of July 8, 2024.

Quest Diagnostics is recognized as a leader in diagnostic information services.

The Quest Diagnostics Drug Testing Index for 2023 reveals a substantial increase in workforce drug test tampering, with tampered specimens surging over six-fold compared to the previous year. The report, analyzing nearly 9.8 million tests, shows a 633% rise in substituted specimens and a 45.2% increase in invalid specimens. General U.S. workforce drug positivity remained high at 5.7%, while marijuana positivity rose to 4.5%—a 45.2% increase over five years. Post-accident marijuana positivity reached a new peak of 7.5% in 2023. In contrast, federally mandated, safety-sensitive workforce marijuana positivity saw a slight decrease. Other notable trends include increased drug positivity among office-based industries and a rise in cocaine positivity. Meanwhile, opiates and heroin metabolite positivity showed a decline.

Quest Diagnostics celebrated Lab Week 2024 across the nation. The event featured the professional journeys of colleagues, like Javarus Smith, who progressed from Route Service Representative to Logistics Manager. Javarus emphasized the impact of their work on patients' lives and encouraged flexibility for career growth within Quest. The company's commitment to customer service, care, collaboration, continuous improvement, and curiosity was highlighted.