Quest Diagnostics 2011 Annual Report Download - page 11

cardiovascular testing. We conduct complex and specialized testing, including molecular diagnostics, in our world
renowned Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute laboratory facilities and in a number of other locations, including
Focus Diagnostics and Athena Diagnostics.
Our esoteric laboratories provide reference testing services to physicians, large academic medical centers,
hospitals and other commercial laboratories. Our esoteric testing laboratories perform hundreds of complex tests
that are not routinely performed by our regional laboratories, including but not limited to the following fields:
•endocrinology and metabolism (the study of glands, their hormone secretions and their effects on body
growth and metabolism);
•genetics (the study of chromosomes, genes and their protein products and effects);
•hematology (the study of blood and bone marrow cells) and coagulation (the process of blood clotting);
•neurology (the study of the nervous system, its structure and its diseases);
•immunogenetics and human leukocyte antigens (solid organ and bone marrow transplantation, eligibility
for vaccines, selection of pharmacotherapeutic agents and immunotherapy);
•immunology (the study of the immune system, including antibodies, cytokines, immune system cells and
their effect, receptor systems and autoimmune diseases);
•microbiology and infectious diseases (the study of microscopic forms of life, including parasites, bacteria,
viruses, fungi and other infectious agents);
•oncology (the study of abnormal cell growth, including benign tumors and cancer);
•serology (a science dealing with body fluids and their analysis, including antibodies, proteins and other
characteristics); and
•toxicology (the study of chemicals and drugs and their adverse effects on the body).
We also offer gene-based tests for the predisposition, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of cancers. We
believe that offering a full range of gene-based and other esoteric tests strengthens our market offering and
market position and enhances our reputation as the nation’s leading test provider.
Scientific Innovation. We are a leading innovator in the clinical testing industry, with capabilities ranging
from early discovery to validation of clinical tests. We develop tests at our laboratories, such as Quest
Diagnostics Nichols Institute; we also develop innovative techniques and services in anatomic pathology. We
collaborate with leading academic centers and maintain relationships with advisors and consultants who are
leaders in key fields, such as cardiology, oncology and infectious disease. In connection with our research and
development efforts, our medical and scientific experts publish in peer-reviewed journals research that
demonstrates the clinical value and importance of diagnostic testing. In 2011, they published more than 50
articles that provided fundamental insights into the biology of diseases or introduced novel diagnostic testing
approaches benefitting patients, including in such areas as cardiovascular genetics, mass spectrometry small
molecule and protein diagnostics, and novel cancer diagnostic markers. They also help to shape the latest
thinking as the authors of textbooks, or chapters therein, used by academic institutions to train healthcare
providers.
We successfully transfer technical innovations to the market through our relationships with technology
developers, including the academic community and pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms, our in-house
expertise and our collaborations with emerging medical technology companies that develop and commercialize
novel diagnostics, pharmaceutical and device technologies. We search for new opportunities and continue to build
a robust pipeline of new tests in predisposition, screening, diagnosis, prognosis and treatment choice, which
assists physicians in early detection of diseases and may reduce healthcare costs. In 2011, we acquired Celera,
adding leading genetic IVD products and development capabilities. Celera develops, manufactures and
commercializes test kits and reagents and is a leading provider of molecular test products for transplantation
genetics, Cystic Fibrosis, HIV drug resistance and Fragile X Syndrome. As part of our 2011 acquisition of
Celera, we also gained access to a pipeline of biomarkers to drive sustainable growth. In 2011, we also
announced a multi-year exclusive collaboration with Genomic Vision, a biotechnology company, involving
Genomic Vision’s proprietary molecular combing genomic-analysis technology. Under the agreement, we have
exclusive rights to develop and offer clinical and research use laboratory testing services based on Genomic
Vision’s molecular combing technique in the United States, India and Mexico. We expect to release laboratory
developed tests based on molecular combing technology, and also may offer molecular combing-based laboratory
testing services for new drug development to pharmaceutical companies through our clinical trials business and
for research use to academic institutions. Through our strengths in assay development and the commercialization
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