Quest Diagnostics 2013 Annual Report Download - page 11

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We believe that offering services, solutions and insights based on a full range of tests will strengthen our market
offering, market position and reputation. Our experienced medical staff has a passion for providing the highest quality service
to our customers. Our in-house experts, including medical directors, scientific directors, genetic counselors and board certified
geneticists, provide medical and scientific consultation regarding our tests and test results, and help physicians and others best
utilize these tests to improve patient outcomes and enhance patient satisfaction. Our approach fosters personalized patient care.
We have built advanced testing capabilities, including access to a pipeline of biomarkers, to drive growth in gene-
based and esoteric testing services across medical disciplines. 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 testing services for the predisposition, diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of cancers. We
provide integrated, comprehensive diagnostic information services that include both anatomic pathology and clinical pathology
testing, enabling our pathologists to offer patients and physicians a complete analysis.
We provide our services through our nationwide network of major laboratories, anatomic pathology laboratories and
rapid response laboratories. Rapid response laboratories are smaller facilities where we can quickly perform an abbreviated
menu of routine tests for customers that require rapid turnaround times. We conduct complex and specialized testing, including
molecular diagnostics, in our world renowned Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute laboratory facilities and in other facilities,
including Focus Diagnostics and Athena Diagnostics. We operate 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. We also provide routine
testing services, and inpatient anatomic pathology and medical director services, at hospital laboratories.
Most of our services are provided under the Quest Diagnostics brand, but we also provide services under the
AmeriPath,® Dermpath Diagnostics,® Focus Diagnostics® and Athena Diagnostics® brands. Focus Diagnostics® is a leading
provider of infectious disease diagnostic information services and has established a reputation for being first to introduce new
tests to the market, including diagnostic tests for Lyme disease, West Nile Virus, SARS and H1N1. Through Athena
Diagnostics® we have the leading position in the growing neurology diagnostics market. We have a leading position in
advanced cardiovascular diagnostic information services, including our CardioIQ® offering. We have a strong history of
leadership and innovation in cancer diagnostics, including introduction of the Leumeta® family of tests for leukemia and
lymphoma.
International.
We provide diagnostic information services in several markets outside the United States. We have laboratory facilities
in Gurgaon, India; Heston, England; Mexico City, Mexico; and San Juan, Puerto Rico. These laboratories support the provision
of diagnostic information services in their local markets, and also may support our clinical trials business. We have an office in
Ireland that supports our activities in that country. We see opportunities to bring our experience and expertise in diagnostic
information services to markets outside the United States, including by leveraging existing facilities to serve new markets.