TETERBORO, N.J., Nov. 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Quest Diagnostics
Incorporated, (NYSE: DGX), the nation's leading provider of diagnostic
testing, information and services, announced today that it is the first
reference laboratory to commercially offer Roche Diagnostics' new, FDA-
approved AMPLICOR HIV-1 MONITOR(R) Test, Version 1.5 for HIV-1 viral load
testing. The test is available to physicians through Quest Diagnostics Nichols
Institute in San Juan Capistrano, California.
The new MONITOR 1.5 offers an advantage over its earlier version MONITOR
1.0, which physicians use to accurately and precisely measure the quantity of
circulating HIV-1 virus in plasma of infected patients ("viral load"). MONITOR
1.5 can detect the full range of HIV viral subtypes that scientists have
identified to date, and which until recently were particular to specific
geographic regions. While the majority of HIV-1 isolates reported in the
western hemisphere, Europe, and Australia continue to belong to subtype B, and
while non-B subtypes A, C, D and E continue to be prevalent in Africa and
Southeast Asia, global travel is facilitating the broad distribution of all
HIV-1 subtypes worldwide.
"With reports of non-B subtypes increasing globally, the ability of a test
to detect and quantify these diverse subtypes is crucial to quality HIV
patient care and treatment decision-making," said Peter N.R. Heseltine, M.D.,
FACP, Medical Director, Infectious Diseases at Quest Diagnostics Nichols
Institute. "We are excited to be the first laboratory to commercially offer
this new version of MONITOR, which has been established as the standard of
care for assessing disease prognosis, response to drug therapy and future
treatment decisions."
The Roche AMPLICOR HIV-1 MONITOR Test, Version 1.5 is based on Roche's
Nobel Prize-winning Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) technology, which is
considered to be the gold standard in testing for HIV. PCR provides
laboratories with the ability to both amplify and identify specific DNA or RNA
sequences from a sample of blood. The original AMPLICOR HIV-1 MONITOR Test was
the first FDA-approved test to accurately and precisely measure the quantity
of circulating HIV-1 virus in plasma.
In addition to the MONITOR 1.5 test, Quest Diagnostics offers a complete
menu of HIV diagnostic tests, including HIV-1 Genotypic and Phenotypic
resistance tests.
For more information about AMPLICOR HIV-1 MONITOR Test, Version 1.5,
physicians can call Quest Diagnostics Nichols Institute toll-free at
800-642-4657.
About Quest Diagnostics
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated is the nation's leading provider of
diagnostic testing, information and services, providing insights that enable
physicians, hospitals, managed care organizations and other healthcare
professionals to make decisions to improve health. The company offers patients
and physicians the broadest access to diagnostic laboratory services through
its national network of laboratories and patient service centers. Quest
Diagnostics is the leading provider of esoteric testing, including gene-based
medical testing, and empowers healthcare organizations and clinicians with
state-of-the-art connectivity solutions that improve practice management.
Additional company information can be found on the Internet at:
www.questdiagnostics.com.
The statements in this press release which are not historical facts or
information may be forward-looking statements. These forward-looking
statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and
outcomes to be materially different. Certain of these risks and uncertainties
may include, but are not limited to, unanticipated expenditures, changing
relationships with customers, suppliers and strategic partners, conditions of
the economy and other factors described in the Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
2001 Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
AMPLICOR is a trademark of Roche Diagnostics, a member of the Roche Group.
SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
-0- 11/18/2002
/CONTACT: Gary Samuels, Media, +1-201-393-5700, Laure Park, Investors,
+1-201-393-5030, both of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated/