TETERBORO, N.J., Aug 4, 2003 /PRNewswire-FirstCall via COMTEX/ -- Quest Diagnostics
Incorporated (NYSE: DGX), a leading provider of cancer screening and
diagnostic testing, today announced its sponsorship to support the
distribution of the National Comprehensive Cancer Network's (NCCN) new CD-ROM
entitled Cancer Testing: Work up, Staging, and Follow-up within the Complete
Library of NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology. The guidelines for
cancer testing are intended to acquaint primary care physicians and non-cancer
specialists with the specific tests indicated for each cancer at a specific
point in a patient's disease. Quest Diagnostics is distributing the CD-ROM to
physician offices nationally and will offer it to physicians attending select
medical conferences.
The guidelines cover cancer-related testing for more than 100 different
cancers and focus on work-up and follow-up testing that patients undergo as
part of their initial evaluation for cancer and their ongoing monitoring
following therapy. Additional goals of the NCCN's cancer testing guidelines
are to facilitate primary care physicians' understanding of the rationale for
a specific set of tests and to enable them to reassure patients about the
adequacy and appropriateness of the scope and scheduling of their tests. For
more information, or to obtain a copy of the NCCN cancer testing guidelines on
CD-ROM, physicians may contact their Quest Diagnostics sales representative.
Quest Diagnostics provided an unrestricted educational grant that supports
the distribution of the CD-ROM, which was developed independently by the NCCN,
a non-profit alliance of 19 of the world's leading cancer centers that
develops educational materials related to the current best practices in the
detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. The NCCN publishes NCCN
Clinical Practice Guidelines in Oncology, which are the recognized standards
for clinical policy in the oncology community. These guidelines, which are
updated annually, are the result of an evidence-based, consensus-driven
process by multi-disciplinary panels of expert physicians from NCCN member
institutions. Now, for the first time, physicians who typically detect and
diagnose cancer, including primary care physicians, gynecologists and
gastroenterologists, will have access to a comprehensive set of clinical
practice guidelines that focus on cancer testing for detection and follow-up
monitoring.
"As a leading provider of cancer screening and diagnostic testing, we feel
it is imperative that healthcare professionals who represent the front lines
in cancer prevention and early detection have rigorous guidelines available to
assist them in the most appropriate use of cancer tests," said Surya N.
Mohapatra, Ph.D., President and Chief Operating Officer of Quest Diagnostics.
"We are fully committed to helping healthcare professionals and their patients
by supporting initiatives like this that guide best practices in cancer
testing."
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated is the nation's leading provider of
diagnostic testing, information and services, providing insights that enable
healthcare professionals to make decisions that improve health. The company
offers the broadest access to diagnostic testing services in the United States
through its national network of laboratories and patient service centers, and
provides interpretive consultation through its extensive medical and
scientific staff. Quest Diagnostics is the leading provider of esoteric
testing, including gene-based medical testing, and also empowers healthcare
organizations and clinicians with state-of-the-art connectivity solutions that
improve patient care. Additional company information is available 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, payers, suppliers and strategic partners,
competitive environment, changes in government regulations, conditions of the
economy and other factors described in the Quest Diagnostics Incorporated 2002
Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
Media - Jennifer Somers, +1-201-393-5700, or Investors - Laure
Park, +1-201-393-5030, for Quest Diagnostics
http://www.questdiagnostics.com