TETERBORO, N.J., May 18 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Primary care physicians
are learning how they can better manage patients with allergy-like symptoms by
obtaining objective evidence to differentiate those who are allergic from
those who are not, thanks to a nationwide educational collaboration between
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) and Pharmacia Diagnostics AB. The
collaboration's central message is that expanded use of blood testing for
allergy at the primary care level is the key to improved identification,
diagnosis, treatment or referral of patients with common illnesses whose
symptoms may or may not be related to or made worse by allergy.
Pharmacia Diagnostics, the world leader in the research and development of
IgE blood testing, developed the first blood test for allergy, known as RAST.
It later introduced the technically superior, market-leading ImmunoCAP
Specific IgE blood test. Quest Diagnostics and Pharmacia Diagnostics are now
educating primary care physicians about the benefits of Specific IgE blood
testing using ImmunoCAP. Quest Diagnostics is the nation's leading provider
of diagnostic testing, information and services.
"Quest Diagnostics is well-positioned to inform physicians about the role,
value and use of diagnostic markers as they move into mainstream medical
practice. That's what's happening now with allergy blood testing," said Joyce
G. Schwartz, M.D., Vice President and Chief Laboratory Officer of Quest
Diagnostics. "Together with Pharmacia Diagnostics, we want to help primary
care physicians better understand how they can improve patient care through
the appropriate use of allergy blood testing."
"One-half of all Americans experience allergy-like symptoms -- such as
nasal congestion, runny nose or watery eyes -- that can be associated with
upper respiratory disease (URD)," said Michael Land, President and General
Manager of Pharmacia Diagnostics, U.S. Operations. "These symptoms are very
difficult to differentiate based on history and physical examination alone,
and the problem is that about half of these patients are not allergic. In
addition, children with undetected food allergies are at high risk to develop
inhalant allergies or even asthma later in life -- a phenomenon of disease
progression that is commonly called 'the allergy march.' We want to focus
primary care physicians' attention on the fact that they manage most of these
patients, but do not typically obtain objective evidence regarding allergy
symptoms to guide treatment or referral decisions."
"Allergy specialists recommend to all physicians that when allergy is
suspected, objective evidence should be obtained to confirm the diagnosis,
which is exactly what the allergist routinely does," said Leonard Fromer,
M.D., associate clinical professor, department of family medicine, U.C.L.A.,
and past president of the California Academy of Family Practice.
"Unfortunately," he added, "most primary care clinicians have not been trained
to consider the importance of Specific IgE testing to determine whether
allergy is the cause of URD symptoms, nor do they typically think of skin rash
or ear infections, for example, as possible symptoms of food allergies that
may lead to the allergy march. It's a positive step that Quest Diagnostics and
Pharmacia Diagnostics are combining their resources to increase physicians'
awareness of these important issues in patient care."
About Pharmacia Diagnostics
Pharmacia Diagnostics AB is headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden, and is the
world leader in in vitro IgE allergy diagnostic research and product
development. The U.S. headquarters for Pharmacia Diagnostics is in Kalamazoo,
Michigan.
About Quest Diagnostics
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 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 provides advanced information technology solutions to
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, competitive environment, changes in
government regulations, changing relationships with customers, payers,
suppliers and strategic partners and other factors described in the Quest
Diagnostics Incorporated 2003 Form 10-K and subsequent filings.
SOURCE Quest Diagnostics Incorporated
-0- 05/18/2004
/CONTACT: Investors, Laure Park, +1-201-393-5030, or Media, Gary Samuels,
+1-201-393-5700, both of Quest Diagnostics Incorporated/
/Web site: http://www.questdiagnostics.com /
(DGX)
CO: Quest Diagnostics; Pharmacia Diagnostics; Pfizer
ST: New Jersey