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Quest Diagnostics to Offer FDA-Cleared Fujirebio Blood Test for Alzheimer's Disease

1. Quest Diagnostics to launch a new FDA-approved Alzheimer's blood test this summer. 2. The test shows a 92% positive predictive value and a 97% negative predictive value. 3. Quest aims to improve access to Alzheimer's diagnostics through its extensive network. 4. 7 million Americans currently have Alzheimer's; the number is expected to double by 2060. 5. Blood tests are deemed more cost-effective compared to invasive diagnostic methods.

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Why Bullish?

The FDA's approval of a new, innovative test can significantly enhance DGX's market position. Historical precedents show that FDA-clearance typically drives stock prices up, particularly in diagnostics.

How important is it?

As DGX is expanding its offerings with a novel, FDA-approved product, this can further enhance its growth trajectory, leading to increased investor interest and stock value.

Why Long Term?

The new test is a part of a growing market; Alzheimer’s diagnostics will gain momentum as healthcare evolves, particularly as the patient population is expected to drastically increase.

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Test to be available for clinical and research use as soon as this summer, building on Quest's pioneering blood-based AD-Detect™ product line for assessing symptomatic patients , /PRNewswire/ -- Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), a leader in diagnostic information services, including advanced diagnostics for brain health, today announced it plans to offer laboratory testing based on the Lumipulse® G pTau 217/β-Amyloid 1-42 Plasma Ratio in-vitro diagnostic (IVD) test from Fujirebio, a global leader in the field of high-quality IVD testing. Quest plans to make the test available to physicians and biopharmaceutical collaborators later this summer. The test is the first blood-based IVD test cleared by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to aid in identifying patients with amyloid pathology associated with Alzheimer's disease. It is designed to aid the clinical assessment of Alzheimer's disease in adult patients aged 50 years and older presenting at a specialized care setting with signs and symptoms of cognitive decline. Through its AD-Detect™ portfolio, Quest provides a suite of advanced lab-developed blood tests regulated under CLIA for assessing patients with cognitive impairment for Alzheimer's disease. The Fujirebio test offering extends this portfolio to include an FDA-cleared option for use in specialized care settings. "Our goal is to advance access to quality and innovative blood-based tests for Alzheimer's disease. Adding the Fujirebio test to our existing blood-based tests provides the many physicians we serve with another powerful option for assessing patients for Alzheimer's disease," said Kathleen Valentine, Vice President and General Manager, Neurology, Quest Diagnostics. "Blood-based testing can be less invasive and more convenient than traditional test methods. We are excited to leverage our expansive network of patient service centers to broaden access to the Fujirebio innovation to help more at-risk individuals gain access to the insights they need sooner." In a clinical study population of 499 patients, which closely mirrors US demographics, and when applying a dual cut point, the FDA-cleared test demonstrated a positive predictive value (PPV) of 92% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 97%, with 20% of patients uncertain to have amyloid pathology, thus requiring further testing. Quest will showcase its complete line up of Alzheimer's and other neurological test innovations at this year's Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) in Toronto from July 27-31. "As brain health and Alzheimer's disease interventions continue to evolve, diagnosing patients earlier, when interventions can be most effective, is critical," said Michael Racke, MD, a board-certified neurologist and Medical Director of Neurology, Quest Diagnostics. "We are constantly looking for ways to help physicians and patients make the most informed decisions, and this new addition to our test menu will aid that goal." While amyloid PET imaging and cerebral spinal fluid testing are established methods for aiding the diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease, they are significantly more expensive, invasive and specialist-dependent than blood-based tests. With a physician's order, patients can conveniently provide a blood draw for testing for the Fujirebio test and any of the AD-Detect™ tests through Quest's network of patient sites. Quest maintains approximately 8,000 patient access points, including an extensive patient service center network of approximately 2,000 locations in the U.S., as well as phlebotomists in physician offices and mobile phlebotomy services. Specimens will be transported for testing to Quest's state-of-the-art laboratory in San Juan Capistrano, California. Nearly 7 million Americans have Alzheimer's, the most prevalent dementia, a number projected to reach 14 million by 2060. Approximately 12-18% of adults over the age of sixty are living with mild cognitive impairment, a potential sign of AD. Seventy-seven percent of physicians say new therapies will transform Alzheimer's into a chronic, manageable disease, and 94% of physicians say blood tests would be more cost effective for the healthcare system compared to more invasive methods of detection (e.g., lumbar puncture, imaging studies) according to a special report from Quest. Quest is committed to developing and offering innovative advanced diagnostics to aid in evaluating Alzheimer's disease and other brain diseases. For more information, visit www.QuestForTheCure.com. About Quest DiagnosticsQuest Diagnostics works across the healthcare ecosystem to create a healthier world, one life at a time. We provide diagnostic insights from the results of our laboratory testing to empower people, physicians and organizations to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from one of the world's largest databases of de-identifiable clinical lab results, Quest's diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve healthcare management. Quest Diagnostics annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our nearly 55,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives and create a healthier world. www.QuestDiagnostics.com. SOURCE Quest Diagnostics WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM? 440k+ Newsrooms & Influencers 9k+ Digital Media Outlets 270k+ Journalists Opted In

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