Expanding the Possibilities With Quest Advanced® Neurology
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Originally published in Quest Diagnostics 2021 Corporate Responsibility Report
Quest Advanced® Neurology offers a complete neurological testing portfolio, including molecular, biochemical, neuroimmunological, cytogenetic, and pharmacogenomic testing for diagnosing neurological conditions. Our broad menu of over 400 neurology tests is powered by 15 distinct methodologies, providing transformative answers. Our 650+ medical experts provide consultation on next steps for physicians’ patients, and we invest in state-of-the-art testing and technology, helping to drive accurate diagnoses for even the most complex cases.
Neurological and psychiatric outcomes in survivors of COVID-19
1 in 3 COVID-19 patients were diagnosed with a neurological or psychiatric disorder within 6 months of infection, per a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records (EHRs) of 236,379 COVID-19 survivors.1 Undiagnosed conditions due to deferred care are adding further to this crisis. Quest initiatives provide outreach and support for healthcare providers in uncovering undiagnosed conditions with targeted lab testing and education.
Pharmacogenomics testing
Pharmacogenomics assesses how a patient’s genes impact their potential response to specific medications and gives healthcare providers additional insights to optimize treatment considerations for better outcomes. We offer one of the most comprehensive test panels available today, the Quest Diagnostics Pharmacogenomics Panel, which provides information on more than 40 genes. Such testing is particularly helpful for patients taking several medications who may otherwise require multiple panels. Physicians receive test results in a comprehensive and easy-to-understand report, which can be used as a reference for patients throughout their lifetimes.
Pioneering early Alzheimer’s disease assessment
Actively striving to end Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Quest worked to create a new, accessible, and affordable blood-based biomarker test to assess AD risk. The assay allows healthcare providers to establish a baseline and monitor their patients over time using a simple blood sample. Late in 2021, published research confirmed that such assays are as effective as traditional cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) testing and amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) scans in identifying early signs of AD.2-4 Blood-based biomarker testing may also help identify patients who are candidates for early antibody treatment,5,6 which may help slow disease progression and improve quality of life.
1. Taquet M, Geddes JR, Husain M, Luciano S, Harrison PJ. 6-month neurological and psychiatric outcomes in 236,379 survivors of COVID-19: a retrospective cohort study using electronic health records. Lance Psychiatry. 2021;8(5):416-427. Doi:10.1016/S2215-0366(21)00084-5. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/ S2215036621000845
2. Alzheimer’s Association. 2021 Alzheimer’s disease facts and figures. Accessed December 7, 2021. https://www.alz.org/media/Docments/alzheimers-facts-and-figure.pdf
3. Li Y, Schindler SE, Bollinger J, et al. Validation of plasma amyloid-β 42/40 for detecting Alzheimer disease amyloid plaques. Neurology. Online ahead of print, December 14, 2021. doi:10.1212/WNL.0000000000013211
4. Data on file. Quest Diagnostics, 2022.
5. Burnham SC, Fandos N, Fowler C, et al. Longitudinal evaluation of the natural history of amyloid-β in plasma and brain. Brain Commun. 2020;2(1)fcaa041. doi:10.1093/braincomms/fcaa041
6. Cummings J, Lee G, Zhong K, et al. Alzheimer’s disease drug development pipeline: 2021. Alzheimers Dement (N Y). 2021;7(1):e12179. doi:10.1002/trc2.12179