Rite Aid and Quest Diagnostics Expand Access to COVID-19 PCR Testing Nationwide
July 19 2022 - 8:00AM
Business Wire
Testing available at no out-of-pocket cost
for qualified insured individuals at Rite Aid drive-thru locations
with appointment; at all other Rite Aid locations customers can
schedule to pick up at-home specimen collection kits for PCR
testing
Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) today announced it is collaborating with
Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) to provide access to quality,
COVID-19 molecular testing (polymerase chain reaction or similar
nucleic acid amplification test) to help Rite Aid customers detect
and prevent the spread of COVID-19.
Quest is the world’s leading provider of diagnostic information
services and a national leader in COVID-19 testing. The company has
performed more than 69 million COVID-19 molecular tests since March
2020.
Through the collaboration, Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs’ more than
2,350 stores, now offer access to Quest PCR testing, either through
their drive-thru locations or the addition of at home specimen
testing kits from stores without drive-thrus, doubling the access
to PCR testing for adults and children over 2 years old. Both
options require an appointment be made through the Quest website.
Quest Diagnostics will provide results electronically to
individuals through the MyQuest online portal and app.
Customers can schedule to pick up a COVID-19 PCR testing kit
with at-home specimen collection or schedule observed drive-thru
collection at
https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/services/covid-19-testing where
they will be directed to request a test through Quest’s
consumer-initiated test platform QuestDirect™. Bartell Drugs
customers may visit bartelldrugs.com/covid19-testing. Quest’s kits
come with a prepaid FedEx envelope for overnight shipping to a
Quest laboratory. Currently, the average time for Quest Diagnostics
to provide a test result is one to two days. Result turnaround
times can fluctuate with demand levels and vary by region and other
factors.
“As new variants spread throughout our communities, testing
remains a critical tool as we continue to support our communities
in the fight against COVID-19,” said Karen Staniforth, Chief
Pharmacy Officer at Rite Aid. “Identifying COVID-19 infection helps
individuals obtain the treatment they need while helping to prevent
further spread of the disease. We are proud to collaborate with
Quest to make testing easily accessible for our customers by
expanding to all of our stores.”
“As people continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic,
individuals and families need access to convenient, affordable and
quality diagnostic testing in order to engage in activities more
safely and responsibly,” adds Cathy Doherty, Senior Vice President,
Regional Businesses, Quest Diagnostics. “PCR and other molecular
diagnostic tests are the gold-standard for reliable COVID-19
testing. Our relationship with Rite Aid will extend our delivery of
COVID-19 testing to more communities in the United States.”
PCR and other nucleic acid amplification tests are molecular
diagnostic testing technologies. Unlike at-home antigen tests, they
are performed in a laboratory. According to the CDC, NAAT is the
gold standard for detection of SARS-CoV-2, and they may be useful
in some cases in confirming an antigen test result. Customers
should discuss their test results with their doctor.
In addition to the molecular tests, Rite Aid locations continue
to provide rapid, over-the-counter at-home antigen COVID-19 test
kits for customers. For more information on Rite Aid’s COVID-19
test options, visit riteaid.com. Rite Aid also continues to provide
COVID-19 vaccines and boosters to eligible customers. Customers can
schedule a COVID-19 vaccine by visiting:
https://www.riteaid.com/pharmacy/scheduler. All Rite Aid locations
are able to dispense the oral medications, Paxlovid, and Lagevrio
(molnupiravir), for treatment of COVID-19.
For the latest information on Quest’s COVID-19 testing efforts,
visit Quest Diagnostics Newsroom - News Releases.
About Rite Aid Corporation Rite Aid is a full-service
pharmacy that improves health outcomes. Rite Aid is defining the
modern pharmacy by meeting customer needs with a wide range of
vehicles that offer convenience, including retail and delivery
pharmacy, as well as services offered through our wholly owned
subsidiaries, Elixir, Bartell Drugs and Health Dialog. Elixir, Rite
Aid’s pharmacy benefits and services company, consists of
accredited mail and specialty pharmacies, prescription discount
programs and an industry leading adjudication platform to offer
superior member experience and cost savings. Health Dialog provides
healthcare coaching and disease management services via live online
and phone health services. Regional chain Bartell Drugs has
supported the health and wellness needs in the Seattle area for
more than 130 years. Rite Aid employs more than 6,300 pharmacists
and operates more than 2,350 retail pharmacy locations across 17
states. For more information, visit www.riteaid.com.
About Quest Diagnostics Quest Diagnostics empowers people
to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world's
largest database of clinical lab results, Quest's diagnostic
insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire
healthy behaviors, and improve health care management. Quest
Diagnostics annually serves one in three adult Americans and half
the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our nearly
50,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the
right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that
transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com
View source
version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220718005812/en/
MEDIA: Terri Hickey 717-975-5718 press@riteaid.com Kim
Gorode mediacontact@questdiagnostics.com
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