National Business Group On Health Honors Quest Diagnostics As Platinum-Level Best Employer For Healthy Lifestyles

MADISON, N.J., June 28, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Business Group on Health (NBGH) has honored Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world's leading provider of diagnostic testing, information and services, with its 2012 Best Employer for Healthy Lifestyles Award. This is the fourth consecutive year Quest Diagnostics has earned Platinum distinction, the highest level award, for its commitment to improving the health of employees and their families through its HealthyQuest wellness initiative.

"We are very pleased to recognize Quest Diagnostics for its ongoing commitment to providing lifestyle improvement programs that encourage healthy living among their employees," said Helen Darling, President and CEO of the National Business Group on Health. "Quest Diagnostics and its management team should be proud of their dedication and their recognition of the importance of promoting and maintaining a healthy workforce. We congratulate them on receiving this award."

Quest Diagnostics launched HealthyQuest in 2005, offering resources enabling employees to learn about their health risks and modify their lifestyles. At the center of HealthyQuest is the Blueprint for Wellness® health risk assessment service, which includes a panel of up to 30 laboratory tests. Personal health literacy is an essential component in reducing health risks. A recent study by Quest Diagnostics published in the peer-reviewed journal, PLoS ONE, found that 36 percent of first-time participants in a company-sponsored, lab-based wellness program were newly identified as at risk for high cholesterol, diabetes or chronic kidney disease. In 2011, more than 38,000 Quest Diagnostics employees and their spouses or domestic partners participated in Blueprint for Wellness screenings.

Employees are supported in reaching their goals for better health by hundreds of local employee health promotion volunteers sharing important health tips and information, and facilitating on-site programs such as tobacco cessation, weight loss and fitness, among others. Through the HealthyQuest initiative, Quest Diagnostics continued to reduce the number of tobacco users to less than 11 percent of employees compared to 19 percent of employees in 2004. Additionally, employees, spouses and domestic partners age 50 and older are offered the InSure® FIT™ fecal immunochemical test for colorectal cancer screening, helping the company to achieve an 85 percent colorectal cancer screening compliance rate.

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