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Diagnostics Leaders Collaborate to Help
Physicians Better Differentiate Allergy-Like Symptoms
5/18/2004
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: http://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
PR Newswire
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