Although collaboration between large labs and major retailers is nothing new, the COVID-19 pandemic has infused the objective of making consumer-initiated lab tests more readily available with a new sense of urgency. Not surprisingly, Walmart, the nation’s largest retailer, and Quest Diagnostics, the US’ largest lab company, have played a leading role in advancing this objective. Their latest venture: Create a consumer-friendly website offering a wide range of high-quality test kits for use at home.

The Latest Quest-Walmart Collaboration

Under the collaboration, which was announced on Jan. 31, Quest will leverage its QuestDirect service so that Walmart shoppers can order Quest tests online at Walmart’s website (at WalmartQuestdirect.QuestDiagnostics.com) without first visiting a doctor. The arrangement covers 52 different tests covering not just COVID-19, but also other infectious diseases, as well as general health, heart and digestive health, women’s health, and allergies. A physician will review each purchase and place the order if he/she determines that the test is appropriate for the purchaser. Customers can then either schedule an appointment at one of Quest's 2,220 Patient Service Centers, some of which are located at Walmart stores, or arrange for delivery of an at-home collection kit, depending on the test. Home collection kits will include detailed instructions for collecting biological samples. Results will be made available, in most cases within three to five business days, through the MyQuest portal. A health care professional will also have access to the results for purposes of interpretation and, if necessary, treatment. Customers will be able to talk to a health care professional for an explanation of test results and prescriptions for necessary treatments.

Other Walmart Lab Test Collaborations

Of course, Quest and Walmart have collaborated before, including an innovative September 2020 venture with drone services provider DroneUp to test drone delivery of Quest at-home COVID-19 self-collection kits. On Jan. 31, the same day that news of the new Quest collaboration broke, Walmart announced that it was partnering with AI company Health at Scale to match employees and families covered by Walmart’s health plan with providers personalized to meet their own needs based on medical history, the provider’s history with similar patients, and other factors. Here’s a summary of some of other key strategic diagnostic deals announced in February 2022:

Strategic Alliances, Partnerships, & Collaborations

Distribution, Sales, & Marketing Agreements

Licenses

Government Contracts