Quest Diagnostics Receives NY Approval for Haystack MRD Test
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 24 2026
0mins
Quest Diagnostics announced that the New York State Department of Health's, or NYSDOH, Clinical Laboratory Evaluation Program, or CLEP, has approved the company's Haystack MRD test, a circulating tumor DNA, or ctDNA, liquid biopsy test, for use in identifying residual or recurring disease in patients with a range of solid tumor cancers. New York maintains a highly rigorous clinical laboratory oversight program, requiring formal technical review and approval of laboratory developed tests before they may be offered to patients in the state. With this approval, Haystack MRD is now authorized for patient testing in all 50 U.S. states. The test was developed under CLIA regulations and has been available for clinician ordering since late 2024 in 49 states and the District of Columbia. In addition, Haystack MRD's clinical utility has been demonstrated in rigorous investigational settings, including the landmark study of non-operative management of patients with locally advanced mismatch repair-deficient, or dMMR, solid tumors.
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Analyst Views on DGX
Wall Street analysts forecast DGX stock price to fall
5 Analyst Rating
3 Buy
2 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 212.380
Low
190.00
Averages
203.33
High
210.00
Current: 212.380
Low
190.00
Averages
203.33
High
210.00
About DGX
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated is a provider of diagnostic information services. It provides diagnostic insights from the results of its laboratory testing to empower people, physicians, and organizations to take action to improve health outcomes. It operates through the DIS segment, which provides diagnostic information services to a range of customers within its primary customer channels: physicians, hospitals, and patients and consumers. It offers broad access to clinical testing through a nationwide network of laboratories, patient service centers, phlebotomists in physician offices, and its connectivity resources, including call centers and mobile phlebotomists, nurses and other health and wellness professionals. Its other customers include health plans, employers, emerging retail healthcare providers, government agencies, and others. Its services are provided under the Quest Diagnostics brand and under other brands, including AmeriPath, Dermpath Diagnostics, ExamOne, and Quanum.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Technology Recognition: Quest Diagnostics' Haystack MRD circulating tumor DNA test has received approval from the New York State Department of Health, marking an official endorsement of its quality and technical sophistication in the cancer residual detection field, which is expected to enhance the company's competitiveness in the liquid biopsy market.
- Early Detection Capability: Haystack MRD is designed to assist oncologists in detecting residual disease earlier, enabling the capture of recurrence signs before clinical symptoms appear, thereby providing patients with more timely treatment options and potentially improving survival rates.
- Market Expansion Potential: With New York's approval, Quest Diagnostics plans to extend access to this test, further promoting its clinical application and likely attracting more healthcare institutions to adopt this innovative technology, thereby increasing the company's market share.
- Management Confidence Boost: Dan Edelstein, Vice President of Haystack Oncology, stated that this approval not only recognizes the quality of Haystack MRD but also lays the groundwork for future promotion in other states, reflecting management's confidence in the product's prospects.
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- Early Disease Detection: The Haystack MRD test is designed to assist oncologists in detecting residual disease earlier and identifying recurrences promptly, thereby improving patient treatment outcomes and prognoses.
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- Technology Recognition: Quest Diagnostics' Haystack MRD circulating tumor DNA test has received approval from the New York State Department of Health, marking an official endorsement of its quality and technical sophistication in the cancer residual detection field, which is expected to enhance the company's competitiveness in the liquid biopsy market.
- Early Detection Capability: Haystack MRD is designed to assist oncologists in detecting residual disease earlier, enabling the capture of recurrence signs before clinical symptoms appear, thereby providing patients with more timely treatment options and potentially improving survival rates.
- Market Expansion Potential: With New York's approval, Quest Diagnostics plans to extend access to this test, further promoting its clinical application and likely attracting more healthcare institutions to adopt this innovative technology, thereby increasing the company's market share.
- Management Confidence Boost: Dan Edelstein, Vice President of Haystack Oncology, stated that this approval not only recognizes the quality of Haystack MRD but also lays the groundwork for future promotion in other states, reflecting management's confidence in the product's prospects.
See More
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- Technology Validation: Quest Diagnostics' Haystack MRD test has received approval from the New York State Department of Health, underscoring the company's technical prowess in tumor detection and aiming to provide more accurate testing services for patients.
- Nationwide Authorization: The test is now authorized for patient testing across all 50 U.S. states, significantly expanding its market reach and expected to enhance the company's competitiveness in the liquid biopsy market.
- Early Disease Detection: The Haystack MRD test is designed to assist oncologists in detecting residual disease earlier and identifying recurrences promptly, thereby improving patient treatment outcomes and prognoses.
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See More
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- Increased Infection Risk: This strain not only causes urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and wound infections but also kills approximately 600,000 individuals annually worldwide, particularly affecting elderly women, indicating a growing threat to vulnerable populations.
- Gene Transmission Mechanism: The research identifies the CTX-M-15 gene as easily transferable among different bacteria, enhancing survival outside human hosts, which underscores the need for enhanced monitoring and control of this gene's spread to prevent the emergence of new high-risk clones.
- Need for Community Surveillance: A CDC study found a 53.3% increase in ESBL-producing bacteria from 2012 to 2017, emphasizing the reality of community transmission and calling for more in-depth research and monitoring of community infections.
See More
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- Conference Call Details: The quarterly conference call will take place at 8:30 a.m. Eastern Time on the same day, providing an in-depth analysis of financial results, with participants encouraged to dial in 10 minutes early to ensure timely and effective information delivery.
- Replay Service: A replay of the conference call will be available from approximately 10:30 a.m. Eastern Time on July 23 until midnight on August 6, allowing investors who could not attend live to access key information, enhancing information accessibility.
- Company Background: Quest Diagnostics serves one in three American adults annually, underscoring its leadership in the medical diagnostics field and emphasizing the company's critical role in advancing health management and disease identification.
See More
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- Dollar Tree vs. Quest Diagnostics: Dollar Tree Inc (DLTR) has a market cap of $21.62 billion, compared to Quest Diagnostics, Inc. (DGX) at $21.44 billion, highlighting their relative sizes within the S&P 500.
- Impact on Investor Decisions: Market capitalization influences a company's size tier among peers, directly affecting which mutual funds and ETFs are willing to hold the stock, particularly as large-cap funds typically prefer companies valued over $10 billion.
- Market Performance Discrepancy: At Thursday's close, DLTR's stock fell approximately 2.9%, while DGX rose about 1.2%, reflecting differing investor sentiment and performance between the two companies.
See More
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- Dividend Yield: The forward yield of 1.81% reflects the company's attractiveness in the current market environment, potentially drawing in more income-focused investors.
- Payment Schedule: The dividend is payable on July 22, with a record date of July 8 and an ex-dividend date also set for July 8, ensuring shareholders receive their earnings promptly.
- Market Reaction Expectations: With the stable dividend issuance, a positive impact on the company's stock price is anticipated, enhancing investor confidence and potentially driving the stock price upward.
See More
