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Health department adds Quest Diagnostics as alternate lab for TB testing
Summary
St. Joseph County commissioners approved an agreement with Quest Diagnostics on June 3 to provide laboratory services for the county’s tuberculosis program as a complement to an existing agreement with Labcorp, intended to ensure timely testing and reduce per‑test costs.
The St. Joseph County Health Department won approval on June 3 from the county commissioners to enter an agreement with Quest Diagnostics LLC to provide laboratory testing services in support of the county’s tuberculosis program.
Mike Ruble, director of operations for the Department of Health, told commissioners the county currently uses Labcorp for TB testing and that adding Quest would provide a second option if Labcorp is unavailable or unable to accommodate the county in a timely way. Ruble said the Quest agreement also offers lower pricing and would help the department “make sure that those persons are in care as quickly as possible.”
County legal staff reviewed the contract and confirmed it had been approved by the county’s legal office before the vote. The board voted unanimously to approve the agreement. Commissioner Morton, Commissioner Hazen and Commissioner Maxmeier each recorded an “aye.”
County staff said the agreement is intended to ensure continuity of clinical testing for TB diagnosis and treatment initiation; commissioners did not attach additional conditions at the June 3 meeting.
