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Sonora Quest Laboratories performs more routine and specialized tests than any laboratory in Arizona.
Through our integrated laboratory network, we see more "complex cases" that allow us to build a
foundation of expertise unavailable at other laboratories. We are local laboratories, with a local
focus, continually investing in the Arizona community with laboratories in the Phoenix and Tucson
metropolitan areas, as well as our newest laboratory in Flagstaff.
Our high volume of testing performed within our laboratory network on more than 16 million patient
samples in 2006 allows us to develop dynamic systems that streamline processes and improve quality.
In fact, we were the first healthcare establishment to be awarded with the Arizona Governor's Award
for Quality in 2005, and the first Arizona company to earn this distinction since 2001. This award
recognizes organizations that have mature and fully-developed quality systems within their operations;
that demonstrate a commitment to continuous improvement and have achieved a sustained significant
record of performance. Leading up to the Arizona Governor's Award for Quality, we were also distinguished
with two 2004 Arizona Showcase in Excellence Awards as well as the 2003 Arizona Pioneer Award for Quality.
When selecting a physician, you want someone who is well trained and experienced. Your physician wants a
lab that is equally well trained and experienced, and so should you. These are just a few of the reasons
Sonora Quest Laboratories is the leading diagnostic testing laboratory in the state of Arizona and why it
matters which lab you and your physician choose.
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Sonora Quest Laboratories' staff of physicians and clinical scientists supports the quality of testing
and assist physicians with test selection and interpretation. This staff of M.D.s and Ph.D.s includes
specialists in pathology and laboratory medicine, endocrinology, oncology, coagulation, medical
genetics, and many other areas of sub-specialization. We encourage collaboration. Your physician has
direct access to our medical staff to discuss new tests as well as patients with challenging medical
conditions. Sonora Quest Laboratories also routinely educates physicians on advances in medicine and
laboratory testing and offers genetic counseling with physicians to work directly with them in test
selection and result interpretation.
Sonora Quest Laboratories adheres to the highest standards of
clinical laboratory operations, quality assurance and control. All of our laboratories are fully
accredited by the College of American Pathologists, and by federal and state governments. We scored
a 99.5% in proficiency testing for our laboratories and our goal is 20 times more stringent than
the College of American Pathologists' goal of 80%. We continue to strive to meet the highest standards
of medical care for our patients and their physicians. Sonora Quest Laboratories was the first
laboratory in Arizona to introduce Six Sigma quality to the healthcare services field in 2000. What
does this mean to you, the patient? These systems bring together employees at all levels of the
organization to assess and improve quality.
Only Sonora Quest Laboratories has a dedicated staff of
quality experts who are fully devoted to teaching and enhancing quality. The goal is to provide a
seamless process with a goal of error-free work. We treat every patient specimen as though it came
from a loved one. The patient comes first in everything we do.
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With over 55 patient service centers located statewide, you won't have to spend a lot of time traveling.
You also don't want to waste time in a waiting room, especially early in the morning. We realize your
time is valuable, so for certain timed testing, such as glucose tolerance testing and bleeding times,
some of our patient service centers will schedule an appointment at a time that is convenient for you.
Otherwise you can just pop into a patient service center when you have a free moment. We're committed
to seeing you in 20 minutes or less. Our busiest times are in the morning, so if your schedule permits
an afternoon visit, this will cut down on your wait time. Also note that several of our patient
service centers are open on Saturday.
Find a Patient Service Center near you
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In addition to the broadest array of standard and esoteric, or rare, tests available from any laboratory
in Arizona, Sonora Quest Laboratories has taken the lead in developing new kinds of tests that improve
results or make testing easier for patients. Our ImmunoCAP® test requires only a single blood sample
to pinpoint, with 96-98% accuracy, hundreds of specific allergies that can lead to asthma and other
allergy-related diseases, replacing those older, painful scratch tests. Focus Diagnostics, who is in
our integrated laboratory network, is recognized worldwide for its leadership in infectious and
immunologic diseases and has established a reputation for being first to introduce new assays to the
market, including diagnostic tests for Lyme disease, West Nile Virus and SARS. Sonora Quest
Laboratories also performs more types of routine and specialized tests than any laboratory in Arizona.
In the area of women's health and oncology, we evaluate approximately 500,000 Pap tests a year - far
more than anyone else in the state -- as well as a full range of tests for HPV - the leading cause of
cervical cancer.
Through our parent company, Quest Diagnostics, a wealth of information is available on-line.
Please visit our "Frequently Ordered Lab Test Topics"
and the "Ask the Doctor" checklist.
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Sonora Quest Laboratories keeps many samples after initial testing, so follow-up tests can often be
performed on the same sample if your doctor requires it. That's particularly important when results
are ambiguous; no one likes waiting for answers to such important questions. This saves you and your
doctor the valuable time that it would take for you to have to be recollected.
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Regulations for phlebotomists, the formal job title for people who draw blood, are inconsistent from
state to state. That's why Sonora Quest Laboratories established its own Phlebotomy Code of Conduct
and Patient Service Gold Standards - to ensure that Sonora Quest Laboratories´ more than 450
phlebotomists statewide consistently deliver superior service to our patients during each and every
visit. Every Sonora Quest Laboratories patient service center displays both the Code of Conduct and
Patient Service Gold Standards for all patients to see. Ask your phlebotomist about them. We're proud
to follow these Standards.
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We know how scary testing can be for children and even adults. You should use a lab that puts patients
first — including children. That's why every Sonora Quest Laboratories technician is specially trained
to make testing as efficient and pain-free as possible. More than 150,000 patients visit Sonora Quest
Laboratories´ patient service centers each month. They keep coming back, in part, because of the high
quality standards adhered to by our more than 450 professional phlebotomists.
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As Arizona's leader in diagnostic laboratory testing, Sonora Quest Laboratories is committed to the
highest standards when it comes to protecting the confidentiality of personal health information.
Sonora Quest Laboratories is committed to meeting the privacy and security requirements of HIPAA
(Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). This includes strict policies and practices
protecting confidential information and limiting access of confidential information to certain
employees. For more information, please see our Privacy Policy.
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We know that waiting for laboratory results causes anxiety and worry. Sonora Quest Laboratories has
created standards for what we term "turnaround time," the time it takes from when we draw your sample
until the laboratory produces results for physicians to interpret and diagnose. That's why we created
a standard that ensures your doctor gets your results for most tests the very next morning. In fact,
greater than 95% of routine testing is reported to physicians by 8:00 A.M. the following morning.
We
can meet this standard because Sonora Quest Laboratories has one of the largest fleets of delivery
vehicles in the state. We have over 125 couriers making 75,000 stops each month, picking up specimens
throughout the state, and transporting them quickly and safely to our local facilities that can test
specimens rapidly. Couriers drive day and night, in mild and inclement weather, to assure speedy
delivery to our testing laboratories. This provides Sonora Quest Laboratories control of the precious
specimens that represent the lives entrusted to us.
We've also brought speed to physicians and
hospitals. Sonora Quest Laboratories continues to invest in electronic connectivity between our
laboratories and physicians, reducing the time it takes to deliver results. Connectivity allows
physicians to order tests and receive test results electronically - quickly and with greater accuracy
than ever before. And we continue to invest in our Information Technology solutions. Our electronic
physician portal system allows physicians to review lab results electronically and order prescriptions
electronically in a matter of seconds. Quality and Collaboration are two of our core values that come
to life in our connectivity solutions.
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Sonora Quest Laboratories and our integrated laboratory network have a wealth of diagnostic testing
knowledge and expertise. On our website, www.sonoraquest.com, we continually post patient education
material regarding various tests and how to interpret their results. In addition, we also post testing
recommendations from such agencies as the Center for Disease Control (CDC) and the Arizona Department
of Health Services. We also provide patient literature brochures at all of our Patient Service Centers
throughout the state and in some of our client's offices. Additional information to help you gain a
better understanding of your laboratory testing is made available to you through our parent company,
Quest Diagnostics, at their destination: Health website. Here, we'll help you map out the best plan
for the healthy life you (and your family) want.
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