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Sonora Quest Laboratories Offers Free COVID-19 PCR Testing to Uninsured Arizonans

Tuesday, September 13, 2022   |   Category: Press Releases

The lab’s partnership with the CDC’s ICATT program launched September 8, 2022

PHOENIX (September 12, 2022) -- Sonora Quest Laboratories, Arizona’s leading diagnostic laboratory, announced it has joined the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's (CDC) Increasing Community Access to Testing (ICATT) program to offer free COVID-19 laboratory testing for uninsured people who are either symptomatic, exposed, or at high risk (including immunocompromised or pregnant).  

“As COVID-19 continues to spread throughout our communities, the restoration of free COVID PCR testing to uninsured patients is vital to ensure all Arizonans have the answers they need,” said Dave Dexter, President and Chief Executive Officer for Sonora Quest.

The ICATT program for free COVID testing is available to uninsured patients throughout the state. Patients with health insurance continue to have access to free COVID PCR testing at Sonora Quest if exposed to COVID or presenting with symptoms.

In addition to offering ICATT, Sonora Quest has been working with community health care partners like Equality Health Foundation since the pandemic began to help vulnerable communities across Arizona get fair and equitable access to COVID resources, testing, and vaccines.

“Even with COVID out of the headlines, we know that testing continues to be important to determine the best options for treatment and protecting public health,” said Tomas Leon, president of Equality Health Foundation. “We applaud Sonora Quest’s continued purpose-driven leadership and collaboration in this space for Arizona.”  

With reports of antigen/at-home COVID testing having a sensitivity as low as 60%, and requiring three tests to detect the latest Omicron variants, PCR testing continues to be the gold standard. 

Uninsured patients can check to see if they qualify for free COVID PCR testing by completing a brief online screening questionnaire. If qualified, patients will have the option to schedule a COVID-19 PCR test sample collection at more than 50 Patient Service Centers throughout Arizona, including select car-side locations. Patients with symptoms must wear a mask for their appointment. To check eligibility and schedule an appointment visit sonoraquest.com/covid-testing.

Dexter added: “People are using COVID test results to make decisions impacting their lives and those they love. Sonora Quest is constantly looking for community partners like Equality Health, and innovative ways to knock down barriers to health care and ensure all Arizonans have access to high-quality, accurate PCR COVID testing. Our opportunity to partner with the CDC and offer the ICATT program allows us to provide underserved populations the answers they need.” 

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About Sonora Quest Laboratories   

Sonora Quest Laboratories, an Arizona-based joint venture between Banner Health and Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), is part of the nation’s largest integrated laboratory system. We are the trusted leader in diagnostic and information services with approximately 3,800 employees performing more than 97 million diagnostic tests per year. Our comprehensive test menu encompasses routine, molecular, prescription drug monitoring, genetic/genomic, women’s health, and pathology testing services. Sonora Quest is accredited by the College of American Pathologists, the gold standard in laboratory accreditation, which helps ensure the highest standard of care for laboratory operations. To schedule an appointment, find one of our 70+ patient service centers across Arizona, or learn more about ordering tests without a provider’s order through My Lab ReQuest™, visit us at SonoraQuest.com.

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