Month: March 2024

Directed at individuals who may be at risk of elevated PFAS exposure, the new test detects and measures PFAS identified by National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and MedicineOrganizations interested in workforce, community, and research population testing may also access the test

SECAUCUS, N.J., March 4, 2024 /3BL/ – Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX), the world’s leader in diagnostic information services, announced the availability of the first consumer-initiated, physician-ordered blood-draw test for PFAS chemicals with the option to confer over the phone with a physician about the results.

Available at questhealth.com, the new test, PFAS (Forever Chemicals) Test Panel, is performed by Quest Diagnostics to identify the level of potentially harmful chemicals called per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) – also known as “forever chemicals” because they can accumulate and linger in the environment and body.

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health effects potentially associated with PFAS exposure include increases in cholesterol levels, decreases in birth weight, lower antibody response to vaccines, kidney and testicular cancer, pregnancy-induced hypertension, preeclampsia, and changes in liver enzymes.

“Scientists and the general public are increasingly aware that PFAS may be dangerous to human health, but access to quality, convenient testing to assess exposure is limited,” said Jack Kain, PharmD, director and medical science liaison of Drug Monitoring and Toxicology, Quest Diagnostics. “Our PFAS blood test is based on the latest science and aligns with several facets of new CDC guidance as well as recommendations from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. Not everyone needs a PFAS test, but people at high risk of elevated exposure may benefit from greater access to the insights provided by this novel test.”

Testing may be right for people who likely have had elevated exposure to PFAS. These may include people who have been exposed to PFAS while on the job, such as firefighters, or who used a water supply near a commercial or industrial location, as well as those living near a facility that manufactures fluorochemicals or areas of documented PFAS environmental contamination.

The new test from Quest features several unique innovations. It is the first PFAS blood test available as a consumer-initiated test with physician consult to report a sum of PFAS chemicals based on level of health risks identified by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine (NASEM). The physician consultation, available to any individual who purchases the test, involves a telephone discussion between the individual and a third-party licensed physician about the results. In addition to providing personalized results, each easy-to-read test report includes information on ways to reduce exposure risk and can be shared with a personal physician.

The test is also widely available; individuals can visit most of Quest’s approximately 2,100 patient service centers in the U.S. for a blood draw*.

In addition to offering the test to consumers, Quest is making the test available via B2B channels for organizations seeking workforce, community, or research-based testing for at-risk populations due to concerns about elevated PFAS exposures. The company plans to introduce a version of the test specifically for physicians to aid patient care later this year.

PFAS Testing Based on the Latest Science 
In recent years, a growing body of science has revealed potential health risks of exposure to PFAS. In July 2022, NASEM recommended offering PFAS testing to patients who are likely to have a history of elevated exposure.

The Quest test aligns with several recommendations from NASEM on PFAS testing, including:

Use of serum or plasma blood specimens (blood taken from an arm) instead of capillary blood specimens (from a fingerstick).Quantifying levels of several specific PFAS chemicals identified for potential health risks.Reporting the sum of those levels by three general risk categories.

According to NASEM, individuals whose results are in the third, or highest, category (levels of 20 ng/mL or above) may benefit from additional medical care, such as thyroid function testing and assessment of signs of kidney and testicular cancer. While most individuals have some level of PFAS exposure, an estimated 9% of Americans have PFAS levels of 20 ng/mL or higher, typically due to environmental or occupational exposure.

In January 2024, the CDC’s Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry unveiled updated guidance to help providers and patients consider PFAS blood testing, based largely on the NASEM recommendations.

About PFAS 
PFAS are synthetic chemicals widely used in thousands of industrial and consumer products and which may enter the body through contaminated food and water. While there is no current medical treatment available to reduce PFAS levels, individuals can take steps to limit or reduce their exposure.

PFAS chemicals are associated with $22 billion in healthcare costs, according to a study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society[1]. Some individuals are at increased risk of prolonged exposure due to certain environmental and occupational factors. This includes firefighters, people living near industrial locations such as manufacturing plants, military bases, and airports, and those living in communities with known PFAS environmental contamination. According to the Environmental Working Group, more than 4,600 communities across the U.S. are at risk, as of August 2023.

Human health effects from exposure to low environmental levels of PFAS are uncertain. More research is needed to assess the human health effects of exposure to PFAS. Finding PFAS in an individual’s blood does not mean that the levels of PFAS harmed the individual’s health. For more information about PFAS chemicals see:

CDC: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) and Your Health.EPA: Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).

Consumer-Initiated Testing with a Physician Consult 
The PFAS (Forever Chemicals) Test Panel is available for individuals to purchase directly on questhealth.com. Unlike traditional direct-to-consumer tests, each test involves physician oversight and consultation on request with a licensed physician. Specifically, when an individual purchases a PFAS test online, a physician from PWNHealth, an independent, third-party physician network, will review the request and place an order. Once the order is submitted, an individual can schedule an appointment for a blood draw at a Quest Diagnostics patient service center. When testing is completed, results are provided in an easy-to-read report on a secure patient portal. An individual may then request a separate telephone consult with a PWNHealth physician to review the results. In addition, a PWNHealth care coordinator will actively contact any individual whose test results suggest elevated PFAS exposure (20ng/mL or higher) to recommend a physician consultation.

A Solution for Population Testing Public Health Departments, Employers, Military Sites, Municipalities, and other Organizations 
Quest is also offering the PFAS test panel on a limited basis to organizations seeking to provide PFAS testing for workforce, community, research, and other population-based testing. For additional information about B2B testing program, interested parties may contact Quest Diagnostics at PFAStesting@questdiagnostics.com.

*PFAS blood testing does not identify the sources of a person’s exposure or predict future health outcomes. This test assesses PFAS levels at the time of the blood sample collection. This PFAS test is not intended for use in the diagnosis of any disease or other conditions, or for use in the cure, mitigation, or treatment of any disease or condition. Only a physician can diagnose a health condition or outcome. This test is not appropriate for forensic use. Not available for purchase in AK, AZ, HI, or NY.

** In January 2024, the CDC provided new information on its website that recognizes the value of PFAS blood testing by a CLIA-certified laboratory. As knowledge and guidelines about PFAS (“forever chemicals”) and PFAS testing continue to evolve, questhealth.com may update its test offering accordingly.

About Quest 
Quest, through questhealth.com, empowers consumers by making affordable, high-quality, trusted healthcare easy. With innovative tools, we give consumers more control over their own healthcare journeys and meet them where they are, supporting both consumers and their care teams. Our consumer-initiated test service allows people access to the same quality lab tests used by doctors and hospitals, providing the information and insights they need about their health. With more than 75+ lab tests available at questhealth.com, from general health profiles to tests for conditions ranging from heart health to sexually transmitted diseases, consumers can shop, schedule test appointments, and access results securely from a phone or computer.

About Quest Diagnostics 
Quest Diagnostics empowers people to take action to improve health outcomes. Derived from the world’s largest database of clinical lab results, our diagnostic insights reveal new avenues to identify and treat disease, inspire healthy behaviors and improve healthcare management. Quest annually serves one in three adult Americans and half the physicians and hospitals in the United States, and our nearly 50,000 employees understand that, in the right hands and with the right context, our diagnostic insights can inspire actions that transform lives. www.QuestDiagnostics.com

Quest® is the brand name used for services offered by Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and its affiliated companies. Quest Diagnostics Incorporated and certain affiliates are CLIA-certified laboratories that provide HIPAA-covered services. Other affiliates operated under the Quest® brand, such as Quest Consumer Inc., do not provide HIPAA-covered services.

1 Leonardo Trasande, Roopa Krithivasan, Kevin Park, Vladislav Obsekov, Michael Belliveau, Chemicals Used in Plastic Materials: An Estimate of the Attributable Disease Burden and Costs in the United States, Journal of the Endocrine Society, Volume 8, Issue 2, February 2024, bvad163, https://doi.org/10.1210/jendso/bvad163

SOURCE Quest Diagnostics

For further information: Jillian Flanagan (Media): mediacontact@questdiagnostics.com or Shawn Bevec (Investors): 973-520-2900

With stunning views of snow-capped mountains, the Lets’emot Regional Aquatic Centre is poised to steal the spotlight in Agassiz, BC by the end of 2025.

That’s the target date for the opening of this 30,000-square-foot indoor pool facility to the public.

For now, a fundraising billboard showing the conceptual image of the regional aquatic center stands on the site where it will be constructed, adjacent to the existing Community Recreation and Cultural Centre, and on Stó:lō traditional territory—a fitting location, given that Stó:lō means “people of the river.”

This ambitious indoor pool project still needs about $3.5 million to meet its target construction funding of $21 million. Meanwhile, the details about the construction of the project will be released for bidding very soon.

The Lets’emot Regional Aquatic Centre is designed to feature an eight-lane lap pool, a leisure pool, a whirlpool, an activity space and a community room. Once operational, this indoor facility will provide more learning spaces for vital water safety education, for children and adults alike.

It will also create additional employment and volunteer opportunities, while filling a void in the community’s access to a nearby indoor pool facility. Currently, the nearest indoor pool to Agassiz is located in Chilliwack, 26 km away—a distance Mayor Sylvia Pranger of the District of Kent walked for more than five hours to raise funds for the pool back in April 2023.

The Ferny Coombe Pool, Agassiz’s beloved and lone pool, is a seasonal outdoor pool built in 1978. Already past its initial life expectancy, it cannot be repaired for any significant structural or mechanical failure, and has recently lost its diving board.

The name “Lets’emot”—a Halqmeylem word meaning “One Heart, One Mind”—was chosen as the official name for this aquatic center. It encapsulates the collaborative efforts of the communities of Cheam First Nation, District of Kent, Seabird Island Band, Sq’éwlets First Nation, Stó:lō Tribal Council, the Sts’ailes Nation, the District of Kent and the Village of Harrison Hot Springs, that support having a much-needed year-round aquatic facility for their community and neighbours.

“The District of Kent will be incorporating the concept of ‘Lets’emot’ in its plans for the new indoor pool in the spirit of embracing all neighbouring communities,” says Mayor Pranger. “The Lets’emot Regional Aquatic Centre will be a future hub for recreation and will promote accessibility, inclusion, and social connection, to ensure that everyone feels welcome to use the facility.”

As part of its Fueling Futures program, Enbridge—part of the Agassiz community for almost 70 years—has contributed $50,000 to the Lets’emot Regional Aquatic Centre.

To further bolster the fundraising efforts, the District of Kent has set up a dedicated page, Jump In and Help Us Fill the Pool!, providing details on various ways to donate.

NEW YORK, March 4, 2024 /3BL/ – The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), the global authority for driving market transformation toward healthy buildings, organizations and communities, has today announced the winners of the IWBI Awards. The program celebrates the positive impact and leadership of organizations and individuals who have leveraged WELL to make extraordinary strides in health, well-being and equity in 2023.

The IWBI Organizational Awards are presented to organizations for their commitment to prioritizing health and well-being across their organization or real estate portfolio, often through the WELL at scale program.The IWBI Individual Awards elevate passionate advocates and leaders – WELL Faculty and WELL APs (Accredited Professionals) – within the global WELL community across a wide range of categories.

“The people and organizations who champion WELL are the lifeblood of our movement, driving real, positive change for communities around the world,” said IWBI President and CEO Rachel Hodgdon. “I extend my personal congratulations to all award recipients for their exceptional leadership, passion and commitment that is making people-first places possible everywhere.”

These leaders will also be recognized at the WELL Conference, to be held in Long Beach, Calif. on May 7-9, 2024, and at regional WELL Summits around the world.

WELL at scale enables organizations to measure and improve organizational health performance and its impact across all locations. Many IWBI Organizational Awards are determined using an organization’s WELL Score, a number out of 100 that reflects the WELL strategies earned across all of an enterprise’s locations, weighted by the number of people impacted by those achievements, as well as achievement by WELL concept area. Over time, this score can be contextualized by industry, region, fund and location use-types, and will provide a ranking in one of these areas. With this data, organizations can measure their impact on people, while also comparing their progress internally and against industry peers.

WELL Faculty and WELL APs—a community of more than 25,000 people in 129 countries whose professional credential denotes expertise in WELL—have worked hand-in-hand with organizations pursuing IWBI’s programs including its flagship WELL Standard, the WELL ratings and WELL at scale, now collectively spanning over 5 billion square feet across 131 countries. The 2023 cohort of award winners have influenced WELL’s progress by demonstrating exceptional leadership through action, feedback and proactive support.

The IWBI Organizational Award winners are as follows:

Global WELL Leadership Award (up to 100 locations) – Lendlease – LOITS & LITS Global WELL Leadership Award (over 100 locations) – Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, IncRegional WELL Leadership Award (Americas) – EY, U.S.Regional WELL Leadership Award (Asia) – Kerry Properties (China) Project Management Co., Ltd., Shanghai BranchRegional WELL Leadership Award (Europe) – Landsec – Direct-managed office propertiesRegional WELL Leadership Award (Oceania) – Lendlease – LOITS & LITSPeople First Award (Real estate) – Embassy REITPeople First Award (Non-real estate) – JPMorgan Chase & Co.WELL Concept Leadership Award (Air) – EdgeWELL Concept Leadership Award (Water) – Landsec – Direct-managed office propertiesWELL Concept Leadership Award (Nourishment) – Gmp Property SOCIMI – Office; Lendlease – LOITS & LITS; Lendlease – LOITS; Lendlease – LITSWELL Concept Leadership Award (Light) – EdgeWELL Concept Leadership Award (Movement) – Embassy REITWELL Concept Leadership Award (Thermal Comfort) – EdgeWELL Concept Leadership Award (Sound) – Lendlease – LITSWELL Concept Leadership Award (Materials) – Lendlease – LOITSWELL Concept Leadership Award (Mind) – Jones Lang LaSalle Americas, IncWELL Concept Leadership Award (Community) – Lendlease – LOITS; Lendlease – LOITS & LITS; Lendlease – LITS; Lendlease – SAS; KMC Solutions; Charter Hall Prime Office Fund – CPOF; Charter Hall – DOF; Charter Hall – Workplaces (CLW); Charter Hall – Office Trust (CHOT); Charter Hall – Workplace; Citi; Landsec – Direct-managed office properties; Deloitte – US Firms; Charter Hall – PFA; Lendlease – APPFWELL Concept Leadership Award (Innovation) – EY, U.S.; Enel – Italia and LATAM Offices; Enel – Italia and LATAM Offices; Lendlease – LOITS; Lendlease – LOITS & LITS; Lendlease – LITS; Lendlease – SAS; Charter Hall – Workplaces (CLW); Gmp Property SOCIMI – Office; Veris Residential; Charter Hall – DOF; Embassy REIT; HongKong Land – Hong Kong; LendleaseAdvancing Health in ESG Leadership Award – CitiHealth and Safety Leadership Award – Cadillac Fairview; Charter Hall – Workplaces (CLW); Empire State Realty Trust; GSK – APAC Offices; JPMorgan Chase & Co.; KMC Solutions; Lendlease; Lendlease – APPF; Lendlease – LITS; Lendlease – LOITS; Lendlease – LOITS & LITS; Lendlease – SAS; NEO; RXR Realty; T-Mobile – Corporate Owned Locations; Charter Hall – DOF; Charter Hall – PFA; Charter Hall – Workplace; 上海星卓物业管理有限公司Shanghai Starplus Property Management Co., Ltd; Citi; Sunrise Senior LivingWELL Certification Leadership Award – Embassy REITEquity Leadership Award – KMC Solutions; Veris Residential; Landsec – Direct-managed office properties; Investa – IGO, IGO Managed, ICPF, ICPF Managed; Investa – ICPF; Investa – ICPF Managed; Investa – IGO Managed; Investa – IGOBuilding Performance Leadership Award – Nucleus Office Parks Pvt Ltd Outstanding Health Progress Award – BarclaysWELL AP Impact Award – GenslerWELL Enterprise Provider of the Year Award – CBRESustainable Finance Award – Aviva InvestorsCommitment and Engagement Award – Citi, Uber Technologies Inc., Veris Residential, Standard Chartered Bank, China World Trade Center, GSK – APAC Office

The IWBI Individual Award winners are as follows:

WELL AP of the Year – Nobuaki KoyamaRegional Leader Award (APAC) – Lisa HindeRegional Leader Award (China) – Andy LaiRegional Leader Award (Americas) – Carly Bullock-JonesRegional Leader Award (MENA) – Dalia WagdiRegional Leader Award (Europe) – Daniele GuglielminoAdoption of WELL Award – Andrew Bellamy, Annalise Dum, Gala Fombella, Jaiko Celka, Jordan Hart-White, Lenna Lockwood, Manoranjani Rajendran, Marianna Moores, Masahiro Yamazaki, Pakinam Eid, Tracy BackusEmerging Market Award – Alicia Silva, Hasitha Herath, Heather Bergsland, Honda Lu, Iping Yang, Kristina Martin, Praveenbabu Rajkumar, Wojciech Tworek Next Frontier of Design Award – Edison Zhang, Komal Kotwal, Lucy Hart, Lukasz Krupinski, Naree Phinyawatana, Shelly Thompson, Susie FrazierChangemaker Award – Ahmad Salmeen, Avneet Gujral, Charlie Chichetti, Christhina Candido, Haytham Abdel Rahman, Jie Wang, Kati Peditto, Linda Jarnhamn, Michael Don Ham, Scott MontemerloEducator of the Year Award – Tim BeukerPerformance Testing Agent of the Year Award – Andy GuoProject Admin of the Year Award – Jay MurrayRising Star Award – Ailish Wade, Lorena Montenegro, Megan Francis, Shalini SivaSubramanian, Giulia Mori, Mitchell Grant, Rachel Vig, Yasushi KinoshitaTrailblazer Award – George-Michael Cotarelo, Lei Liang, Melinda MandlaWELL Forum Influence Award – Shema Kamoun

For more information about WELL, please visit https://www.wellcertified.com/.

About the International WELL Building Institute

The International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) is a public benefit corporation and the world’s leading organization focused on deploying people first places to advance a global culture of health. IWBI mobilizes its community through the administration of the WELL Building Standard (WELL) and its WELL ratings, management of the WELL AP credential, the pursuit of applicable research, the development of educational resources, and advocacy for policies that promote health and well-being everywhere. More information on WELL can be found here.

International WELL Building Institute, IWBI, the WELL Building Standard, WELL v2, WELL Certified, WELL AP, WELL EP, WELL Score, The WELL Conference, We Are WELL, the WELL Community Standard, WELL Health-Safety Rated, WELL Performance Rated, WELL Equity Rated, WELL Equity, WELL Residence, Works with WELL, WELL and others, and their related logos are trademarks or certification marks of International WELL Building Institute pbc in the United States and other countries.