![]() The backlog in reporting is more of a data concern than a public health issue since Quest notified everyone who tested positive in a timely manner, so their health was not jeopardized, the DOH said. View Gallery: COVID-19 in Florida through photos While historically significant, it "will have little impact on the state of the pandemic today," the DOH said. ![]() Today's dump skews today's reported numbers, the DOH said. Having other labs step in to replace Quest at those sites shouldn't be a problem, he said. The state uses several other labs at state-supported testing sites, Mahon said. "Whenever a lab does not fulfill its obligations to provide testing results with an acceptable turnaround time, or report those results to the state, the Division stops doing business with that lab. "Quest Diagnostics was only being utilized at a limited number of state-supported sites," Mahon said. After the order by DeSantis, it will no longer be used at state-supported testing sites, said Jason Mahon, spokesman for the Division of Emergency Management. The vast majority of testing conducted by Quest is at private sites. ![]() The Department of Health did not immediately respond to requests for additional information. It also comes at a time when testing has dropped significantly across Florida, as much as 30% since its high point. Scott Atlas, to talk about cutting back on the testing of people who are asymptomatic, among other things. The decision comes a day after DeSantis brought President Trump's new medical advisor to the state, Dr. READ MORE: 5 Polk nursing home facilities see COVID-19 uptick The company has conducted 13.2 million diagnostic tests nationwide. "We remain open to working with the state Department of Health to provide testing that meets the needs required for patient care and public health response," the company said. The company said it has has provided more COVID-19 testing on behalf of the citizens of Florida than any other lab and is still in a good position to continue to help patients and assist with the public health response. "Importantly, the issue did not affect or delay reporting of test results to providers and patients." "We apologize for this matter and regret the challenge it poses for public health authorities in Florida," the company said in a news release. ![]() Quest released a statement on its website explaining that the delay was caused by a technical issue that has since been resolved, and only affected a subset of 75,000 of the 1.4 million COVID-19 tests it had performed and reported to state officials. READ MORE: COVID-19 cases at Polk County schools surge past 30 As such I am directing all executive agencies to sever their COVID-19 testing relationships with Quest effective immediately.” "I believe that Quest has abdicated their ability to perform a testing function in Florida that the people can be confident in. "To drop this much unusable and stale data is irresponsible," DeSantis said in the news release. Quest is one of the largest private providers of testing in the state since the pandemic began, with over 841,000 tests taken and processed in its Tampa lab alone. Laboratory Corporation of America, is first with over 914,000 tests.Īccording to the DOH, Quest failed to report nearly 75,000 results dating back to April. READ MORE: DeSantis says Florida ban on nursing home visits will be lifted Ron DeSantis "after Quest’s failure to follow Florida law and report all COVID-19 results in a timely manner," the Department of Health said in a news release. Florida severed its ties with Quest Diagnostics Tuesday at the direction of Gov. ![]()
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