"No Doctor Visit Required - Order Your Own Lab Test" - Quest Diagnostics Google Ad

Quest Labs is actively advertising on Google with "No Doctor Visit Required - Order Your Own Quest® Lab Test".

Anyone can order their own lab test at Quest and LabCorp, including test for COVID antibodies, HIV, etc:

https://questdirect.questdiagnostics.com/products

https://www.labcorp.com/labs-appointments/labcorp-services/pixel-labcorp

This is not new, it but it is still not widely utilized in clinical practice. The likely reason is that the cost of the tests must be paid out of pocket as most insurers do not cover it.

From KevinMD:

"There are now laws that permit patients to order their own lab tests such as cholesterol or glucose. Even registered nurses working in intensive care units are not permitted to order these tests without a physician’s authorization. Ordering diagnostic tests and medical treatments have always been under the purview of a physician or highly trained medical professionals."

References:

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2016/05/12/477644945/diy-blood-tests-theres-a-downside-to-ordering-your-own

https://www.kevinmd.com/blog/2017/02/patients-order-lab-tests.html