Walmart To Partner With Quest Diagnostics To Offer In-Store Lab Work

Continuing the trend of retail giants looking for fresh revenue in basic health care, Wal-Mart Stores Inc WMT says it will partner with Quest Diagnostics Inc DGX to offer blood tests and other lab work in at least 15 stores by year’s end.

The sites will be rolled out at Walmarts in Texas and Florida, initially offering lab tests and then expanding to other primary care services. Most pharmacies already offer vaccinations.

“At Walmart, we’re not only focused on providing accessible, affordable healthcare, but also working to extend our offerings — truly making our stores a one-stop shop for our customers’ everyday health and wellness needs,” George Riedl, Walmart senior vice president for health and wellness, said in a statement in Drug Store News.

“We look forward to working with Quest as we operate in an increasingly dynamic and consumer-centric health care environment.”

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Quest in 2015 began offering lab services in partnership with Safeway Inc SWY and now has about 65 locations at the stores nationwide.

Industry giants such as CVS Health Corp CVS, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc WBA and Rite Aid Corporation RAD have varying strategies for filling the gaps in accessible healthcare.

Just this month, there was a report that said Amazon.com, Inc. AMZN is looking to enter the pharmacy space. The quest to diversify and expand took on even more added urgency when Amazon recently announced plans to acquire Whole Foods Market, Inc. WFM.

“We are proud to expand consumer access to health care through our work with Walmart,” Quest chairman, president and CEO Steve Rusckowski said.

Related Link: Vaccine Business The Gateway For Pharmacies To Provide Health Care