Quest links oncology tests into OncoEMR

Quest Diagnostics said July 8 that it is integrating two molecular oncology offerings into Flatiron Health’s OncoEMR, allowing clinicians to order tests and receive results inside the electronic health record rather than through separate lab portals. The initial rollout covers Quest’s Haystack MRD circulating tumor DNA test and its comprehensive genomic profiling services for solid tumor cancers, according to Quest’s announcement. The company said the launch is beginning through a pilot with American Oncology Network, or AON, and other community oncology providers. (newsroom.questdiagnostics.com) Flatiron Health’s OncoEMR is used by more than 4,700 providers across more than 220 community oncology practice partners and 1,600-plus sites of care, according to Flatiron. That reach helps explain why lab integrations into the platform matter to testing companies trying to place ordering and results review inside routine oncology workflows. ### What is actually being connected inside OncoEMR? Quest said the integration runs through OncoEMR’s Molecular Profiling Integration, or MPI, which it described as an opt-in ordering feature built for the specialized requirements of comprehensive molecular tests. (newsroom.questdiagnostics.com) Through that setup, clinicians can place orders and receive reports within the EHR workflow. (flatiron.com) Flatiron has described MPI as a two-way integration between laboratories and OncoEMR. In a separate announcement last year, Flatiron said the workflow allows providers to order tests and receive results directly in the platform rather than moving between systems. ### Which Quest oncology tests are included first? Quest said the first tests in the rollout are Haystack MRD and comprehensive genomic profiling for solid tumors. (ir.questdiagnostics.com) Haystack MRD is Quest’s circulating tumor DNA minimal residual disease assay, which the company markets for detecting residual, recurrent or resistant cancer. (resources.flatiron.com) Quest’s broader oncology menu also includes molecular assays, cytogenetics, flow cytometry and hereditary cancer testing, according to its oncology information pages. The July 8 announcement did not say when additional oncology assays, if any, would be added to the OncoEMR connection. ### Why is Quest emphasizing “largest clinical reference lab”? Quest said the move makes it “the largest clinical reference lab” to integrate oncology tests in OncoEMR using MPI. (newsroom.questdiagnostics.com) The company framed that point around scale within the reference lab market, not exclusivity of access on the platform. (questdiagnostics.com) Other testing companies have also announced MPI links with Flatiron. Abbott said in April that it had integrated its precision oncology portfolio into OncoEMR, and Flatiron has previously announced similar MPI access for Tempus and Caris Life Sciences. ### Who gets the new workflow first? American Oncology Network and other community oncology providers are the first named participants in the pilot, Quest said. (ir.questdiagnostics.com) The company did not identify the other providers by name in the materials reviewed. AON’s inclusion points to community oncology rather than only academic cancer centers. (prnewswire.com) Flatiron says most cancer care in the United States is delivered in community settings served by its network, and OncoEMR is positioned around that market. ### What happens next? Quest said the pilot is launching now, but it did not provide a timetable for broader availability across all OncoEMR practices. Flatiron’s interface directory lists Quest Diagnostics among connected vendors, while the July 8 announcement specifies oncology ordering and reporting through MPI as the new step. (newsroom.questdiagnostics.com) Any expansion beyond Haystack MRD and comprehensive genomic profiling will likely be disclosed through future Quest or Flatiron updates. (flatiron.com) As of July 9, both companies were pointing readers to their oncology and OncoEMR materials for implementation details. (newsroom.questdiagnostics.com) (flatiron.com)