Quest Diagnostics, the world's leading provider of diagnostic information services, has launched QuestDirect, a new patient-initiated testing service which will empower consumers who live in Colorado and Missouri to manage their health by ordering certain lab tests directly without a physician's order.

According to a company release, the pilot programme will be available immediately. All tests are available via an easy online ordering form that can be downloaded from Quest Diagnostics' website, QuestDiagnostics.com/QuestDirect.

"In today's consumer-driven health care environment, people want to play a more active role in managing their own health and wellness, and our patient-initiated testing service is another resource for individuals to empower better health," said Steve Rusckowski, Quest Diagnostics president and CEO. "Consumers expect the most accurate and up-to-date diagnostic information to proactively manage their health so that they can make educated decisions, and we are pleased to begin offering this service to residents of Colorado and Missouri."

Customers will be able to access the results through MyQuest by Care360, used by more than three million people to see, store and share their results and health information using a smartphone, tablet or desktop computer. Prices for each test bundle are provided on the order form.

Quest's laboratories are accredited by the College of American Pathologists, the laboratory industry's gold-standard accrediting agency, a defining distinction of Quest's outstanding quality and proven testing processes.

"We are pleased to offer consumers a responsible menu of tests that will give them the insight about their health and well-being," said Cathy Doherty, senior vice president and group executive, clinical franchise solutions, Quest Diagnostics. "We believe that consumer engagement in personal health is critical and we aim to ensure consumers are connected to high quality medical care – when and where they need it."

Quest Diagnostics has been a leader in the movement for consumer empowerment in healthcare. The company has been a strong advocate of the effort to provide patients with direct access to lab testing through its joint venture partners in Arizona and Oklahoma. More than three million patients track and access their lab results and health data through Quest Diagnostics' MyQuest health portal and mobile app. The company further expanded convenient access to testing services through its recent collaboration with Safeway, offering laboratory testing services at 12 Safeway locations in 5 states. In August, Quest announced a collaboration with Ancestry.com to offer testing services on behalf of AncestryDNA.