LabCorp Launches Mail-Order Blood Testing Service Pixel, Shifting Health Testing from Labs to Homes

VCBeat (WeChat: vcbeat) has learned that on November 1, 2018, local time, LabCorp, a global leader in life sciences, launched Pixel, a health testing product that enables patients to self-manage their care. Currently, different types of Pixel products can help patients undergo cardiac health screening, diabetes testing, colorectal cancer screening, and general health monitoring.

Pixel’s standout feature is that patients can order it online (subject to review by physicians certified by LabCorp’s board), use it to collect blood samples, and then mail them back to LabCorp laboratories. In this way, patients can access their health test results online within a few days without leaving home. This shifts the health testing scenario from fixed medical sites—LabCorp laboratories—to patients’ homes, significantly enhancing patient convenience. This represents an important step in LabCorp’s pursuit of a patient-centric service model.

Image source: mobihealthnews website

Pixel is primarily marketed to adults aged 18 and older. Its sales coverage extends across most of the United States, excluding Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. Currently, the prices for Pixel’s four different testing options—general health screening, heart health screening, diabetes screening, and colorectal cancer screening—are $69, $59, $39, and $95, respectively.

Notably, just two days before the launch of Pixel, LabCorp announced that its health records feature had become compatible with the iPhone Health app. Meanwhile, health information registered in patients’ LabCorp accounts can be synchronized and uploaded to the Health app. In addition to accessing their test results through the original application and patient portal, patients can now view them directly within the Health app. Furthermore, this feature integrates data such as allergy information, medical conditions, vaccination records, laboratory test results, medication details, treatment plans, and key vital signs obtained from various healthcare institutions, helping patients gain a more comprehensive understanding of their health status. Patients will receive timely notifications in the app when their relevant health data is updated. These data are protected by the patient’s iPhone passcode, Touch ID, and Face ID.

David P. King, Chairman and CEO of LabCorp, previously stated in a speech: “Laboratory test results are critical to medical decision-making. Expanding access to this information can help patients take greater responsibility for their health status, while also fostering better communication between patients and healthcare providers.”

Image source: Labcorp website

The two statements released by LabCorp this week indicate that the company is striving to expand its business model beyond traditional laboratory testing.

In recent years, consumer-centric home health testing has gained increasing popularity. Although powerful genomic research companies like 23andMe have firmly established a dominant position in the consumer health testing sector, several non-genomic companies have also carved out their own niche in this field. For instance, Mira and inui have launched home urine testing platforms based on various health indicators. Both companies have also stated that their technologies can be applied to home blood testing. Meanwhile, London-based Thriva and EverlyWell, headquartered in Texas, USA, are preparing to launch direct-to-consumer (D2C) products specifically offering mail-order blood testing services.

LabCorp, founded in 1976 and headquartered in North Carolina, USA, is a global leader in the life sciences industry. The company primarily focuses on guiding patient care, providing comprehensive clinical laboratory testing, and supporting drug development. LabCorp went public on the New York Stock Exchange in 1988. According to LabCorp’s annual report from last year, the company’s net revenue exceeded $10 billion in 2017.