Guardant Health partners with Quest for blood-based cancer screening

Guardant Health Inc. (NASDAQ: GH) and Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) announced a multi-year strategic collaboration to distribute Guardant's Shield blood-based colorectal cancer screening test through Quest's network in the United States.

The partnership will allow Quest's provider clients to order Shield directly through their existing Quest accounts and electronic health records. Quest served approximately 650,000 clinician and hospital accounts last year and operates 2,000 patient service centers with 6,000 in-office phlebotomists across the country.

Shield received FDA approval as a primary screening option for colorectal cancer in average-risk adults aged 45 and older. The test is expected to be available for physician orders through Quest in the first quarter of 2026.

Quest's national commercial sales team will educate primary care physicians and obstetricians and gynecologists about the test to increase awareness among ordering providers, according to the companies' statement.

"Shield makes cancer screening pleasant and convenient, through just a simple blood draw," said AmirAli Talasaz, Guardant Health co-CEO.

Jim Davis, Quest's Chairman, CEO and President, said the collaboration reinforces the company's commitment to expanding its oncology offering with screening technology for diseases that can be prevented when detected early.

According to the companies, colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the U.S., with a 91% five-year survival rate when caught in early stages. Over 50 million eligible adults in the U.S. do not complete recommended screening, partly due to finding available options like colonoscopy and stool tests unpleasant or inconvenient.

Shield is covered by Medicare and the Veterans Affairs Community Care Network and is commercially available across the U.S.

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