- How is the MIT Health laboratory changing?
- Can I still get my blood drawn/sample collected at MIT Health?
- Do I have to have my blood drawn/sample collected at an MIT Health location?
- What will change during my MIT Health appointment?
- Will my test results be delayed because of this change?
- Will the number and type of tests that are available change?
- Will MIT Health still offer Point-of-Care testing?
- How will laboratory testing be billed?
- I have questions about a bill I received from Quest Diagnostics. Who should I contact?
- Will my parents/partner/family see my laboratory tests?
- What is Quest Diagnostics?
How is the MIT Health laboratory changing?
On April 27, 2026, MIT Health will close its in-house clinical laboratory and transition all laboratory services to Quest Diagnostics. Other than a limited set of point-of-care tests, no laboratory work will be processed on-site.
Can I still get my blood drawn/sample collected at MIT Health?
Yes. Quest Diagnostics will operate a blood draw station in our Cambridge Care Center. The station will be staffed with phlebotomists who can draw blood and collect other types of samples. Laboratory appointments will not be required.
In our Lexington Care Center, MIT Health staff will continue to draw blood and collect samples, which will then be sent by courier to Quest.
Do I have to have my blood drawn/sample collected at an MIT Health location?
No. Your provider’s test order is valid at any Quest location in the United States, so you can visit any of their 2,000+ locations (more than 70 of which are in Massachusetts) and have the results sent directly to your MIT Health provider.
What will change during my MIT Health appointment?
Nothing. Your MIT Health provider will continue to order tests in the same way and will receive results directly into your medical record. If you are on campus, you can get your blood drawn at Quest’s on-site station. If you are at our Lexington Care Clinic, we can take your sample on-site and a courier will bring the sample to the Quest Diagnostics lab.
Will my test results be delayed because of this change?
We do not expect significant changes in the time it takes for test results to be returned — some results may come a bit more slowly, while others may come back faster. Quest operates a large clinical laboratory in Westborough, MA, that is open 24 hours per day, as well as a dedicated laboratory close to Cambridge for time-sensitive testing.
In addition, this new approach allows MIT Health’s Urgent Care to offer a full range of testing options on weekends and holidays.
Will the number and type of tests that are available change?
No. The full range of testing options will continue as before. MIT Health has always partnered with external laboratories to supplement tests conducted in-house.
Will MIT Health still offer Point-of-Care testing?
Yes. MIT Health will continue to offer a set of Point-of-Care (PoC) testing in our Urgent Care, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Primary Care clinics. We currently offer PoC testing for Flu/COVID/RSV, strep, pregnancy, glucose, and certain fungal infections.
How will laboratory testing be billed?
Most laboratory tests processed by Quest will be billed directly to your health insurance. This is also true for students. Testing required for MIT Health employment (Occupational Health) and select sensitive tests for students will not be billed to insurance.
For students on MIT SHIP, most laboratory tests are fully covered with no copayment or deductible required. If you are a student who has elected to waive MIT insurance, the amount you will be required to pay will depend on your personal insurance benefits.
I have questions about a bill I received from Quest Diagnostics. Who should I contact?
You will need to contact Quest directly.
Will my parents/partner/family see my laboratory tests?
Laboratory test results are never shared with others without your consent. But if you are a dependent on someone else’s insurance plan, your parents/partner/family might get a bill. Even if an outside visit is fully covered and there is no bill, the subscriber may receive an Explanation of Benefits (EOB) document listing the services billed to insurance, including the names of laboratory tests.
In these cases, you can contact the insurance company in advance and request confidentiality. You can learn more about insurance privacy here. In addition, some types of sensitive testing for students, such as sexually transmitted infection (STI) testing, will not be billed to insurance to minimize privacy risks.
What is Quest Diagnostics?
Quest Diagnostics is one of the largest clinical laboratory service providers in the world. They partner with half of the hospitals in the United States and perform laboratory tests for one in three adult Americans each year. Quest Diagnostics operates locations throughout New England, with more than 70 centers in Massachusetts alone.