Quest Diagnostics Study Finds High Tick-Borne Disease Co-Exposure
Quest Diagnostics Inc. DGX recently announced findings from a study published in JAMA Network Open, showing that nearly one-third of patients with antibodies against Borrelia burgdorferi, the bacterium responsible for Lyme disease, also had antibodies against at least one other tick-borne pathogen. The study analyzed de-identified test results from 193,260 individuals across the United States who underwent tick-borne disease testing between January 2021 and December 2025.
Per management, the findings highlight the frequency of tick-borne co-exposure, particularly in Lyme disease-endemic regions. The company noted that comprehensive testing can help identify multiple potential pathogens because Lyme disease, anaplasmosis and babesiosis can have overlapping symptoms, while babesiosis requires different treatment from Lyme disease.
DGX Stock Trend Following the News
Following the announcement, DGX stock lost 0.6% at yesterday’s close. Year to date, shares of the company have risen 41.1% compared with the industry’s 22% growth and the S&P 500’s 13.2% gain.
The study strengthens Quest Diagnostics’ role in supporting the diagnosis of tick-borne diseases and highlights the potential need for broader testing among patients suspected of having Lyme disease. Greater awareness of co-exposure patterns could support demand for comprehensive diagnostic testing, particularly as tick-borne illnesses continue to affect patients across multiple regions of the United States.
DGX currently has a market capitalization of $27.2 billion.
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More on the Study
The study found that 29.5% of individuals with antibodies against B. burgdorferi also had antibodies against at least one additional tick-borne pathogen, compared with 5.5% of individuals without Lyme disease antibodies. The most frequent co-seropositivity involved Babesia microti and Anaplasma phagocytophilum, which can be transmitted by the same blacklegged tick that carries B. burgdorferi.
Among the overall study population, 5% of individuals were seropositive for B. burgdorferi, while 3.4% were seropositive for Babesia microti, 3.1% for Anaplasma phagocytophilum and 1.0% for Ehrlichia species. The Northeast recorded the highest rate of co-seropositivity, with 31.1% of Lyme-seropositive patients showing antibodies against non-Lyme pathogens. Babesia antibodies were also most frequently co-detected in the Northeast, reaching 18.5%.
The study further found that more than 40% of diagnostic panel testing occurred during June through August, while nearly 26% took place during September through November, reflecting the seasonal nature of tick activity. The cohort was primarily represented by patients in the Northeast, which accounted for 70.6% of those tested.
Quest Diagnostics offers several laboratory tests for tick-borne infections, including a tick-borne disease antibodies panel incorporating guideline-recommended two-step serologic testing for Lyme disease. The company said the study’s large, geographically diverse dataset provides additional insight into patterns of tick-borne co-exposure, although serological findings do not establish whether an infection is currently active.
Industry Prospects Favoring the Market
Going by the data provided by Grand View Research, the global Lyme disease testing market is estimated to be $13.2 billion in 2026 and is projected to witness a CAGR of 8.2% through 2030.
Factors such as the rising incidence of Lyme disease, increasing awareness among patients and healthcare professionals, growing demand for accurate diagnostic tools and advancements in serological and nucleic acid testing are supporting market growth.
Other News
Quest Diagnostics recently announced that Apple Health app users in the United States will be able to purchase a Quest laboratory panel with more than 50 biomarkers directly through the app later this year. Priced at $119, the panel will assess cardiometabolic health and organ function and include biometric readings. Users can schedule testing at approximately 2,000 Quest patient service centers, with results delivered through the Apple Health app.
In August, Quest Diagnostics announced its plans to offer an AD-Detect-branded laboratory test service using Roche’s FDA-cleared Elecsys pTau217 blood test in the fourth quarter of 2026 to assess Alzheimer’s disease pathology. The company also plans to incorporate the Roche assay into future AD-Detect blood test panels in 2027. DGX is launching a multi-biomarker AD-Detect test designed to help identify patients with Alzheimer’s pathology.
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated Price
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DGX’s Zacks Rank & Key Picks
Quest Diagnostics currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold).
Some top-ranked stocks from the broader medical space are Veracyte VCYT, Globus Medical GMED and Inspire Medical Systems INSP, each sporting a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) at present. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Veracyte reported a second-quarter 2026 adjusted earnings per share (EPS) of 54 cents, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 25.6%. Revenues of $150.3 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.1%.
VCYT has an estimated earnings growth rate of 8.4% for 2026. The company’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 41.8%.
Globus Medical reported a second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of $1.34, which surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 19.6%. Revenues of $789.6 million beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 0.4%.
GMED has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 12.4%. The company’s earnings beat estimates in each of the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 27.9%.
Inspire Medical reported second-quarter 2026 adjusted EPS of 14 cents, which beat the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 163.6%. Revenues of $200.6 million surpassed the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 2.9%.
INSP has an estimated long-term earnings growth rate of 10.6%. INSP’s earnings surpassed estimates in the trailing four quarters, the average surprise being 195.9%.
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This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).
