Quest Diagnostics announced on Wednesday that it plans to acquire Cleveland HeartLab.

The company will establish its first national center of excellence for cardiometabolic disorders at Cleveland HeartLab's specialized laboratory in Cleveland, Ohio.

"Working together, we aim to improve physician and patient access to diagnostic insights into hidden risks of heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States," a Quest Diagnostics' spokesperson told HCB News.

Cleveland HeartLab is a spin-off of Cleveland Clinic, which created a specialized approach that determines a patient's risk of heart disease. The approach is partially based on research published in over 100 peer-reviewed journals.

The transaction will bring together Cleveland HeartLab's expertise in inflammation, dietary and gut microbe biomarkers and Quest's Cardio IQ lipid particle analysis, as well as its genetic and metabolic testing experience.

The companies will also work to expand Cleveland HeartLab's relationship with MDVIP, which is a national network of almost 1,000 primary care physicians that focus on personalized, preventive care.

Since MDVIP members put a strong focus on wellness and prevention, Quest and Cleveland HeartLab will provide specialized health and wellness services for primary care settings.

The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of this year. Financial details have not been disclosed at this time.

In other news, Quest and Cleveland Clinic are partnering to accelerate the process of translating emerging innovations into diagnostic services. Experts from both entities will form a steering committee.

The committee will evaluate biomarkers for inflammation as well as other areas of disease discovered by the Lerner Research Institute. Quest might then independently develop test services for these biomarkers.

Quest and Cleveland Clinic plan to collaborate on trials to demonstrate the clinical and economic value of these and other biomarkers.

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