Quest Diagnostics and Memorial Hermann Health System announced a multi-pronged, long-term collaboration intended to broaden access to innovative, high-value laboratory services for providers and patients in Greater Houston. Quest and Memorial Hermann have executed a definitive agreement for Quest to acquire select assets which constitute substantially all the operations of Memorial Hermann Diagnostic Laboratories (MHDL), the outreach laboratory division of Memorial Hermann. The acquisition includes nearly 30 MHDL patient service centers and nearly 60 in-office laboratory service sites. These services will transition to the Quest Diagnostics full-service laboratory in Houston. Upon closing, Quest will also provide professional laboratory management services through a multi-year agreement for all of Memorial Hermann's 21 hospital laboratories, which provide onsite rapid response testing. Memorial Hermann will continue to wholly own these labs. In addition, Quest will become the sole preferred provider of laboratory services for the Memorial Hermann Health Plan, upon closing. The parties expect to complete the transaction in the second quarter of 2020, assuming customary regulatory approvals are granted. Details of the transaction were not disclosed. The relationship between Memorial Hermann and Quest is designed to improve access to innovative, quality, and cost-efficient diagnostic services for patients in Texas, particularly the Houston metropolitan area. Assuming the transaction's completion, physicians and patients will benefit from access to Quest's test menu and broad health plan coverage along with an expanded network of nearly 80 patient services centers throughout Houston.