Diagnostics giant Labcorp is stepping deeper into the digital health space with the launch of Labcorp OnDemand, an online platform where users can order tests and possibly collect samples at home.

Patients choose tests through the platform and a physician can approve and review requests without a required doctor's visit. Some tests allow patients to collect samples in their homes, while others require them to go to a Labcorp collection center. Patients can then view results through the platform.

Some of the tests available through Labcorp OnDemand include colorectal cancer screenings, COVID-19 PCR tests, cholesterol and lipid panels, general health blood tests, pregnancy tests, and sexual health screenings.

The clinical lab company said it plans to make more test kit options available through physicians health plans and employers later this year. 

WHY IT MATTERS

Labcorp is pitching the platform as a more convenient way for patients to access blood tests, as well as an expansion of their digital health offerings. 

"Labcorp OnDemand makes it easier for individuals to access our leading diagnostic tests online. The OnDemand platform is an intuitive experience where individuals can purchase tests online and choose from multiple options to take the test, including in the comfort of their own home," Amy Summy, Labcorp’s executive vice president and chief marketing officer, said in a statement.

"The platform, in addition to our leading Ovia Health digital apps, offers consumers market-leading solutions, backed by over 50 years of science and innovation, to make confident health decisions."

THE LARGER TREND

This isn't Labcorp's first foray into digital and at-home services. The new platform replaces Pixel by Labcorp, a similar offering that launched in 2018, with four screens for general wellness, heart health, diabetes and colorectal cancer. 

In August, the diagnostics giant announced it had acquired Ovia Health, a digital health platform focused on family care including women's health, pregnancy and pediatric care. 

But Labcorp isn't alone in pushing into a more consumer-focused approach to diagnostics. Cue Health, which offers an at-home molecular COVID-19 test, recently announced its own virtual health platform. It also plans to expand its at-home test offerings to include flu, RSV (respiratory syncytial virus), chlamydia, gonorrhea, fertility and pregnancy.

Everly Health, the parent company of at-home testing company EverlyWell, announced it had purchased reproductive health company Natalist in October.