Connector

Laboratory Services

Laboratory Services

Connector has negotiated a joint contract (Master Services Agreement, or MSA) between Quest Diagnostics and some Harvard-affiliated institutions to provide reasonably priced, high-quality laboratory services for Harvard investigators at participating sites who are conducting investigator-initiated studies. These services include the most commonly ordered routine testing as well as access to the full lab menu. In addition to providing bulk pricing on individual tests, the joint contract saves time: investigators set up services through an SOW addendum to the MSA rather than working through the lengthier process of setting up their own contract. The MSA has been reviewed and approved by legal counsel at the participating institutions.

The following institutions can set up lab services through the MSA. If you have questions or wish to initiate lab services, please email the contact at your institution:

• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center – Michelle Beck (mbeck1@bidmc.harvard.edu)
• Boston Children’s Hospital – Erica Denhoff (erica.denhoff@childrens.harvard.edu)
• Brigham and Women’s Hospital – Yemi Talabi-Oates (otalabi-oates@partners.org)
• Dana Farber Cancer Institute – Katherine Padgett (katherine_padgett@dfci.harvard.edu)
• Forsyth Institute – Hatice Hasturk (hhasturk@forsyth.org)
• Joslin Diabetes Center – Charlene Coneys (charlene.coneys@joslin.harvard.edu)
• Massachusetts General Hospital – Lynelle Cortellini (lcortellini@mgh.harvard.edu)
• McLean Hospital – – Wendy Tartarini (wtartarini@mclean.harvard.edu)

Sample Testing

Most tests are run through the standard local lab in Marlborough, which meets CAP/CLIA standards. However, Quest can also run samples through one of their “esoteric” labs which provide GCP/GCLP support (for example, if the data are going to the FDA and need full chain of custody, document retention for 15 years, etc., or your samples are out of stability and require special handling). Please note tests that need to be billed to insurers can only be sent to your hospital lab.

Specimen Collection and Sample Processing

Quest picks up samples from Harvard institutions every day. Participants can also have their samples collected at a local Quest draw site. In addition to testing, Quest offers other services (for a fee) such as project management, data management, long-term storage/biobanking, and home-based data collection. Quest can process batches, including on stored samples, and can run deidentified samples if a study requires blinding.

Investigators working with a Connector site may access specialized personnel to provide assistance with specimen collection and sample processing. Specimen collection may include: blood, saliva, urine, and other types of specimens. In addition, investigators may access resources to perform specialized processing for studies where the assays are run in the investigator’s lab, another contract lab, or a research core. Local sample collection and processing services may have associated recharge rates. For more information contact your site administrator.