NCPA, Ulta to develop online lab-test service for consumers

The National Community Pharmacists Association (NCPA) recently teamed up with Ulta Lab Tests LLC, a consumer-direct lab testing company, to develop an online lab testing platform for pharmacies that choose to participate.

The service will be available nationwide.

Through the platform, customers at participating pharmacies will have access to lower-priced lab tests without the need to obtain a prescription from a local physician (not currently available in New Jersey, New York and Rhode Island).

Customers will be able to access results and other lab-test information online, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

“In many areas, community pharmacists are the only accessible health care provider and a resource for vital patient-focused services, such as medication management, education, immunizations and more,” NCPA CEO B. Douglas Hoey said. “This exciting new collaboration with Ulta Lab Tests will allow community pharmacists to continue their commitment to driving better health outcomes for patients by giving patients direct access to information about their own health at lower costs. At the same time, it gives community pharmacists a chance to diversify their patient-service offerings and business opportunities.”

Ulta Lab Tests CEO John Roehm agreed.

“We are excited to collaborate with NCPA to offer 23,000 independent community pharmacies access to our low-priced and confidential lab testing and health screening services," Roehm said. "Our pharmacy partners can now offer their customers access to more than 1,600 lab tests and health screenings. With 70 percent of all diseases being diagnosed from blood testing, pharmacists and their customers now have the ability to monitor health conditions."

Through the program, customers will see savings of as much as 80 percent off the price of lab tests. They will have direct access to more than 1,600 lab tests and health screenings, and more than 2,100 state and federally certified blood-draw centers.

Lab test results will be received within one to two days.

“The community pharmacies that expand their practices and find unique niches are the ones that will succeed in today’s rapidly changing health care landscape – this new collaboration with Ulta Lab Tests is a good place to start,” Hoey said.