Techcyte goes live at Sonora Quest with AI parasitology suite

Techcyte said Sonora Quest Laboratories has begun using the Techcyte Fusion Parasitology Suite, bringing AI-assisted digital workflows into ova and parasite screening. The rollout is meant to speed turnaround times and help the large western U.S. lab system address staffing pressure and testing demand.

Why it matters: - Sonora Quest Laboratories is one of the largest integrated laboratory systems in the United States. - The deployment shows how major labs are using AI-assisted digital workflows to modernize microscopy and ease staffing strain. - Faster, more standardized stool ova and parasite screening can improve turnaround times and free technologists for other work.

What happened: - Techcyte announced that Sonora Quest Laboratories has gone live with the Techcyte Fusion Parasitology Suite for research use only. - Sonora Quest Laboratories is a joint venture between Banner Health and Quest Diagnostics. - The lab system serves diagnostic needs across the western U.S. - The initial rollout focuses on parasitology.

The details: - The Techcyte Fusion Parasitology Suite is designed to support AI-assisted identification of parasites on digitized slides. - The platform combines digital slide viewing, case management and AI in one workflow. - Techcyte said the system can support both routine testing and reference lab services. - Sonora Quest Laboratories has faced recruiting and retention challenges for technologists who perform ova and parasite screening. - John-Michael Krasovic, Lab Manager, Microbiology at Sonora Quest Laboratories, said the implementation has accelerated turnaround times for stool Ova and Parasite examinations. - Krasovic said the workflow has also allowed laboratory professionals to focus on additional critical responsibilities across the department.

Between the lines: - The move reflects a broader shift in microbiology toward digitized review and AI-assisted analysis. - Techcyte and Sonora Quest Laboratories are treating parasitology as a starting point for broader automation. - The companies are collaborating on a longer-term plan to extend digital workflows to other microscopy tests. - Dr. Tiffany Chen, Techcyte’s chief medical officer, said laboratories are operating in a complex environment where staffing, volumes and expectations keep shifting.

What's next: - Techcyte and Sonora Quest Laboratories plan to scale digital workflows beyond parasitology into several other microscopy tests. - The partnership will likely serve as a test case for how large labs expand AI-assisted workflows across more diagnostic areas.

The bottom line: - Techcyte’s go-live at Sonora Quest puts AI-driven parasitology into a large real-world lab setting, with speed and staffing efficiency as the immediate payoff.