Quest Diagnostics is pushing ahead with the takeover of the 11 testing and diagnostic laboratories belonging to Hackensack Meridian Health, with the change slated to be effective as of Jan. 1, 2021.

The takeover means that roughly 800 employees at HMH – one of the largest hospital chains in the state – would become employees of Quest Diagnostics.

No layoffs are expected, and an HMH spokesperson assured that “HMH employees in good standing will be guaranteed employment by Quest for two years.”

HMH and Quest executives said during an announcement over the summer that the takeover would help boost the COVID-19 testing capacity for the health care network, such as with a quicker turnaround time for the acquisition of testing materials and diagnostic results.

Tests that are not time sensitive are being moved from Quest’s Teterboro facility to a new, 250,000-square-foot flagship laboratory at the ON3 campus in Clifton, slated for completion in early 2021 year.

“By working with Quest… our network will continue to deliver the high-quality, convenient and accessible health care our communities expect,” HMH Chief Executive Officer Robert Garrett said in a Dec. 22 statement.

“Our partnership with Quest proved invaluable during this pandemic in assuring quick and accurate test results for our patients and team members.”