MADISON, N.J. — Safeway and Quest Diagnostics are expanding diagnostic testing services to more of the food and drug retailer’s stores.

Quest said this week that diagnostic testing will be offered in 12 Safeway stores — in  California, Colorado, Texas, Virginia and Maryland — in addition to the two locations operating in Arizona through Quest’s Sonora Quest Laboratories joint venture with Banner Health.

The diagnostic testing is provided in Quest-branded patient services centers (PSCs) adjacent to the pharmacies inside the Safeway stores. The 400- to 500-square-foot PSCs will have a waiting room and a restroom with a sample pass-through, as well as interior designs to facilitate patient interaction in a private environment.

“Our collaboration with Quest Diagnostics represents Safeway’s commitment to becoming a health and wellness destination for our customers, giving patients convenient access to quality laboratory testing and a unique shopping experience,” Mark Panzer, senior vice president of pharmacy, health and wellness at Safeway, said in a statement. “This is a natural extension of the robust health and wellness offerings found throughout our stores. We’re excited that our customers will have access to healthy foods, pharmacy services and diagnostic testing under one roof.”

For added convenience, Quest said it plans to provide patients with remote contact devices that enable them to shop during wait times. Quest and Safeway also plan to launch co-branded initiatives to reward customers, such as purchase incentives and coupons.

“We’re building on what we learned in Arizona, which is that by providing laboratory testing services where patients also shop, we will make it easier for them to get the quality diagnostic insights they need in convenient locations,” stated Steve Rusckowski, president and chief executive officer of Quest Diagnostics, one of the leading providers of diagnostic information services. “Our partnership with Safeway, combined with the technology investments we are making in our PSCs throughout the company and the commitment of our 44,000 dedicated employees to Everyday Excellence, are helping to create a first-class patient experience.”

Safeway is part of Albertsons Cos., which operates more than 2,200 supermarkets and about 1,760 pharmacies in 36 states and the District of Columbia under 18 store banners.