New York Attorney General Letitia James has secured $55,000 in penalties from Lab Worq, LLC for misleading New Yorkers about the delivery times of rapid COVID-19 test results. The company advertised 24-hour test results during late 2021 and early 2022 but faced widespread delays. During the two weeks before Christmas in 2021, Lab Worq's wait time exceeded three days, affecting over 90,000 patients who needed quick results for holiday travel. Some consumers reported waiting a week or more or never receiving their results.
Attorney General James stated, "In 2021, consumers were anxious to get COVID-19 tests so they could visit family and friends and return to work during the holiday season. Lab Worq misled consumers by repeatedly promising 24-hour test results that they could not deliver, and now they are paying the price. I will continue to take action against any company that misleads New Yorkers during a public health crisis."
The Office of the Attorney General (OAG) began investigating COVID-19 testing sites in December 2021 after receiving numerous complaints about delayed test results. These delays affected individuals' ability to work and disrupted holiday plans. The OAG issued a warning letter to Lab Worq and other companies at that time.
Including this settlement with Lab Worq, Attorney General James has obtained over $580,000 in penalties from companies failing to provide promised COVID testing services. This includes $122,000 from Clear 19 Rapid Testing, $182,000 from ClearMD Health, and $230,000 from SameDay Health.
New Yorkers who believe a medical facility is making misleading statements are encouraged to file a complaint online with the Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau or call at 1-800-771-7755.
This case was managed by Assistant Attorneys General Franklin Romeo and Mary Alestra along with Deputy Bureau Chief Laura J. Levine under Bureau Chief Jane M. Azia's supervision within the Division of Economic Justice led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Chris D’Angelo and overseen by First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.