You’re standing in front of a locked glass door with a crumpled lab order in your hand. It’s 4:32 PM. The lights are dimmed, and a small, plastic sign says they closed at 4:30. We’ve all been there. It’s frustrating, especially when you’ve been fasting since dinner last night and your stomach is currently performing a solo acoustic set of growls.
The real answer to what time does quest close isn't a single number. Honestly, it’s a bit of a moving target. Quest Diagnostics operates over 2,000 patient service centers across the country, and they don't all follow the same playbook.
Most Quest locations wrap things up between 4:00 PM and 5:00 PM on weekdays. But wait. Some stay open until 8:00 PM or even 9:00 PM in big cities or if they're nestled inside an urgent care center.
The Mid-Day Vanishing Act
Here is something that catches people off guard constantly: the lunch break. A huge chunk of Quest locations shut down for an hour in the middle of the day. You might show up at 12:15 PM thinking you’re beating the afternoon rush, only to find a "Back at 1:00 PM" sign.
Specific centers, like the one on Channing Way in Idaho Falls, might stay open from 8:00 AM to 9:00 PM straight through. Meanwhile, a smaller office in a medical building might close from 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM daily.
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Does Quest Open on Weekends?
If you're a "Saturday morning errand" kind of person, you're in luck, sort of. Many locations open on Saturdays, but they usually close early—think 12:00 PM or 1:00 PM.
Sundays? That's the desert. Finding a Quest open on a Sunday is like finding a quiet spot at a toddler’s birthday party. They exist, mostly in specific regions or through partnerships with urgent care clinics like AFC Urgent Care, but they are rare.
Why the Closing Time Actually Matters for Your Results
Most people think what time does quest close is just about the door locking. It’s actually about the "courier sweep."
Labs have to get your blood and urine samples to the actual processing facility. If you walk in ten minutes before they close, they might be able to draw your blood, but if the courier has already left for the night, your sample might sit there until morning. For some tests, that’s fine. For others? It can actually mess with the stability of the sample.
Appointments vs. Walking In
You've probably heard that appointments get priority. It’s true. If the lab closes at 5:00 PM and you walk in at 4:45 PM without an appointment, there’s a solid chance they’ll turn you away if they’re backed up.
Quest’s internal policy generally prioritizes scheduled patients. If you’re more than 10 minutes late for your own appointment, you’re officially a walk-in. And walk-ins are at the mercy of the waiting room.
Checking the Hours Without the Guesswork
Don't trust a random third-party site or even the hours listed on a general map app. They are notoriously slow to update.
- Go directly to the Quest Location Finder.
- Type in your zip code.
- Look for the "Detail" page for your specific branch.
This is where you’ll see the "hidden" details—like if they stop drug testing collections an hour before they actually close. That’s a big one. Many sites stop taking drug screens (which require more paperwork and supervision) way earlier than they stop doing standard blood draws.
Holidays and 2026 Scheduling
Since it’s 2026, keep in mind that holiday shifts are more aggressive than they used to be. Most Quest sites close entirely for major federal holidays:
- New Year’s Day
- Memorial Day
- Independence Day
- Labor Day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
If a holiday falls on a Thursday, don't be shocked if the local office has "limited hours" on Friday. It’s always better to call the specific branch or check the portal 24 hours in advance.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Visit
To avoid the "locked door" heartbreak, do these three things:
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- Schedule for the morning. If you’re fasting, this is a no-brainer. But even if you aren't, the staff is fresher, and there's zero risk of missing the evening courier.
- Check the "Drug Screen" cutoff. If you are going in for an employer-mandated test, call ahead. Many centers stop these at 3:00 PM even if they close at 5:00 PM.
- Use the MyQuest app. It’s surprisingly decent for checking real-time updates and getting your results pushed to your phone the second they’re ready.
Basically, treat Quest like a bank from the 1990s. Assume they have weird hours, assume they take lunch, and always check the digital source before you burn the gas to get there.