Walgreens severs ties with blood-testing startup Theranos

A day after the nation’s largest drugstore chain severed ties with the company, troubled blood-testing startup Theranos said Monday it will continue serving customers through independent retail locations.

Walgreens said Sunday that it will immediately close all 40 Theranos Wellness Centers at the drugstore chain’s Arizona locations. In January, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc. told Theranos to stop sending samples collected at its stores to a testing facility that drew regulatory scrutiny over possible patient risks.

Theranos said Monday in a brief statement posted on its website that it was disappointed with the Walgreens decision. The blood-testing company said it was working with government officials “to ensure that we not only comply with all federal regulations but exceed them,” and that it still would serve customers in California and Arizona through independent retail locations.

Palo Alto-based Theranos has raised millions of dollars by pitching its technology as a cheaper, faster way to run blood tests.

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The privately held company said in April that it was under investigation from several regulators and agencies. That followed a series of Wall Street Journal reports that raised questions about the company’s tests.

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