Lab Worq Hit With $55K Fine for Bogus COVID Test Promises

NEW YORK – Lab Worq, LLC (Lab Worq) is feeling the heat, slapped with a $55,000 penalty by New York Attorney General Letitia James for peddling false promises of rapid COVID-19 test results. The outfit, which is now defunct, preyed on anxious New Yorkers in late 2021 and early 2022, advertising 24-hour turnaround times they couldn’t deliver.

The scam peaked in the two weeks before Christmas 2021, when Lab Worq’s wait times ballooned to more than three days, impacting over 90,000 patients desperate for results before holiday travel. Some victims waited a full week, others never received results at all. This wasn’t just inconvenience; it cost people jobs, ruined holiday plans, and fueled the pandemic by delaying crucial isolation measures.

“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,” said Attorney General James. “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 Attorney General’s office launched its investigation in December 2021, spurred by a flood of complaints from frustrated citizens.

Lab Worq isn’t alone in facing the AG’s wrath. James has secured over $580,000 in penalties and refunds from companies that pulled similar stunts during the pandemic. Other targets include Clear 19 Rapid Testing ($122,000), ClearMD Health ($182,000), and SameDay Health ($230,000). While Lab Worq is currently out of business, they’ve agreed to ensure accuracy in future test timeline claims if they ever reopen.

The Office of the Attorney General initially sent a warning letter to Lab Worq in December 2021, alongside other testing companies, urging them to stop misrepresenting turnaround times during the Omicron surge. The investigation was led by Assistant Attorneys General Franklin Romeo and Mary Alestra, Deputy Bureau Chief Laura J. Levine, and Bureau Chief Jane M. Azia. The case falls under the Division of Economic Justice, led by Chief Deputy Attorney General Chris D’Angelo and First Deputy Attorney General Jennifer Levy.

Think you’ve been ripped off by a medical facility? Don’t stay silent. File a complaint online with the Office of the Attorney General’s Consumer Frauds and Protection Bureau or call 1-800-771-7755. The Grimy Times will continue to follow this and other cases of pandemic profiteering.