Incyte Diagnostics will layoff 310 of its staff as it moves forward with a recent deal with national lab services provider Labcorp as it acquires specific assets of Incyte’s business, including Incyte’s Richland lab. 

A worker adjustment and retraining notice, or WARN, alert from the state’s Employment Security Department announced the layoff on May 23. Laid off workers will separate from the company on Aug. 4, according to the notice.  

Dr. Jon Rittenbach, Incyte’s board chairman, told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business in a statement that the layoff notice is required under state law when employees are to transition from one entity to another, which includes staff at the Richland lab.

“The lab will continue to operate after the sale as usual and there is a goal for all staff at this location to either continue work with Incyte or Labcorp,” Rittenbach said. 

North Carolina-based Labcorp is acquiring portions of Incyte's clinical testing and anatomic pathology business in a deal that is expected to close later this year. That included Incyte’s main anatomic pathology laboratory in Spokane and its labs in Richland, Tukwila and Missoula.  

However, with the anatomic pathology business, Incyte’s pathologists are expected to continue providing services examining and interpreting tissue samples, while Labcorp will provide tissue processing and slide preparation services. 

Incyte invested $1.6 million to remodel its building at 221 Wellsian Way for its Richland laboratory seven years ago.