Mar 30, 2011 | Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology
Another example of clinical pathology laboratory testing treated as a commodity
In-office anatomic pathology laboratories owned by specialist physicians have sparked a troubling trend for the pathology profession in recent years. In the United States, growing numbers of urologists, gastroenterologists, and dermatologists have taken steps to build out and operate their own in-office surgical pathology testing laboratories.
Specialist physicians took steps to open their own in-clinic medical laboratories as a way to generate revenue to offset reimbursement declines in their professional compensation. And, yes, it is true that an in-office anatomic pathology laboratory may have other benefits, such as reducing the turnaround time from specimen collection to reported result. (more…)
Mar 24, 2010 | Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology
OncoPet Diagnostics hopes to create revenue stream while testing human RECAF technology
Genetic cancer testing for dogs is now available. A clinical pathology laboratory in Canada performs the tests on specimens referred by veterinarians. The molecular diagnostics test for dogs uses a blood specimen and can detect 85% of canine cancers. Pre-market studies showed the standard 95% specificity level.
Owners of the 72 million pet dogs in the United States are often as anguished over possible cancer in their dogs as they would be over the possibility of cancer in a human loved one. That is why OncoPet Diagnostics of Richmond, British Columbia, believes the availability of a cheap ($40) cancer test will be welcome news. According to some surveys, about half of dog owners view their pets as members of the family.
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Mar 10, 2010 | Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology
Appropriate use of clinical pathology laboratory tests to detect and treat cancer will be a scorecard factor
One primary goal of pay-for-performance programs is to reduce or eliminate the variability of care that physicians provide to their patients. Getting physicians to follow the recommended care protocols 100% of the time with 100% of their patients would contribute to improved outcomes, while reducing overall healthcare costs.
Pathologists and clinical laboratory professionals are well positioned to see this variability in care, since they regularly handle the laboratory test requests from client physicians. Over time, they can recognize the good and bad practice patterns of individual doctors, since it is reflected in both the lab test orders and the laboratory test results for that doctor’s patients.
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Mar 8, 2010 | Digital Pathology, Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory News, Laboratory Pathology
CRO Company Adds Anatomic Pathology Testing Services to Serve China’s Pharma and Biotech Industries
Quintiles announced that its Beijing medical laboratory will offer an enhanced menu of anatomic pathology testing services to the Chinese biopharmaceutical industry. With this action, global CRO (clinical research organization) giant Quintiles is responding to the increasing sophistication of the pharmaceutical industry in the world’s most populous country.
Quintiles says the new service will help biopharma firms develop more effective cancer treatments. The lab also offers pathology assay development, digital pathology, and core lab test offerings that help customers comply with China’s restrictions on tissue import/export.
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Jun 23, 2009 | Laboratory Management and Operations, Laboratory Pathology
Acquisition adds more companion diagnostics to LabCorp’s molecular test menu
Here’s another validation of the prediction that companion diagnostics will be a cornerstone of personalized medicine. Laboratory Corporation of America Holdings (NYSE: LH) of Burlington, North Carolina, said Tuesday (June 23) it would acquire Monogram Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ: MGRM) of South San Francisco, California. In an all cash deal totaling $106.7 million, LabCorp will pay $4.55 per share.
“Monogram Biosciences, Inc., has an excellent clinical reputation, a market leading infectious disease test, a market leading companion diagnostic, an exciting technology platform for oncology, and offers LabCorp a substantial growth opportunity,” said David P. King, LabCorp’s Chairman and Chief Executive Officer.
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