TAG:
Esoteric testing
Esoteric testing allows the analysis of rare substances or molecules that are not performed in a routine clinical lab. Many large commercial lab companies outsource complex tests to reference and esoteric testing labs. However, as technology continues to expand laboratory testing, tests that are considered esoteric today may become routine in just a few years. This is often the result of work performed by dedicated research and development scientists.
These tests are ordered when a physician requires additional detailed information, outside routine lab testing, to complete a diagnosis, establish a prognosis or choose and monitor a therapeutic regimen. Esoteric testing generally requires sophisticated instruments and materials as well as specialized personnel to perform and analyze results. The tests are typically outsourced to independent, specialized clinical reference laboratories because it is not cost effective for hospitals and physician office laboratories to perform the tests in-house.
These tests are ordered less frequently than routine tests and are generally priced higher than the routine tests. Esoteric testing is typically related to the medical fields such as endocrinology, genetics, immunology, microbiology, molecular diagnostics, oncology, serology and toxicology. Molecular diagnostics is the fastest growing segment of esoteric clinical testing.
The American Chemical Society publishes the Directory of Rare Analyses (DORA) which catalogues rarely ordered clinical tests and provides details on the labs performing them.
The challenges for labs performing such tests include not only finding qualified medical technologists, but also paying them the higher salaries they command because of the scarcity of their skill sets. In addition, materials used in these tests can also be costly, particularly because they are not usually purchased in large enough quantities to qualify for economies of scale.
Labs that perform these tests have capabilities including:
• Allergy
• Complex anatomic pathology with board-certified pathologist
• Bone markers
• Genetic analysis
• HLA testing
• Functional assays of the immune system
• Toxicology
In the U.S., labs that perform these tests range from ARUP Laboratories, Mayo Medical Laboratories, Quest Diagnostics Incorporated, and Laboratory Corporation of America to a growing number of specialty esoteric testing laboratories that offer proprietary esoteric assays. Examples of such specialty testing lab companies include Myriad Genetics, Genomic Health, and Foundation Medicine.
National Reference Labs Undergoing Changes
CEO SUMMARY: Maybe it’s a coincidence. More likely it is a response to changes in the reference/esoteric marketplace. Specialty, Esoterix, ARUP, and Mayo have each recently reassessed their core strategies and are shifting their business emphasis. Because three of these four companies a…
Review of 2004 Lab Sales Identifies Buyer Interest
CEO SUMMARY: Laboratory acquisition activity was surprisingly high during 2004. One reason is that new buyers appeared in the marketplace. However, all buyers have specific acquisition criteria. When a selling lab meets that criteria, it can expect multiple bidders and a strong purchase p…
Bi-Annual Look at Trends Reshaping Clinical Labs
CEO SUMMARY: Among other things, we declare the end to the heyday of the independent commercial lab company which offers a broad test menu to all types of office-based physicians. In its place springs forth the specialty or niche testing laboratory. Small and focused on a specific number …
More Lab Consolidation: LabCorp Buys US LABS
CEO SUMMARY: Following three years of rapid growth in specimen volume and revenues, US LABS has accepted a purchase offer from Laboratory Corporation of America. Both US LABS’ fast growth and its sale to a national lab demonstrate that there is still opportunity in laboratory testing—…
Memphis Path Lab JV Purchased By AEL
CEO SUMMARY: Memphis Pathology Labs’ two hospital owners and their JV partner, MDS, surprised many with the sale of the lab venture to American Esoteric Laboratories (AEL). It’s the end of a successful joint venture between several hospitals and a commercial laboratory company. It als…
Leonard Joins AEL’s Board, Cenetron Is Newest Acquisition
There were two big announcements at American Esoteric Laboratories, Inc. (AEL) during the past few weeks. First came news on July 20 that Larry L. Leonard was now on the Board of Directors at AEL. Leonard had been part of the senior executive team at Laboratory Corporation o…
Esoterix & UnitedHealth Sign National Test Pact
CEO SUMMARY: Just when it is assumed that the two blood brothers have a lock on national lab testing contracts with the nation’s biggest payers, Esoterix inks an agreement with UnitedHealth Group. This now positions Esoterix to offer its higher-end reference and esoteric testing to hosp…
New Esoteric Lab Firm Does Two Acquisitions
CEO SUMMARY: Armed with $70 million, American Esoteric Laboratories (AEL) wants to build a national laboratory that offers a full menu of esoteric tests. It is building a primary laboratory in Dallas, which has one of the nation’s best air transport hubs. ThromboCare Laboratories and Vi…
Seattle Hospital Lab JVs Involve Quest & LabCorp
CEO SUMMARY: Joint ventures and collaborative business relationships between hospital laboratories and commercial laboratories continue to be a difficult business model. Recent events in Seattle demonstrate the challenges and frustrations of establishing such ventures, then making them su…
Public Labs’ Year-End Earnings Demonstrate Continued Growth
BECAUSE OF ACQUISITIONS, there remain only four public laboratory companies which do substantial business in testing referred by physicians’ offices. As public companies, their quarterly financial reports provide useful insights into the competitive marketplace for lab testing services. That is t…
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