Veritas Genetics to Close Its Testing Operations in U.S.

By Joseph Burns

MAYBE CHARGING CONSUMERS THE LOW PRICE of $599 for a whole human genome sequence is not a winning financial strategy. That’s one possible reason why closely-watched Veritas Genetics of Cambridge, Mass., will stop operations in the United States. It was in July that Veritas annou…

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March 26, 2018 Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News

By Robert Michel | From the Volume XXV No. 5 – March 26, 2018 Issue

On March 6, one of the lab industry’s long-serving executives and consultants, Jack Mattice, PhD, of Vancouver, Wash., died from flu complications. He was 77 years old. Mattice earned a PhD in medical microbiology from University of Oregon. Within a few years, he was handling mark…

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Go to a Football Game, Get a Free Genetic Test!

By R. Lewis Dark | From the Volume XXIV No. 13 – September 18, 2017 Issue

GENETIC TESTS REPLACED BOBBLEHEAD DOLLS AS THE GIVEAWAY at yesterday’s Baltimore Ravens home game against the Cleveland Browns. That’s a first in the world of professional sports! Tens of thousands of football fans received a fee DNA test kit as they entered the stadium on Sunday. The event was …

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Gene Testing Lab Goes ‘Cold Turkey,’ Stops Billing Health Plans

By Joseph Burns | From the Volume XXIII No. 6 – May 2, 2016 Issue

CEO SUMMARY: Last year, Kailos Genetics stopped collecting third-party payment, dropped its prices sharply, and started marketing its genetic-screening tests directly to consumers and physicians. At the time, 100% of its revenue came from third-party payers. Today, it gets 100% of its rev…

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New Company Tracks Details and Prices For 60,000 Molecular and Genetic Tests

By Joseph Burns | From the Volume XXIII, No. 1 – January 19, 2016 Issue

CEO SUMMARY: Advances in the speed, accuracy, and cost of next-generation gene sequencing making it possible for clinical labs to create thousands of new tests. How many new tests? NextGxDx, an information technology company, says the nation’s clinical laboratories are introducing new m…

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December 28, 2015 Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News

By Robert Michel | From the Volume XXII, Number 18 – December 28, 2015 Issue

To advance the practice of precision medicine through better use of genetic testing, a new limited liability corporation (LLC) was formed. Participating in the LLC are North Shore-LIJ Heal…

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How Price Transparency Increased Lab’s Revenue

By Joseph Burns | From the Volume XXII No. 11 – August 3, 2015 Issue

CEO SUMMARY: In California, a gene testing firm is increasing satisfaction among patients and physicians with a tool that provides patients with an estimate of the anticipated cost—before the physician orders a test! By providing transparency about the cost of tests upfront, Co…

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More Genetic Counseling Leads to Fewer Lab Tests

By Joseph Burns | From the Volume XXI No. 17 – December 15, 2014 Issue

CEO SUMMARY: Cigna was the first national health insurer to require independent board-certified genetic counseling before approving coverage for certain genetic tests. Since launching this program in September 2013, the insurer has seen a 450% increase in genetic counseling for Cigna …

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Genetic Testing Creates New Legal Risks for Labs

By Robert Michel | From the Volume XXI No. 1 – January 13, 2014 Issue

CEO SUMMARY: Last month, in Seattle, Washington, a jury ordered Laboratory Corporation of America and Valley Medical Center each to pay $25 million following a lawsuit about a ‘wrongful’ birth. At issue was how genetic tests were ordered, performed, and reported. This court case is th…

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January 13, 2014 “Intelligence: Late Breaking Lab News”

By Robert Michel | From the Volume XXI No. 1 – January 13, 2014 Issue

Currently there are 119 operational health information exchanges (HIEs) in the United States. This number is 58% greater than the 75 HIEs that were operational in 2010. These numbers were reported in Health Affairs. The study was authored by researchers at the University of Michigan. Th…

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