Many clinics start with one laboratory and end up with several. Different labs are strong in different areas, and patients ask for tests that your first lab may not offer. The question is how to add labs without adding chaos.
The case for a single lab
One lab means one set of processes, one price list, one courier arrangement and one place to look for results. It is simple, and simplicity has real value for a small team.
The case for several
- Range of tests. No single lab offers everything. Specialist areas such as genomics or allergy testing are often handled by specialist providers.
- Resilience. If one supplier has a problem, you have another route.
- Fit for purpose. Different labs may suit different panels, patient groups or logistics.
The hidden cost of multiple labs
Each additional lab usually means another account to open and manage, another portal to log into, another report format, and another invoice to reconcile. Staff have to remember which lab does what, and results arrive in different places and layouts.
Using your own accounts, master accounts, or both
If you already hold accounts with labs, you may want to keep them. Alternatively, a platform may offer access to master accounts held with the labs, which can reduce set-up and let clinics benefit from combined volume. Some clinics use a mix: their own account with a lab they have a long relationship with, and shared access for others. Ask any provider whether you can combine both approaches.
Why one ordering platform helps
An ordering platform that connects to several labs lets your team choose a panel, enter patient details once and send the order, whichever lab is used. Reports can come back in a consistent format and into the same place, whichever lab produced the data. HaemoSync, for instance, is integrated with five laboratories, including a specialist genomics provider offering services such as pharmacogenomics.
Questions to ask
- Which labs are integrated, and what do they cover?
- Can we use our own lab accounts as well as shared ones?
- How is pricing handled, and how are lab fees collected?
- Do results and reports look the same whichever lab is used?
- What happens if we want to add or change a lab later?
The best set-up is the one your team can run without thinking about it.