News, Analysis, Trends, Management Innovations for
Clinical Laboratories and Pathology Groups

Hosted by Robert Michel

News, Analysis, Trends, Management Innovations for
Clinical Laboratories and Pathology Groups

Hosted by Robert Michel
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PAML and Centura Health Announce Creation of New Clinical Pathology Laboratory Company in Denver

It’s the second new hospital laboratory joint venture for PAML in past eight days


Earlier today, PAML and Centura Health of Denver, Colorado, announced the creation of a new clinical pathology laboratory company. It will be called “Colorado Laboratory Services” (CLS) and will operate as an LLC (limited liability company). CLS represents the second major hospital laboratory outreach joint venture for PAML in the past eight days.

Centura Health is Colorado’s largest integrated health system. It owns 13 hospitals and its flagship is 593-bed St. Anthony Central Hospital in Denver. Its hospitals are strategically located throughout the Denver metropolitan area and will provide CLS with a local presence to serve physicians’ offices located around each of these medical campuses.

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Volume of Clinical Pathology Laboratory Specimens Increases at Bio-Reference and Sonic Healthcare

Meanwhile, both Quest Diagnostics and LabCorp report second quarter declines in specimen volume


Fewer patients visiting physician offices during second quarter 2010 is considered to be one reason why specimen volume declined at clinical pathology laboratory testing giants Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX) and Laboratory Corporation of America (NYSE: LH) during that three-month period.

For second quarter, LabCorp reported a 2% decline in specimen volume, along with a 4.2% increase in revenue. At Quest Diagnostics, the specimen volume decline was 1.3% and revenues declined by 1.4% in the second quarter 2010, compared to second quarter 2009.

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Rumors Link Quest Diagnostics and Sonic Healthcare in Some Type of Deal

Healthscope bids also fuel speculation of a big clinical pathology transaction


Last week in Australia, investment insiders shared rumors that Quest Diagnostics Incorporated (NYSE: DGX) was interested in acquiring Sonic Healthcare Ltd. (ASX: SHL). However, press stories discounted the possibility of a deal between these two billion-dollar clinical pathology laboratory behemoths. Neither company has issued a public statement addressing this issue.

In assessing the possibility of Quest Diagnostics acquiring Sonic Healthcare, the Sydney Morning Herald (SMH) threw cold water on the idea. It pointed out that Sonic’s stock price is trading at a multiple of 10.8 times earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA). That would make Sonic an expensive purchase for Quest Diagnostics, since Quest’s share price trades at a multiple of seven times EBITDA. Further, SMH’s reporter pointed out that Sonic’s market capitalization of A$5.7 billion would make it a major acquisition for Quest Diagnostics, which has a market capitalization of U.S.$9.5 billion.

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Merger of Spectrum Laboratory Network and Carilion Labs Creates Big Clinical Laboratory Company

Carilion Clinic and Novant Health will continue to own equity in the new clinical laboratory company

It was big news in the clinical laboratory industry yesterday when Spectrum Laboratory Network of Greensboro, North Carolina announced a merger with Carilion Labs of Roanoke, Virginia. The combined enterprise will have annual revenue of approximately $300 million and immediately becomes one of the nation’s larger clinical laboratory companies.

As announced by the parties involved, Carilion Clinic will hold a 33% ownership interest in the new laboratory company. Novant Health, which holds a minority interest in Spectrum Laboratory Network, will continue as an equity owner and will have a seat on the new board of directors, once the two laboratory organizations are merged into one company.

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Spectrum Laboratory Network Sells to Welsh Carson for $230 Million

Acquisition is a deal between two private equity firms

Spectrum Laboratory Network of Greensboro, North Carolina, will be acquired by Welsh, Carson, Anderson, & Stowe. Investment funds managed by Apax Partners are the sellers and the purchase price is $230 million. It is the highest dollar value acquisition of a clinical laboratory during 2009.

The acquisition agreement was announced at the end of last week. It brings Welsh, Carson back into the laboratory testing industry for the first time since 2007. During this decade, Welsh, Carson held an equity ownership in LabOne, Inc., which was based in Kansas City, Missouri and was building a fast-growing business in medical laboratory testing.

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