Cost-price estimation of clinical laboratory services based on activity-based costing: A case study from a developing country
Journal Title: Electronic Physician - Year 2017, Vol 9, Issue 4
Abstract
BACKGROUND: It is believed that laboratory tariffs in Iran don't reflect the real costs. This might expose private laboratories at financial hardship. Activity Based Costing is widely used as a cost measurement instrument to more closely approximate the true cost of operations. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to determine the real price of different clinical tests of a selected private clinical laboratory. METHODS: This study was a cross sectional study carried out in 2015. The study setting was the private laboratories in the city of Kerman, Iran. Of 629 tests in the tariff book of the laboratory (relative value), 188 tests were conducted in the laboratory that used Activity Based Costing (ABC) methodology to estimate cost-price. Analyzing and cost-price estimating of laboratory services were performed by MY ABCM software Version 5.0. RESULTS: In 2015, the total costs were $641,645. Direct and indirect costs were 78.3% and 21.7% respectively. Laboratory consumable costs by 37% and personnel costs by 36.3% had the largest share of the costing. Also, group of hormone tests cost the most $147,741 (23.03%), and other tests group cost the least $3,611 (0.56%). Also after calculating the cost of laboratory services, a comparison was made between the calculated price and the private sector's tariffs in 2015. CONCLUSION: This study showed that there was a difference between costs and tariffs in the private laboratory. One way to overcome this problem is to increase the number of laboratory tests with regard to capacity of the laboratories
Authors and Affiliations
Ali Mouseli, Mohsen Barouni, Mohammadreza Amiresmaili, Siamak Mirab Samiee, Leila Vali
Keywords
Related Articles
- EP ID EP320634
- DOI 10.19082/4077
- Views 103
- Downloads 0
Visual Detection of Enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157:H7 Using Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification
INTRODUCTION: Escherichia coli O157:H7, an important foodborne pathogen, can cause serious renal damage, which can also lead to mortality. Since a rapid and sensitive method is needed to identify this pathogenic agent, w...
Mentorship in Medical Student`s researches
Meanings of Health for Iranian Diabetic Patients: A qualitative study
INTRODUCTION: Health is an exclusive and subjective phenomenon, and one of the most important situations with regard to perception of health, arises when patients suffer from a chronic disease. This study was conducted w...
Medical uses of Carthamus tinctorius L. (Safflower): a comprehensive review from Traditional Medicine to Modern Medicine
BACKGROUND: Carthamus tinctorius L., known as Kafesheh (Persian) and safflower (English) is vastly utilized in Traditional Medicine for various medical conditions, namely dysmenorrhea, amenorrhea, postpartum abdominal pa...
Probiotic for irritable bowel syndrome in pediatric patients: a randomized controlled clinical trial.
Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder in children. Recently, probiotics have been suggested as a treatment option for gastrointestinal disorders. The most effective species and the most app...