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Research Articles

Pathologist Pediatric In-Patient Genetic Stewardship

Pages 914-921 | Received 10 Jun 2023, Accepted 21 Sep 2023, Published online: 03 Oct 2023
 

Abstract

Background: Costs for sendout genetic testing on in-patients are billed to the hospital. Turnaround times are several weeks, often extending past the inpatient hospitalization.

Materials and Methods: We concurrently reviewed all sendout genetic in-patient test requests over an 18-month period, deferring those that could be obtained as an outpatient, directing the tests to less expensive laboratories with complementary testing profiles, and identifying no-charge sponsored tests.

Results: Of 121 test requests, 25 were deferred, alternative less expensive laboratories were identified for 8, 16 requests were directed to sponsored tests, for a 42.3% cost saving. Of the 96 tests sent, 18 (18.8%) identified an explanatory genetic abnormality.

Conclusions: Approximately 40% of the sendout genetic testing costs were reduced with prior test review. Deferment, alternative laboratories, and sponsored tests contributed to cost savings. Efficiency of diagnostic inpatient genetic testing was approximately 20%.

Disclosure statement

The author has no financial interest to disclose.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

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