The latest data from Washington G-2 Reports' March survey of 125 hospital and independent labs indicates that while overall test volume increased 5.2% in 2008, gains had begun to slow in the fourth quarter --- to a 1.8% increase over the year-earlier fourth quarter. The slowdown continued into the first two months of this year - when overall test volume registered a gain of just 0.9% over the first two months of the year-earlier. However, despite the slowdown, labs continue to expect a pick up in the second half of the year and are forecasting a full-year increase of 2.5% for 2009.

In 2008, while overall test volume increased 5.2%, independent labs saw slightly stronger gains of 7.1% and hospital labs saw a smaller gain of 4.2%. By the fourth quarter, independent labs saw test volume slow to a 2.9% increase, and hospital labs saw test volume slow to a gain of just under 1% over the year-earlier period. In the first two months of this year, independent labs saw test volume growth stabilize at roughly a 3% gain over the first two months of 2008, while hospital labs saw no gains in test volume over the year-earlier period.

For the full-year 2009, while overall test volume is expected to increase 2.5%, independent labs expect a 6% increase, compared to 1% for hospital labs. By test segment, lab executives indicated they see routine testing increase by 0.2% for 2009, and gains of 4.6% and 4.8% respectively in anatomic pathology and esoteric testing.

Look for more detailed results in the June issue of Laboratory Industry Report.