Cost-saving strategies for diagnostic microbiology laboratories

In today's competitive health care climate, microbiology laboratories are asked to do more work, often with limited or decreasing resources. Cost-saving strategies, successfully implemented in one or more microbiology laboratories across the globe, are listed. For each cost-saving suggestion, careful evaluation must occur prior to implementation, considering the ability and policies of the local institution and understanding that not all suggestions are workable for every laboratory. For the purpose of this article, six categories of cost-saving ideas are explored: (i) technical streamlining, (ii) workflow optimization, (iii) personnel utilization, (iv) cost avoidance, (v) reduction of service, and (vi) investing in savings. Of note, if patient outcome is not beneficially affected by the laboratory test result in question, then perhaps the test should not be performed, or at least not routinely performed.