Cost accounting for blood bank laboratories

To meet the challenges of present-day blood banking, laboratory managers and supervisors must acquire and use skills in financial management. One such skill is cost analysis. Cost analyses vary from simple to complex and are used to determine the basic elements contributing to a test cost. Cost analysis can be used to identify costs, justify updating laboratory test prices, monitor general supply and reagent costs, help in the decision to lease or buy an instrument, modify existing test procedures to cut costs, determine staffing needs, and assure accurate reimbursement for laboratory services.