We have a CBC machine (Abbott) and a Dimension Chem Analyzer (Siemens) running CMP, lipid, TSH, PSA, HbA1C, tied together by lab software (Antek LabDAQ). With two of us in the office and our Medicare-heavy practice, we clear about $4-6,000/month over expenses. Not a fortune. So as Adam says, we continue to offer these to our patients because the commercial labs are so overcrowded and impersonal, and are constantly a headache for patients by screwing up billing. Plus we just plain do a better job getting the reports and acting on them promptly. As PSA indications decline, we are interested in doing Vitamin D, but will need to upgrade to a newer Siemens Analyzer, so we'll have to do some homework to stay ahead of the pinheads at CMS who are trying to close Physician's Office Labs down. My advice is to never sign a contract for lease-purchase of any of these units without a 90-day out clause. That way you have less risk when the screw-ups in Washington drop their next bombshell on us.
