Insights

Lab Testing Trends Year-to-Date Through May 15 - Prognos Health

Written by Nick Zgorski | May 22, 2020 9:35:51 AM

Prognos is analyzing lab testing trends in 2020 and more specifically, looking at the impact of COVID-19 on testing trends at a national level.

For more information on the regional and local level, or a specific test or brand contact us.

Methodology: A large representative sample from the Prognos lab testing registry was pulled as a proxy for a national volume of testing. Then trends are compared on a weekly basis year-to-date.

Summary Findings

Week ending May 15th, 2020

  • For 2020, the national trend in testing was initially stable through the week ending 3/13/20.  
  • There were expected drops in January and February due to holidays (MLK/President’s Day).
  • Over the two-week period ending 3/27, the national trend decreased 23% and 38% weekly, for an overall drop of 53% over those two weeks.
  • Since then, the market trend has stabilized and showing signs of recovery with consecutive weeks of double-digit percentage increases. Data from the most recent period (week ending 5/15) shows an increase with a 21% increase over the prior week.
  • In comparing the most recent three week’s volume to same week in the previous year, the trend shows an improvement as well:  
    • Test volume for the week of 5/1 was 48% lower than the same week, prior year
    • Test volume for the week of 5/8 was 35% lower than the same week, prior year
    • Test volume for the week of 5/15 was 20% lower than the same week, prior year

For the most recent period (week ending 5/15) testing trends showed a 21% increase over the prior week, indicating a clear upward trend in testing.

The national trend over the most recent annual period (4/19 – 5/20) shows a stable weekly trend, with dips associated with holidays.  Testing for the week of 5/15/20 is 21% higher than prior week, but 20% lower than same week prior year, which is also an improvement over last week’s comparison.

For more information on the regional and local level, or a specific test or brand, contact us.