The Hidden Costs of Slow Turnaround Times in Lab Testing
Why Speed in Lab Testing Matters More Than You Think
Every day, millions of lab tests determine critical health decisions, from diagnosing infections to managing chronic diseases. But what happens when those results take too long?
Slow turnaround times (TATs) aren’t just an inconvenience - they disrupt clinical workflows, delay diagnoses, increase costs, and, in some cases, put patient lives at risk. The reality is that speed and accuracy in diagnostic testing go hand in hand, and when delays happen, the entire healthcare system feels the impact.
At Nexus Medical Labs, we work with healthcare organizations to optimize lab workflows, ensuring efficiency without sacrificing accuracy. In this article, we’ll explore the ripple effects of slow TATs, the hidden financial and operational costs, and how modern labs are tackling this challenge head-on.
The Patient Impact: Delayed Diagnoses & Treatment
When a patient is waiting for lab results, that time is a window of opportunity for early intervention. Slow TATs mean delayed diagnoses, postponed treatments, and, in some cases, life-threatening consequences.
Chronic Disease Management: Many conditions, like diabetes and cardiovascular disease, require ongoing monitoring. If test results take too long, adjustments to medication and treatment plans get delayed, increasing the risk of complications (Gariani et al., 2025).
Cancer Screenings: Early detection saves lives. Slow pathology or biopsy results can mean postponed treatments, affecting survival rates (Mohapatra et al., 2025).
Infectious Disease Control: In outbreaks, delays in diagnosing pathogens like COVID-19 or influenza can lead to faster spread and missed intervention opportunities (Webb et al., 2025).
A study published in The Lancet found that longer wait times for lab results in sepsis cases were linked to higher ICU admissions and mortality rates (Green, 2025).
The bottom line? Faster results mean faster treatment - and better patient outcomes.
The Operational Burden: Increased Costs & Inefficiencies
Hospitals and clinics don’t just deal with the frustration of waiting for results - slow TATs create systemic inefficiencies that impact patient flow, clinical decisions, and financial stability.
Longer Hospital Stays: A Frontiers in Medicine study found that hospitals with slow diagnostics experience longer patient stays, adding avoidable costs for providers and insurers (Martucci et al., 2025).
Repeat Testing & Unnecessary Procedures: When results are delayed, physicians may order additional tests to confirm diagnoses, leading to redundant testing and increased costs for patients (Mohapatra et al., 2025).
Disrupted Workflows: Nurses and doctors must manually track pending test results, reschedule procedures, and follow up with labs, wasting time that could be spent on patient care (Colley, 2025).
Fast TATs aren’t just about speed, they ensure smoother operations, better resource allocation, and improved efficiency across the healthcare system.
The Business Cost: Lost Revenue & Competitive Disadvantages
Beyond patient care, slow lab processing comes with financial consequences.
Delayed Reimbursements: Many insurance claims rely on lab results for billing. When TATs are slow, payments get delayed, affecting cash flow (Goyal et al., 2025).
Losing Clients to Competitors: Healthcare providers prefer working with labs that consistently meet or exceed expected TATs. If a lab can’t keep up, clients will switch to one that can (Luchinin et al., 2025).
Reputation Damage: Long wait times don’t just frustrate healthcare professionals—they impact patient satisfaction and online reviews, which can influence where people seek care (Harrison et al., 2025).
At Nexus Medical Labs, we understand that every delay is a lost opportunity. That’s why we work with healthcare organizations to optimize diagnostic workflows, ensuring consistent, reliable, and fast turnaround times.
Regulatory & Compliance Risks of Slow TATs
Labs that fail to meet TAT benchmarks may face regulatory penalties, accreditation issues, and reputational harm.
Infectious Disease Reporting: Public health agencies rely on timely test results for outbreak tracking. Slow reporting can hinder containment efforts and violate regulatory mandates (Most et al., 2025).
CLIA & CAP Compliance: Prolonged TATs may indicate inefficiencies that put lab compliance at risk, potentially leading to lost certifications (Vincent, 2025).
Compliance is more than a checkbox, it’s a critical factor in ensuring quality, reliability, and trust in laboratory services.
How High-Throughput Labs Solve the Turnaround Time Problem
To combat delays, leading diagnostic labs are investing in high-throughput automation, AI-driven processing, and optimized logistics.
Key Strategies for Faster TATs
✔ Automated Sample Processing: AI-powered analyzers significantly reduce manual processing time (Ashraf et al., 2025).
✔ Real-Time Logistics Tracking: Efficient transportation networks ensure rapid sample delivery (Wilkes et al., 2025).
✔ Guaranteed TATs: Many advanced labs now offer 24-72 hour turnaround times, ensuring predictable and efficient diagnostics (Bharadwaj et al., 2025).
At Nexus, we specialize in supporting healthcare providers with streamlined lab workflows, high-efficiency sample processing, and fast, reliable reporting.
Future Trends: The Push for Faster, Smarter Testing Solutions
The future of diagnostics is all about speed, precision, and accessibility. Emerging trends include:
At-Home Sample Collection: Reducing lab bottlenecks with patient-friendly self-collection kits (Okamura et al., 2025).
AI-Powered Predictive Analytics: Machine learning models that flag high-risk results for faster intervention (Sheng, 2025).
Cloud-Based Lab Integration: Real-time reporting into electronic health records (EHRs) for streamlined decision-making (Jones et al., 2025).
The labs that succeed will be the ones that innovate - prioritizing automation, logistics optimization, and seamless integration.
Conclusion: Prioritizing Speed Without Sacrificing Accuracy
The cost of slow TATs is more than just a minor delay - it impacts patient care, hospital efficiency, financial health, and regulatory compliance. Healthcare providers need lab partners who prioritize both speed and accuracy to ensure better outcomes and operational success.
At Nexus Medical Labs, we’re committed to helping healthcare organizations streamline diagnostics, optimize workflows, and improve turnaround times. If your organization is looking for a lab partner that delivers consistent, efficient, and high-quality results, let’s talk.
Schedule a Consultation Today to discuss how Nexus can help improve your lab efficiency.
References
Lawrence, M., Sutton, M., O'Hare, D., & Holmes, A. (2025). Iridium oxide-based biosensors: A novel method for ESBL detection and quantification. International Journal of Infectious Diseases. ScienceDirect
Gariani, K., Ryu, D., & Rizzo, M. (2025). Cognitive disorders in diabetes. Frontiers in Clinical Diabetes and Healthcare. Frontiers
Mohapatra, R.K., Mishra, S., Sirka, C.S., & Tuglo, L.S. (2025). Emerging and reemerging neglected tropical diseases. Frontiers in Pharmacology. Frontiers
Webb, J., Mondy, K., & Jaso, T. (2025). Comparison of in-house versus reference laboratory antifungal susceptibility testing on de-escalation rates of echinocandin therapy. Open Forum Infectious Diseases. OUP
Green, A. (2025). Faustine Ndugulile. The Lancet. Lancet