The numbers of tests requested by medical practitioners are influenced by many factors. Some of these factors are discussed in the section ‘Referral Quality Management – A Summary’. The following table summarises the growth year upon year for the three District Health Boards.

 

The numbers shown in the following tables and diagrams are split between Diagnostic MedLab the main provider of the service and other providers. Other providers include test numbers done in other parts of the country on people who usually live in one the areas covered by the three District Health Boards in greater Auckland along with the volumes done by hospital laboratories. The 2004 and 2005 year numbers also include those community tests done by Southern Community Laboratories who were operating in the greater Auckland area at that time.

 

These figures do not include the testing where the patients National Health Index is unknown. This accounts for a further 8% in numbers.

 

Percentage Change in Number of Tests for each DHB.

DHB of Domicile	Laboratory	% Growth in 2005 over 2004	% Growth in 2006 over 2005	% Growth in 2007 over 2006
Auckland	Diagnostic Medlab	6.8%	4.6%	2.2%
	Other Labs	4.0%	-68.1%	-10.9%
Auckland Total		6.5%	-3.0%	1.8%
Counties Manukau	Diagnostic Medlab	10.4%	6.4%	3.1%
	Other Labs	-1.2%	-46.0%	-5.3%
Counties Manukau Total		8.8%	-0.5%	2.5%
Waitemata	Diagnostic Medlab	6.3%	2.1%	2.1%
	Other Labs	24.8%	-55.5%	-1.5%
Waitemata Total		7.5%	-2.3%	2.0%

 The following diagram shows the number of tests conducted for the four years 2004 – 2007.

 

The cost to the three District Health Boards for the four years 2004 – 2007 are shown in the diagram below. The changes in cost reflect not only the changes in number of tests shown above but also changes in the way tests are paid for.