Study finds most at-risk patients missed follow-up lab testing

By AI, Created 8:25 AM UTC, May 21, 2026, /AGP/ – A Vivica LabReports study with ACCU Reference Medical Lab found that more than 80% of patients in two cohorts did not receive the full set of recommended follow-up tests. The findings point to a large gap in care and show how lab data can help identify patients who may need additional testing sooner.

Why it matters: - The study highlights a care gap in routine follow-up testing for patients who may already show signs of kidney disease, anemia, or related conditions. - Laboratory data can help surface missed tests before those gaps affect diagnosis, treatment decisions, and value-based care outcomes. - The findings also suggest labs may be able to improve clinical oversight while capturing billable work that might otherwise go unreimbursed.

What happened: - Vivica LabReports announced a study conducted with ACCU Reference Medical Lab. - The analysis reviewed laboratory data from two cohorts totaling 84,259 patient records. - More than 80% of patients in both cohorts did not receive the full set of recommended tests. - The study used the 2024 study period and was published through the Project Santa Fe Foundation’s Clinical Lab 2.0 initiative.

The details: - In one cohort, 15% of patients, or 4,037 of 26,949, with high A1C and normal creatinine received the recommended Albumin-to-Creatinine Ratio test. - Among patients who did not receive that test, 46% of males and 40% of females showed abnormal kidney function results. - The study projects that about 43% of the 22,912 patients who missed the test are at risk of kidney disease, using a combined average across genders. - In a separate cohort, 85% of patients with low hemoglobin did not receive follow-up tests for iron, ferritin, or B12. - Vivica LabReports is a proactive laboratory-assisted software platform that compares lab orders with U.S. clinical guidelines and notifies treating physicians about potential testing gaps. - ACCU Reference Medical Lab provided the patient data and operational infrastructure for the study. - ACCU Reference Medical Lab is a CLIA-certified, CAP-accredited medical reference laboratory based in New Jersey with multi-state presence across key U.S. regions. - Alexander Ostrovsky, Vivica’s founder, said laboratories sit on some of the most clinically actionable data in healthcare and that better analytics can support more informed clinical decisions.

Between the lines: - The findings point to a broader mismatch between what clinical guidelines recommend and what patients actually receive after initial lab results. - The study also positions lab operators as active participants in care management, not just test processors. - The business case is clear: identifying gaps can improve patient follow-up and create additional revenue opportunities for laboratories.

What’s next: - Vivica says its LabReports platform will continue to surface actionable insights for providers and laboratories. - The company directs readers to the full report. - More information is available through Vivica.