Relevance or performance: potential savings associated with verification of prior results before performing microbiology analysis

In an era of rising healthcare expenditures, it is critical to find ways to decrease cost. The objective of this study is to evaluate the number of repeated tests and the associated cost savings in a university-affiliated hospital. The following 7 microbiology analysis were assessed for nonrepeat testing: HCV antibody, HBV core antibody, CMV IgG, rubella IgG, Treponema pallidum antibodies, Clostridioides difficile toxin detection, and vancomycin-resistant enterococci PCR. Presence of a prior positive result leads to the cancellation of subsequent orders. Percentages of not repeated test ranged from 0.1% to 21.4%. Rubella IgG had the highest proportion of unnecessary repeat testing. Total cost savings were estimated at $33,627 for 2016. Unnecessary repeated microbiologic test can account for a non-negligible part of total volume test. Use of an automated software to detect unnecessary repeated microbiologic test through laboratory information system can generate important savings. •Laboratory information systems can detect unnecessary duplicate testing.•Unnecessary repeated testing can represent up to 20% of some microbiology assays.•Significant potential savings can be generated by canceling duplicated tests.•Less frequent but more expensive tests should be aimed in a cost-saving perspective.