Finance & Commerce just profiled an interesting Minnesota-based company called Access Genetics. They have a portal for medical labs. They host lab tools such as guides, worksheets and calculators. They perform online interpretation and reporting. So you send in your data, they report on it.

Here’s a quick blurb from the article:

“What’s unique about the way these results are reviewed by Access Genetics is that typically, all results are reviewed in a double-blind format initially by two medical technologists and then by a pathologist,” Hoedeman explained. “So having three sets of eyes on a set of analytical results provides a very high level of quality.”

If a lab wants to use TeleGene for single tests, cost range from $2 to $35 per test. And the time taken from the reviewers being alerted to the final result being transmitted back to the lab averages 90 minutes, Hoedeman said. (Traditionally, technical data is sent using paper-based systems, which may take several days and heightens the possibility of logistical errors.)

The Web portal also allows lab technicians running the physical test to know when supplies are running low. In other words, every time test data is entered, the software knows which enzymes, reagents, dyes and plastic tubes are being used and calculates when they will run out. Access Genetics can ship whatever is needed from its warehouse before inventory falls short.

So it seems as if the quality, speed and efficiency are all good. It’s nice vote for telemedicine as a direction for healthcare. The article also provides some business information on the company:

Hoedeman said the company has been profitable since 2004 and will have annual revenues of about $10 million this year. It has about 50 employees, most of whom are medical technologists, genetics counselors and pathologists.

So it’s also a vote for telemedicine as a desirable industry for Minnesota. Just another great use of broadband both in terms of improved healthcare and economics.