How to do cost accounting for comparing Roche and Beckman biochemical reagents in the laboratory?

The price difference between open and closed channels should be considered within the instrument cost. Closed systems typically involve instruments provided through placement, leasing, or low-price sales, with higher reagent list prices; open-channel instruments are purchased independently or through third-party services, and reagent negotiation space may be greater, but domestic/imported reagent compatibility and the degree of parameter openness can affect result consistency. It is recommended that Roche, Beckman, and Abbott each quote two options: reagent-only supply and a total solution including equipment, converting equipment depreciation/rental, maintenance, software licensing, reaction cuvettes, and other one-time consumables into cost per test. Regarding lead time, several imported brands commonly take 4-8 weeks, but this depends on distributor stock; require the contract to specify the delivery cycle and safety stock.

Cost accounting should not only focus on the price of reagent kits. Suggest breaking down the cost of a single test into: reagent consumption+allocation of calibration/quality control products+retesting of calibration and quality control failures+waste of bottle opening expiration date+channel costs. Many imported biochemical products are quoted in milliliters, but the stability of bottle opening varies greatly depending on the packaging specifications. The loss of 300-400 samples per day should be calculated based on the actual number of days of use after bottle opening. Domestic and imported products also depend on the methodology: single reagent and double reagent, liquid and dry powder, and whether additional dilution or pretreatment is required. You can ask three brands for a cost simulation table for the same project, indicating the calibration cycle and quality control frequency, and calculate it using one month of historical data. This comparison is closer to reality.

It is advisable to first evaluate supplier qualifications and supply stability before discussing costs. When requesting quotations for the same project from three suppliers, it must be specified whether calibrators, quality controls, diluents, and cleaning solutions are included; imported original calibrators and quality controls are often a considerable expense. Also clarify the minimum order quantity, shelf life, cold chain, and compensation for damage. The price difference between open channels and closed channels may be reflected in reagent prices, but closed systems sometimes limit calibrator options due to closed parameters. It is recommended that the department form a 3-person team to uniformly create an Excel cost template, listing monthly usage, calibration frequency, quality control rules, and retest rate, and then compare after one month.

It is difficult to give an accurate number for the cost range of a single test, as there are significant differences in different projects, packaging, and bargaining power. Actual accounting allows suppliers to quote based on "per person per unit" or "per test", rather than just providing a unit price of ml. 300-400 samples per day, with multiple combinations of liver function, kidney function, blood glucose, and blood lipids. It is recommended to simulate according to the package, such as which reagents are needed for a complete biochemical set, the number of bottles consumed per day, and the number of calibration times per week. It is common for imported reagents to be more expensive than domestically produced conventional biochemical reagents, but the savings may be due to retesting rate, linear range, and inter batch stability. Suggest taking samples in small batches for a 20 day parallel comparison, recording the retest rate and reagent remaining amount, and dividing the current month's cost by the number of valid reports. This will be more accurate than the accounting period price.