Pricing and distribution of medical diagnostics

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method of pricing a diagnostic test includes receiving data associated with the diagnostic test and setting a price of the diagnostic test. The data associated with the diagnostic test includes an indication of one of a first result of the diagnostic test and a second result of the diagnostic test. The price of the diagnostic test is set based on the indication included in the data associated with the diagnostic test. In another embodiment, a method of pricing a diagnostic test includes receiving data associated with the diagnostic test and charging a first price or a second price for the diagnostic test. The data associated with the diagnostic test includes an indication of one of a first result of the diagnostic test and a second result of the diagnostic test. The first price and/or the second price can be charged based on the indication.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of pricing a diagnostic test administered to a test subject, comprising:
 receiving data associated with the diagnostic test, the data including an indication of one of a first result of the diagnostic test and a second result of the diagnostic test; and   setting a price of the diagnostic test based on the indication.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising charging a recurring payment for the diagnostic test based on the price. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the price is greater if the indication is of the first result than the price if the indication is of the second result. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the price is at least one hundred times greater if the indication is of the first result than the price if the indication is of the second result. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising determining a value associated with the indication. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first result indicates the presence of a disease and the second result indicates the absence of the disease. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first result indicates that a therapeutic treatment is desirable and the second result indicates that the therapeutic treatment is not desirable. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the setting includes setting the price based at least in part on a recurring cost of a therapeutic treatment associated with the indication. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the price is zero if the indication is of the second result. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the price is variable over time and based on the outcome of a therapeutic treatment. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the setting a price of the diagnostic includes accessing a data set at a database, the data set associated with one of the first result of the diagnostic test and the second result of the diagnostic test.