DIANON SYSTEMS INC
10-K, 1999-03-23
MEDICAL LABORATORIES
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 10-K
(Mark One)

[X] ANNUAL REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT
OF 1934

For the fiscal year ended December 31, 1998
                                       or

[ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
ACT OF 1934

For the transition period from ______________________ to ______________________

Commission file number 000-19392

                              DIANON Systems, Inc.
                              --------------------
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

                 Delaware                                  06-1128081
                 --------                                  ----------
      (State or other jurisdiction of                   (I.R.S. Employer
       incorporation or organization                   Identification No.)

     200 Watson Boulevard, Stratford,                         06615
     ---------------------------------                        -----
                Connecticut
                -----------
 (Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (203) 381-4000
                                                   --------------

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

       Title of each class             Name of each exchange on which registered
       -------------------             -----------------------------------------
              None                                       None
              ----                                       ----

           Securities registered pursuant to section 12(g) of the Act:
                     Common Stock, par value $.01 per share
                                (Title of class)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed by Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 during
the  preceding 12 months (or for such  shorter  period that the  registrant  was
required  to file  such  reports),  and  (2) has  been  subject  to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days. [X] Yes [ ] No

Indicate by check mark if disclosure of delinquent  filers  pursuant to Item 405
of Regulation  S-K (ss.  229.405 of this chapter) is not contained  herein,  and
will not be  contained,  to the best of  registrant's  knowledge,  in definitive
proxy or information  statements  incorporated  by reference in Part III of this
Form 10-K or any amendment to this Form 10-K. [ ]

As of March 4, 1999, the aggregate  market value of the voting Common Stock held
by non-affiliates of the registrant was $50,901,341.

Number of shares of Common Stock outstanding as of March 4, 1999:  6,567,915

                       DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
                     Proxy Statement dated October 29, 1998




<PAGE>



                                    PART I
ITEM 1.           BUSINESS

      DIANON Systems,  Inc.  ("DIANON" or the "Company"),  incorporated in 1984,
provides a full line of  anatomic  pathology  testing  services  and a number of
genetic and clinical  chemistry  testing services to patients,  physicians,  and
managed care organizations throughout the United States.

      The Company has traditionally been a specialized laboratory with a limited
line of  clinical  chemistry  and  anatomic  pathology  testing  services  based
principally on new technology  purchased or licensed from test developers.  This
technology has been marketed  directly to medical  oncologists and urologists as
testing and information services rather than as products or test kits.

      As a result of the Company's success in providing pathology services,  the
mission of the  Company  has been  expanded  to include a full line of  anatomic
pathology services and related information products to physicians,  patients and
managed care organizations throughout the United States. The Company's principal
physician audience for these services includes  approximately  50,000 clinicians
engaged in the fields of medical oncology, urology, dermatology,  gynecology and
gastroenterology.  The  Company  believes  it can  become  one  of  the  leading
specialized  providers  of  anatomic  pathology  testing  services in the United
States.

      While  the  Company   continues  in  its  traditional  role  of  assisting
developers of new technology and physicians  evaluating such  technology,  it is
expected that this activity and the Company's  clinical  chemistry business will
represent a decreasing  proportion  of total revenue in future years as anatomic
pathology revenues grow.

      The  business  of  the  Company  is  subject  to a  number  of  risks  and
uncertainties  that could adversely affect the Company's  ability to achieve its
objectives.  See "Management's  Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations
and  Financial  Condition - Risk  Factors:  Forward  Looking  Statements"  for a
description  of  various  factors  that  could  have an  adverse  effect  on the
performance of the Company.

MEDICAL TESTING MARKETS

      The Company  operates in one reportable  segment,  the medical  laboratory
industry.  Medical  laboratories  offer a broad range of testing services to the
medical profession.  Its testing services are separated based upon the nature of
the test:  Anatomic  Pathology  testing and Clinical  Chemistry  testing.  These
testing services are used by physicians in the diagnosis,  prognosis, monitoring
and general management of diseases and other clinical conditions. The tests they
use generally detect medically-significant  abnormalities and visual patterns in
blood, tissue samples and other specimens.

      Below are some of the major differences between the two testing services:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                               Anatomic Pathology  Testing                        Clinical Chemistry  Testing
                               ---------------------------                        ---------------------------
<S>                        <C>                                             <C>      
Type of Specimen           Tissue or cells - usually obtained              Blood or urine usually collected by a nurse
                           by a  physician from a biopsy, Pap              (blood) or by the patient (urine)
                           smear, urine specimen or surgery
                                     
Technology Employed        Physician  interpretation of tissue slides      Highly automated blood chemistries and  
                           supplemented by special antibody stains,        immunoassays 
                           DNA probes, genetic tests
                           

1991 DIANON Net Revenues   $  9 million                                    $18 million

1998 DIANON Net Revenues   $48 million                                     $14 million

</TABLE>


<PAGE>

      The Company offers a complete line of anatomic  pathology testing services
as well as  selected  clinical  chemistry  tests for  cancer  and  gynecological
conditions.  The Company  performs  all  testing at either its main  facility in
Stratford,  Connecticut  or a second  laboratory  in Tampa,  Florida (the latter
acquired in February 1998).  It provides most test results to physicians  within
forty-eight hours. In 1996, the Company opened a specimen processing facility at
the hub of its airfreight provider in Ohio in order to prepare certain specimens
for more rapid  processing  when they arrive in Stratford and to improve overall
turnaround time to the physicians.  In January 1999, the Company signed a letter
of intent to acquire substantially all the assets of Kyto-Meridien  Diagnostics,
LLC, an outpatient  OB/Gyn  laboratory  with locations in Woodbury and New City,
New York. The Company is in the process of conducting due diligence and, subject
to the result of this process,  expects to close the  acquisition  in the second
quarter of 1999.

INFORMATION SERVICES

      The  Company's  information  services are used  principally  to assist the
physician in the analysis of test results and to help managed care organizations
better manage patient treatment. These services complement the Company's current
service  offerings and are not a separate  product  category.  Patient  specific
reports  aid  the  physician  in  analyzing  multiple  prognostic  tests  and/or
correlative  trends  in  a  patient's  test  results,  treatment,  and  clinical
condition.  Summary reports on all patients in a physician's  practice allow the
physician to compare test results on patients  with similar  conditions,  review
multiple  patient  histories,  and  compare his or her  experience  with that of
physicians across the country.  Similar reports help managed care  organizations
capture  and  compare   utilization  and  diagnostic  trends  within  their  own
organization,  with other  managed  care  organizations  and with the  Company's
national database.  The Company's current information  services are an important
part of the Company's marketing program, and they provide important  value-added
services which help the Company differentiate itself from competitors.

QUALITY ASSURANCE

      The  Company  utilizes  a unique  quality  control  program  for  anatomic
pathology  which  provides a reduced  number of  equivocal  results  reported to
clinicians.  This program is applied to all  anatomic  pathology  specimens.  By
diminishing the number of indeterminate  diagnoses and providing the unequivocal
diagnosis as soon as possible,  the Company enables clinicians to treat patients
sooner and more effectively while reducing overall health care costs.

      The Company's quality assurance program includes adherence by employees to
the Standard Operating  Procedures,  continuing education and technical training
of  technologists,  statistical  quality  control of all  analytical  processes,
instrument maintenance,  and regular inspection by governmental agencies and the
College of American Pathologists.


EUROPEAN OPERATIONS

      During  1998  the  Company  completed  the  liquidation  of  its  European
operations, which operations were discontinued in 1995.

REIMBURSEMENT

      In 1998, 1997 and 1996,  respectively,  approximately 33%, 37%, and 40% of
the Company's net revenues were derived from testing performed for beneficiaries
under the Medicare and Medicaid programs. At least 90% of this total was derived
from the Medicare  program.  Revenues from testing  performed for other patients
are derived  principally from other  third-party  payors,  including  commercial
insurers,  Blue  Cross Blue  Shield  plans,  health  maintenance  and  preferred
provider organizations,  patients, physicians, hospitals, and other laboratories
(who in turn usually bill non-governmental  third-party payors or patients). For
many of the tests  performed  for  Medicare  or Medicaid  beneficiaries  (except
clinical diagnostic  laboratory tests for those beneficiaries being treated by a
hospital  or,  in  some  instances,  by a  skilled  nursing  facility  ("SNF")),
laboratories  are  required to bill  Medicare or Medicaid  directly  for covered
services and to accept Medicare or Medicaid reimbursement as payment in full for
such services.  Management has elected,  to date, to accept  reimbursement rates
set by other  third-party  payors as  payment  in full as well  (apart  from any
co-payment which the payor has established).

      Reimbursement  rates for some  services of the type or similar to the type
performed by the Company have been  established by Medicare,  Medicaid and other
third-party  payors,  but have not been  established  for all services or by all
carriers with respect to any particular service. While most carriers,  including
Medicare,  do not  cover  services  they  determine  to be  investigational,  or
otherwise not  reasonable  and  necessary  for diagnosis or treatment,  a formal
coverage  determination  is made with respect to relatively few new  procedures.
When such determinations do occur for Medicare purposes,  they most commonly are
made by the local  Medicare  carrier which  processes  claims for  reimbursement
within the carrier's  geographic  jurisdiction.  The Company  receives  Medicare
reimbursement  primarily through a single Medicare carrier.  A positive coverage
determination,  or  reimbursement  without  such  determination,  by one or more
third-party  payors, or clearance for market by the Food and Drug Administration
("FDA"),  does not  assure  reimbursement  by other  third-party  payors.  A few
third-party  payors  have  denied  payment  for  services  for which the Company
receives  reimbursement  from  other  payors.  On  occasion,  Medicare  or other
third-payors  have  decided to cease  payment  for one or more of the  Company's
services that  historically  have been  reimbursed by them because such services
are  performed  using test kits or other  products  which have not  received FDA
pre-market   clearance  or  because  such   services  may  otherwise  be  deemed
investigational   or  for  other  reasons.   Furthermore,   Medicare  and  other
third-party  payors have, on occasion,  ceased  reimbursement when certain tests
are ordered for patients with certain diagnoses while maintaining  reimbursement
when tests are ordered for other  diagnoses  deemed  appropriate by the carrier.
This practice recently has become more prevalent with respect to Medicare.

      The  Balanced  Budget Act of 1997 ("BBA")  required  the  Secretary of the
Department of Health and Human Services ("the  Secretary") to divide the country
into no more than five regions and designate a single Medicare  carrier for each
region to process  laboratory  claims  (except  those  performed by  independent
physicians'  offices)  no later  than  January  1,  1999,  and to adopt  uniform
coverage,  administration, and payment policies for lab tests using a negotiated
rulemaking  process by July 1, 1998.  The Health Care  Financing  Administration
("HCFA") has not yet redesignated  Medicare carrier regions for lab claims,  and
the clinical lab negotiated  rulemaking  process still is ongoing.  Depending on
the details of how these requirements are implemented, they could have an impact
on the Company's future revenues. In general,  reimbursement disapprovals by the
various  carriers,  reductions or delays in the  establishment  of reimbursement
rates,  and carrier  limitations  on the  insurance  coverage  of the  Company's
services or the use of the Company as a service  provider  could have a material
adverse effect on the Company's future revenues.

      Medicare Fee Schedule Payment for Clinical Chemistry  Laboratory Services.
Medicare  reimbursement for clinical chemistry  laboratory services  constituted
approximately  23%, 25% and 27% of the Company's  clinical chemistry revenues in
1998,  1997 and  1996,  respectively.  In  1984,  Congress  adopted  legislation
establishing a  locality-specific  fee schedule  reimbursement  methodology with
Consumer Price Index ("CPI")-related  updates for clinical diagnostic laboratory
testing for  non-hospital  patients and  hospital  outpatients  under  Medicare.
(Payment for  clinical  chemistry  laboratory  services  performed  for Medicare
hospital and SNF  inpatients  is included  within the  prospectively  determined
Diagnosis Related Group rate paid to the hospital and Resource Utilization Group
rate paid to the SNF.) In addition,  state Medicaid programs are prohibited from
paying  more  than  the  Medicare  fee  schedule  amount.   Beginning  with  the
Consolidated  Omnibus Budget  Reconciliation Act of 1985 ("OBRA `85"),  Congress
instituted  a  national  cap  on  Medicare  clinical  chemistry  laboratory  fee
schedules.  This  national  cap has been lowered each year and now is 74% of the
national median. The President's fiscal year 2000 budget proposes to reduce this
national  cap to 72%  of the  national  median.  Moreover,  the  Omnibus  Budget
Reconciliation  Act of 1987 ("OBRA '87") eliminated the CPI update for 1988 and,
in succeeding  years,  Congress has often either  limited or  eliminated  annual
updates of Medicare clinical chemistry  laboratory fee schedules.  After updates
of 3.2% in 1996 and  approximately  2.7% in 1997,  the BBA freezes fee  schedule
payments for the 1998-2002  period.  The update  limitations  and changes in the
national  cap made to date have not had,  and are not expected by the Company to
have, a material  adverse  effect on the Company's  results of  operations.  Any
further  significant  decrease  in such fee  schedules,  however,  could  have a
material adverse effect on the Company's future revenues.

      The BBA added  coverage  for a yearly  screening  pap  smear for  Medicare
beneficiaries  at high risk of  developing  cervical  or vaginal  cancer and for
beneficiaries of childbearing age who had not had a negative test in each of the
preceding three years, effective January 1, 1998, as well as coverage for annual
prostate cancer screening, including a prostate-specific antigen blood test, for
beneficiaries over age 50, effective January 1, 2000. Effective January 1, 1999,
Medicare also will make a separate  payment for physician  interpretation  of an
abnormal pap smear in any setting.  Prior to 1999,  Medicare  only covered these
services in an inpatient  setting.  In addition,  it has been reported that HCFA
has been exploring ways to increase reimbursement for thin-layer preparation and
computer assisted pap smears, technologies which the Company uses. Although most
women of childbearing  age and men under age 65 are not Medicare  beneficiaries,
the addition of Medicare  coverage for these tests and higher  reimbursement for
certain types of these tests could provide additional revenues for the Company.

      Other  changes in government  and other  third-party  payor  reimbursement
which may  result  from the  enactment  of  health  care  reform  or of  deficit
reduction or balanced budget  legislation also likely will continue the downward
pressure on prices and make the market for  clinical  laboratory  services  more
competitive.  For example, the BBA revised the Medicare program substantially to
permit  beneficiaries to choose between traditional fee for-service Medicare and
several  non-traditional  Medicare  options,  including  managed  care plans and
provider-sponsored organization plans. These non-traditional Medicare plans have
considerable  discretion in  determining  whether and how to cover and reimburse
clinical  laboratory  services  and to limit the  number of labs with which they
deal.

      The BBA also  included  provisions  to implement  competitive  bidding for
certain  Medicare  items  and  services,  including  laboratory  services,  on a
three-site  demonstration  project  basis.  These  changes  likely would have an
adverse  impact on the  Company's  revenues  if adopted on a  widespread  basis.
Finally, the BBA contained measures to establish market-oriented  purchasing for
Medicare,  including prospective payment systems ("PPS") for outpatient hospital
services,  home health care, and nursing home care. Of these  systems,  only the
SNF PPS has been  implemented.  Since the  Company  does only  minimal  clinical
laboratory  testing for SNF patients,  this change is not expected to materially
affect the Company's  business.  The BBA directed the Secretary to implement the
PPS for hospital  outpatient  services by January 1, 1999.  Because of Year 2000
computer  problems,  however,  HCFA has asserted  that it cannot  implement  the
outpatient PPS until April 1, 2000, at the earliest.  On September 8, 1998, HCFA
published  a  proposed  outpatient  PPS  rule  that  would  carve  out  clinical
laboratory  services  from the  outpatient  PPS  rates,  but would  include  the
technical  component of surgical  pathology  services.  The outpatient PPS could
affect the Company's revenues for these surgical pathology services depending on
the precise details of how and when the PPS is implemented.

      Because of the uncertainties  about how the Medicare changes such as those
described above will be implemented,  the Company currently is unable to predict
their ultimate impact on the clinical  laboratory  industry  generally or on the
Company in particular.  Even apart from federal legislative action,  reforms may
occur at the state level and  changes  are  occurring  in the  marketplace  as a
result of market pressures,  including the increasing number of patients covered
by some form of managed  care.  In  general,  these  changes are likely to put a
downward pressure on price and also may act to limit access by some laboratories
to some managed  care patient  groups.  Because of the  uncertainties  about the
exact  nature,  extent,  and timing of any such  changes,  however,  the Company
currently is unable to predict their  ultimate  impact on the clinical  industry
generally or on the Company in particular.

      Medicare  Payment  for  Anatomic  Pathology   Services.   In  addition  to
furnishing clinical chemistry laboratory testing services, the Company furnishes
a number of services  which are  characterized  for the purposes of the Medicare
program  as  anatomic  pathology  services.  Medicare  reimbursement  for  these
services  constituted  approximately  35%,  40%,  and 45% of the  Company's  net
anatomic pathology revenues in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.  As of January
1, 1992, all physician  services,  including anatomic pathology  services,  have
been reimbursed by Medicare based on a methodology  known as the  resource-based
relative  value scale  ("RBRVS"),  which was fully phased in by the end of 1996.
Overall, anatomic pathology reimbursement rates declined during the fee schedule
phase-in  period,  despite an  increase in payment  rates for certain  pathology
services performed by the Company.

      The Medicare  RBRVS payment for each service is calculated by  multiplying
the total  relative  value  units  ("RVUs")  established  for the  service  by a
conversion factor that is set by statute.  Although  originally there were three
conversion factors,  the BBA merged them into one effective January 1, 1998. The
1999 conversion  factor is $34.7315,  a decrease of approximately  5.3% from the
1998 conversion  factor.  The number of RVUs assigned to each service is in turn
calculated  by  adding  three  separate  components:  physician  work,  practice
expense, and malpractice expense. In 1997, there was an overall decrease of 5.7%
in payments for pathology  services due to a five-year  review of the work value
component and a decrease in the 1997 conversion  factor  applicable to pathology
services,  plus an  additional  decrease  in  Connecticut,  where the  Company's
primary  operations  are located,  because of HCFA's  reduction of the number of
different payment localities recognized for RBRVS purposes. On November 1, 1998,
HCFA  published  its final  Medicare  physician  fee  schedule  regulation  that
recalculated  the  physician  practice  expense  component  to reflect  resource
consumption  rather than  historical  charge data.  The  resulting  new practice
expense values will be phased in over the period 1999 to 2002.  While the actual
impact on the Company's  Medicare  pathology  revenues will depend on the mix of
pathology services  furnished,  HCFA estimates that the new system will decrease
the Medicare  revenue for pathologists 13% once it is fully phased in at the end
of the  four-year  period.  Overall,  these fee  schedule  changes  likely  will
continue to have a negative  effect on the  Company's  average  unit price.  The
Company  estimates  that the  adverse  impact  on  revenues  in 1999 will not be
material, however.

      In the past, the Company has been able to offset a substantial  portion of
the impact of the reduced Medicare  reimbursement  rates for anatomic  pathology
services  through the achievement of economies of scale and the  introduction of
alternative  technologies that do not depend on reimbursement  through the RBRVS
system.  Despite these offsets,  the  substantial  recent  modifications  to the
physician fee schedule described above, plus the still growing impact of managed
care,  likely will continue to have a negative  effect on the Company's  average
unit price.  Other  potential  legislative  and market changes may continue this
trend,  including  the  implementation  of an  outpatient  PPS that  bundles the
technical component of surgical pathology services, as described above. However,
the  Company  is not able to  predict  the  exact  nature or effect of any other
potential changes affecting its reimbursement for anatomic pathology services at
this time.

      Other Developments Affecting Reimbursement.  In 1998, approximately 18% of
the Company's net revenues were in the State of New York. In September 1996, New
York passed the New York Health Care Reform Act of 1996  ("NYHCRA").  The NYHCRA
requires payors to pay an 8.18% surcharge on the services  provided by a variety
of  providers,  including  independent  laboratories  for  services  rendered to
residents  of the State of New  York.  If the  payor  neglects  to pay the 8.18%
surcharge  directly,  providers  are required to collect the  surcharge  plus an
additional  assessment of 24% of the surcharge for a total  surcharge of 32.18%.
Under the NYHCRA,  it is possible that  independent  labs,  such as the Company,
will be placed at a  competitive  disadvantage  with  physician  office labs and
other  labs  whose  services  are not  subject to the  surcharge.  In  addition,
independent  labs probably  will be liable for the  surcharge  even if the payor
fails to pay the laboratory.  Moreover,  payors may reduce the fees they pay for
laboratory  services  in order  to  offset  the  surcharge.  The New York  State
Clinical Laboratory  Association,  which brought suit against the New York State
Department   of  Health   alleging   that   these   provisions   of  NYHCRA  are
unconstitutional  under the United States and New York  Constitutions and should
not be enforced,  is currently appealing an adverse decision on its challenge by
the New York lower  court.  This  association  also is working to amend the law.
Nonetheless,  the law has been  implemented and its impact has been reflected in
the  Company's  financial  statements  and could have a  negative  impact on the
portion of the Company's future net revenues derived from the State of New York.

      Following  a  study  of  pricing  practices  in  the  clinical  laboratory
industry,  the Office of the Inspector  General ("OIG") of HHS conducted a study
of such  practices,  and in January  1990  issued a final  report.  This  report
addresses how these pricing  practices relate to Medicare and Medicaid.  The OIG
reviewed  the  industry's  use of one fee  schedule  for  physicians  and  other
professional accounts and another fee schedule for patients/third-party  payors,
including Medicare, in billing for testing services, and focused specifically on
the pricing  differential  when  profiles (or  established  groups of tests) are
ordered.

      Existing federal law authorizes the Secretary of HHS to exclude  providers
from  participation  in the Medicare and Medicaid  programs if they charge state
Medicaid  programs or Medicare  fees  "substantially  in excess" of their "usual
charges."  On  September  2,  1998,  the OIG  issued  a final  rule in  which it
indicated  that this provision has limited  applicability  to services for which
Medicare  pays  under  a PPS or a fee  schedule,  such  as  clinical  laboratory
services and anatomic pathology services.  The Medicaid laws in some states also
have  prohibitions  related  to  discriminatory  pricing.  The  Company  employs
practices  similar to those examined in the 1990 OIG report  discussed  above in
billing  for its  services.  Depending  upon the  nature  of any  regulatory  or
enforcement  action taken or the content of legislation,  if any, which might be
adopted to address  this  issue,  the Company  could  experience  a  significant
decrease in revenue which could have a material  adverse  effect on the Company.
The legislation also provides for civil or criminal  penalties or exclusion from
participation in Medicare and Medicaid. The Company is unable to predict at this
time whether any further regulatory,  enforcement, or legislative action will be
taken.

      In December  1992,  an  unrelated  clinical  laboratory,  National  Health
Laboratories,   Inc.,  ("NHL"),  pleaded  guilty  to  submitting  false  medical
reimbursement  claims  to the  United  States  government,  and  entered  into a
settlement  which  provides for payment of over $100 million.  The United States
government  alleged that NHL, by marketing to physicians  diagnostic test panels
which bundled,  together with a routine blood chemistry series,  two other tests
(ferritin and HDL  cholesterol),  induced  physicians to order these other tests
regardless of medical necessity. While NHL's additional charge to physicians for
these two tests  ordered  as part of the NHL panel was  nominal,  NHL billed the
Medicare  program  for them at full  price.  Since  1993 and  continuing  to the
present,  other laboratories have reached significant  financial settlement with
the government in cases involving  similar  issues.  While it is not possible to
predict how broadly the United States  government  may seek to expand the theory
of liability it developed  in these cases,  the Company  believes its  practices
differ materially from those at issue.

      In  February  1997,  the  OIG  released  a  model   compliance   plan  for
laboratories  that  is  based  largely  on the  corporate  integrity  agreements
negotiated  with the  laboratories  which settled the  government's  enforcement
actions. The Company has reviewed the model compliance plan and is adopting,  or
modifying  for  adoption,  aspects  of the  model  plan that the  Company  deems
appropriate  to the  conduct of its  business.  One key aspect of the  corporate
integrity  agreements  and  the  model  compliance  plan is an  emphasis  on the
responsibilities  of laboratories to notify physicians that Medicare covers only
medically  necessary services.  These  requirements,  and their likely effect on
physician test ordering  habits,  focus on chemistry tests,  especially  routine
tests,  rather than on anatomic  pathology  services or the non-automated  tests
which make up the majority of the  Company's  business  measured in terms of net
revenues.  Nevertheless,  they potentially could affect physicians test ordering
habits  more  broadly.  The  Company  is unable to predict  whether,  or to what
extent,  these  developments  may  have  an  impact  or the  utilization  of the
Company's services.

      Prior to 1998, the Medical Director of the Connecticut Medicare carrier to
whom the Company submits its Medicare claims orally expressed the view that some
amount of money which the carrier has paid to the Company for certain  pathology
services  involving  DNA  measurements  in prostate  tumor  cells  (morphometric
analysis of tumor)  potentially is  recoverable by the carrier.  (The company is
not presently  submitting claims for this service.) The carrier Medical Director
has  never  reduced  his  view  to  writing  or  otherwise   asserted  a  claim.
Accordingly,  at this time, the Company cannot evaluate any such possible claim,
or the probability of assertion of any such claim.

      During  1997,  the  Company  was made  aware  that an  agent  based in the
Hartford  Connecticut branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office of the Inspector General ("OIG") was investigating the Company's practice
of supplying  pathology specimen  collection devices without charge to physician
customers  as well as  unspecified  billing  issues  that had been raised by the
local Medicare carrier.  The company believes that its practices with respect to
specimen  collection  devices were proper, and a letter describing the Company's
actions and its views regarding  applicable  regulations was sent by the Company
to the OIG. That letter also requested  information  about any billing issues of
concern to the OIG so that the Company  could  address  them.  As of the date of
this  report,  the Company had not received a response  from or  otherwise  been
contacted by the OIG regarding  these  matters,  and has not received any formal
notification regarding the matter.

      Although the Company  seeks to structure  its practices to comply with all
applicable  laws,  and  management  believes such  practices are in  compliance,
uncertainty  nevertheless  exists as to how these  matters may develop,  and the
Company  currently is unable to predict  their  impact,  if any, on the Company.
While  management does not believe that this matter will have a material adverse
effect on the Company's  financial  condition,  if the carrier  and/or OIG agent
were to pursue and prevail on these matters, any significant recoupment of funds
or civil or criminal penalty  potentially  resulting from such proceedings could
have a material  adverse  effect on the  Company's  business  and its results of
operations.

COMPETITION

      The Company provides services in a segment of the healthcare industry that
is intensely  competitive,  both with  respect to clinical  chemistry as well as
anatomic   pathology.   The  Company   estimates  that  there  are  over  11,500
laboratories  in the United  States  which might be deemed  actual or  potential
competitors for the testing  business of  cancer-treating  or  cancer-diagnosing
physicians.

      On the one hand, the anatomic  pathology  segment is highly fragmented and
has  not yet  experienced  industry  consolidation  to any  significant  degree.
Competitors  include   physician-owned   laboratories,   specialized  commercial
laboratories  and  hospital  laboratories.  None  of  these  competitors  have a
material share of the anatomic pathology market.

      The clinical chemistry  segment,  on the other hand, has been consolidated
to an extent and the three largest national  clinical  laboratories in the U.S.:
Quest  Diagnostics,  SmithKline  and  Laboratory  Corporation  of America have a
significant  market  share  in  outpatient  testing.  In  February  1999,  Quest
Diagnostics  announced that it had signed a definitive  agreement to acquire the
clinical  laboratory  operations  of  SmithKline.  Their  product  offerings are
broader and the three companies have more substantial  financial and operational
resources  than  the  Company.   Other   competitors  in  this  segment  include
special-purpose  clinical  laboratories and manufacturers of test kits and other
diagnostic tools.

      In  addition  to  the  competition  for  customers,  there  is  increasing
competition for qualified  personnel,  particularly in the laboratory.  To date,
such competition has not had an adverse impact on the Company's operations.

      Significant   factors  that  enhance  the  Company's  ability  to  compete
effectively include a highly-trained and knowledgeable sales force, high quality
laboratory operations,  accurate and consistent test results, quality of service
to physicians, price and speed of turnaround for test results.

PATENTS AND PROPRIETARY TECHNOLOGY

      To date,  the  Company  has not relied  heavily  on  patents  or  licensed
technology in its business.  Tests or related  diagnostic  products purchased by
the  Company may or may not be  patented.  There can be no  assurance  that such
tests or related  products do not  infringe  patent  rights of others.  Any such
infringement  could  give rise to claims  against  the  Company.  Typically  the
Company is not  indemnified  against such risks.  There can be no assurance that
any issued  patent upon which the Company  relies  directly or  indirectly  will
afford  protection  to the  Company in the face of  challenges  to the  patent's
validity.

      Other  private and public  entities,  including  universities,  have filed
applications  for (or have been issued)  patents in the Company's  field and may
obtain additional patents and other proprietary rights to technology that may be
the same as or similar to that  utilized by the Company.  The scope and validity
of such  patents,  the extent to which the  Company  may wish or need to acquire
such rights,  and the cost or availability of such rights are presently unknown.
There can be no  assurance  that others may not obtain  access to the  Company's
technology  or  independently  develop  the same or similar  technology  to that
utilized by the Company.

EMPLOYEES

      As of December 31, 1998,  the Company had 462 full-time and 40 part-time
employees.

REGULATORY MATTERS

      The Company's business is subject to government regulation at the federal,
state  and  local  levels,   some  of  which  regulations  are  described  under
"Laboratory," "Food and Drug Administration" and "Other" below.

      LABORATORY

      The  Company's  laboratory  is  certified  or  licensed  under the federal
Medicare program, the Connecticut Medicaid program and the Clinical Laboratories
Improvement  Act of 1967,  as amended  by the  Clinical  Laboratory  Improvement
Amendments of 1988 (collectively, "CLIA `88"). Licensure is maintained under the
clinical laboratory licensure laws of Connecticut,  where the Company's clinical
laboratory  is located and under the laws of several  other  jurisdictions.  The
Company believes it has obtained all material  laboratory  licenses required for
its operations.  In addition,  the laboratory is licensed by the federal Nuclear
Regulatory Commission and is accredited by the College of American Pathology.

      The federal  and state  certification  and  licensure  programs  establish
standards for the day-to-day operation of a medical laboratory,  including,  but
not limited to, personnel and quality control. Compliance with such standards is
verified  by periodic  inspections  by  inspectors  employed by federal or state
regulatory  agencies.  In  addition,   federal  regulatory  authorities  require
participation  in a proficiency  testing program approved by the HHS for each of
the specialties and  subspecialties  for which a laboratory  seeks approval from
Medicare or Medicaid and licensure under CLIA `88.  Proficiency testing programs
involve actual testing of specimens that have been prepared by an entity running
an approved program for testing by the laboratory.

      A final rule implementing CLIA `88, published by HHS on February 28, 1992,
became  effective  September  1,  1992.  This rule has been  revised  on several
occasions and further revision is expected in 1999. The CLIA `88 rule covers all
laboratories  in the United  States,  including  the Company's  laboratory.  The
Company has reviewed its  operations  as they relate to CLIA,  including,  among
other things, the CLIA rule's requirements regarding laboratory  administration,
participation in proficiency testing, patient test management (including patient
preparation,   proper   specimen   collection,   identification,   preservation,
transportation,  processing  and result  reporting),  quality  control,  quality
assurance and personnel for the types of testing undertaken by the Company,  and
believes it to be in compliance with these requirements.  However, no assurances
can be given that the  Company's  laboratory  will pass all  future  inspections
conducted  to  ensure  compliance  with  CLIA `88 or with any  other  applicable
licensure or certification laws.

      Existing  federal laws  governing  Medicare and Medicaid,  as well as some
state laws, also regulate certain aspects of the relationship between healthcare
providers,   including  clinical  laboratories,   and  their  referral  sources,
including physicians,  hospitals and other laboratories.  One provision of these
laws, known as the "anti-kickback  law," contains extremely broad proscriptions,
and  relatively  little  regulatory   guidance  or  judicial   precedent  exists
concerning its  application.  Violation of this provision may result in criminal
penalties,  exclusion  from  Medicare  and  Medicaid  and, as of August 5, 1997,
significant civil monetary penalties. Pronouncements from the OIG have indicated
that  enforcement  resources  may be focused on financial  arrangements  between
laboratories  and  physicians  and  other  purchasers  of  laboratory  services,
including, for example, arrangements under which laboratories supply physicians'
offices with  phlebotomists  (blood-drawing  technicians) who potentially  could
perform  additional tasks that normally are the  responsibility of the physician
office   staff.   Under  another   provision,   known  as  the  "Stark"  law  or
"self-referral  prohibition,"  physicians who have an investment or compensation
relationship with an entity furnishing  clinical  laboratory services (including
clinical chemistry and anatomic pathology  services) may not, subject to certain
exceptions,  refer  clinical  laboratory  testing for Medicare  patients to that
entity.  Similarly,  laboratories may not bill Medicare or Medicaid or any other
party for services  furnished  pursuant to a prohibited  referral.  Violation of
these  provisions may result in disallowance of Medicare and Medicaid claims for
the affected  testing  services,  as well as the  imposition  of civil  monetary
penalties.  On August 14, 1995,  HHS  published a Final Rule  implementing  this
prohibition  on  Medicare  referrals.  On January 9,  1998,  in a proposed  rule
implementing an extension of the Stark law to other  (non-laboratory)  services,
HHS proposed  some changes in the  regulation  applicable to  laboratories.  The
Company does not expect these changes,  if they are  finalized,  to have a major
effect on the Company.  The Company  seeks to structure  its  arrangements  with
physicians and other customers to be in compliance with the anti-kickback, Stark
and  state  laws,  and to  keep  up-to-date  on  developments  concerning  their
application by various means including consultation with legal counsel. However,
the  Company is unable to predict  how these laws will be applied in the future,
and no assurances can be given that its  arrangement  will not become subject to
scrutiny  under them.  The Company has a compliance  committee  which meets on a
regular basis to review various  operations and  relationships  as well as adopt
policies.

      Any  exclusion  or  suspension  from  participation  in the  Medicare  and
Medicaid programs,  any loss of licensure or accreditation,  or any inability to
obtain any required  license or permit,  whether arising from any action by HHS,
any state,  or any other  regulatory  authority,  would have a material  adverse
effect on the Company's  business.  Any  significant  civil or criminal  penalty
resulting  from such  proceedings  could have a material  adverse  effect on the
Company's business.

      FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

      The FDA does not currently regulate laboratory testing services,  which is
the Company's  principal  business.  However,  the Company performs some testing
services using test kits purchased  from  manufacturers  for which FDA premarket
clearance or approval for commercial  distribution  in the United States has not
been obtained by the manufacturers  ("investigational test kits"). Under current
FDA  regulations  and policies,  such  investigational  test kits may be sold by
manufacturers for  investigational  use only if certain  requirements are met to
prevent commercial distribution. The manufacturers of these investigational test
kits are responsible for marketing them under conditions  meeting applicable FDA
requirements.  In January 1998, the FDA issued a revised draft Compliance Policy
Guide ("CPG") that sets forth FDA's intent to undertake a heightened enforcement
effort with respect to investigational test kits improperly commercialized prior
to  receipt  of FDA  premarket  clearance  or  approval.  That  draft CPG is not
presently  in effect  but,  if  implemented  as  written,  would  place  greater
restrictions on the  distribution of  investigational  test kits. If the Company
were to be substantially limited in or prevented from purchasing investigational
test kits by reason of the FDA  finalizing  the new draft  CPG,  there  could be
adverse effects on the Company's  ability to access new technology,  which could
have a material adverse effect on the Company's business.

      The Company also performs some testing  services using reagents,  known as
analyte specific reagents ("ASRs"), purchased from companies in bulk rather than
as part of a test kit. In November 1997, the FDA issued a new regulation placing
restrictions on the sale, distribution,  labeling and use of ASRs, such as those
used by the Company.  Most ASRs will be treated by the FDA as low risk  devices,
requiring the manufacturing to register with the agency,  list its ASRs (and any
other devices),  conform to current good manufacturing practices ("CGMPs"),  and
comply with medical device reporting of adverse events. A smaller group of ASRs,
primarily  those used in blood banking  and/or  screening  for fatal  contagious
diseases  (e.g.,  HIV/AIDS),  will be treated as higher risk  devices  requiring
premarket  clearance or approval from the FDA before commercial  distribution is
permitted.  The imposition of this new  regulatory  framework on ASR sellers may
reduce the availability or raise the price of ASRs purchased by the Company.  In
addition,  when the Company performs a test developed  in-house,  using reagents
rather  than a test kit  cleared or  approved by the FDA, it will be required to
disclose those facts in the test report. However, by clearly declining to impose
any requirement  for FDA premarket  approval or clearance for most ASRs, the new
rule removes one barrier to reimbursement  for tests performed using these ASRs.
In light of all the foregoing  factors,  it is impossible to predict exactly how
the new regulation will affect the Company's business,  and thus there can be no
assurance that the new ASR regulation will not have a material adverse effect on
the Company's business.

      OTHER

      Certain federal and state laws govern the handling and disposal of medical
specimens, infectious and hazardous wastes and radioactive materials. Failure to
comply  with such laws could  subject an entity  covered by these laws to fines,
criminal penalties and/or other enforcement actions.

      Pursuant to the Occupational  Safety and Health Act,  laboratories  have a
general  duty to  provide  a work  place to their  employees  that is safe  from
hazard.   Over  the  past  few  years,  the   Occupational   Safety  and  Health
Administration  ("OSHA") has issued rules  relevant to certain  hazards that are
found in the  laboratory.  In  addition,  OSHA  recently has  promulgated  final
regulations containing requirements healthcare providers must follows to protect
workers from  bloodborne  pathogens.  Failure to comply with these  regulations,
other  applicable  OSHA  rules or with the  general  duty to provide a safe work
place  could  subject  an  employers,   including  a  laboratory  employer,   to
substantial fines and penalties.

ITEM 2.     PROPERTIES

      The  Company  leases  approximately  93,412  square  feet  of  office  and
laboratory  space  in  Stratford,  Connecticut;  Wilmington,  Ohio;  and  Tampa,
Florida.  The leases on the  Stratford  facilities,  representing  55,830 square
feet,  expires in May 2003, and contain  options to renew for up to three years.
The lease for the Wilmington facility,  representing 19,200 square feet, expires
March 31, 2001, and contains  renewal options for five additional terms of three
years each. The lease on the Tampa office and laboratory facility,  representing
18,382  square feet,  expires  January 31, 2003,  with an option to renew for an
additional five-year period. The Company also leases a small office in Stamford,
Connecticut  and a record  storage  facility in  Stratford,  Connecticut.  These
leases  expire in November  2000 with an option to renew for up to three  years,
and May 2004, respectively.

      The Company also leases four regional  sales  offices  located in Florida,
North Carolina,  Texas and Ohio, with terms ranging from one to three years, and
four branch offices in Florida with remaining terms of up to two years.

      (See Note 5 to the Company's  consolidated  financial  statements included
herewith).

ITEM 3.     LEGAL PROCEEDINGS

      On November 19,  1997, a suit was filed  against the Company in the United
States District Court,  District of South Carolina  (Frances P. Hadden v. DIANON
Systems,  Inc.). The complaint alleged,  among other things, medical malpractice
due to an incorrect  diagnosis.  The claim was settled in 1998 by the  Company's
insurance  carrier,  with  the  cost  to  the  Company  limited  to  the  policy
deductible.

            There are no other  known  material  legal  proceedings  against the
Company.



<PAGE>



ITEM 4.     SUBMISSION OF MATTERS TO A VOTE OF SECURITY HOLDERS

      On  October  29,  1998,  the  Company  held its 1998  Annual  Meeting of
Shareholders  at which the following  actions were  approved:  directors  were
elected and the appointment of Arthur Andersen LLP ("Arthur  Andersen") as the
Company's  independent public accountants for the calendar year ended December
31, 1998 was ratified.  The directors  elected were Messrs.  Kevin C. Johnson,
John P. Davis,  E. Timothy Geary,  G. S. Beckwith  Gilbert,  Bruce K. Crowther
and Drs.  James B. Amberson and Jeffrey L. Sklar.  The table below  represents
the votes cast:

                    Director            In Favor     Withheld
                    --------            --------     --------

           James B. Amberson, M.D.      6,384,876     53,546
           Bruce K. Crowther            6,384,762     53,660
           John P. Davis                6,378,598     59,824
           E. Timothy Geary             6,384,762     53,660
           G. S. Beckwith Gilbert       6,384,053     54,369
           Kevin C. Johnson             6,380,444     57,978
           Jeffrey L. Sklar, M.D.,      6,384,762     53,660
             Ph.D.

      The  other  action  taken  at  the  Company's   1998  Annual   Meeting  of
Shareholders,  to  ratify  appointment  of  Arthur  Andersen  as  the  Company's
independent  public  accountant for the calendar year ending  December 31, 1998,
had the following votes cast:

                       For         Withheld      Absentions
                       ---         --------      ----------

                    6,425,068        7,506         5,848



<PAGE>

                                   PART II



ITEM 5.   MARKET FOR THE REGISTRANT'S COMMON EQUITY AND RELATED STOCKHOLDER
            MATTERS

      DIANON's  Common  Stock trades on The Nasdaq Stock Market under the symbol
"DIAN." The following table shows the high and low sales prices of the Company's
Common Stock quoted on The Nasdaq Stock Market, for the periods indicated below:

                                          High           Low
                                          ----           ---
         1997:
         First Quarter                   $12-1/2       $8-1/8
         Second Quarter                   10-1/2        8-3/8
         Third Quarter                    10-3/8        7-3/4
         Fourth Quarter                   10            7-1/2

         1998:
         First Quarter                   $11-1/4       $8-1/4
         Second Quarter                   10-7/8        8-1/8
         Third Quarter                     9-5/8        6
         Fourth Quarter                    9            5-1/4




      As of March 4, 1999, the Company had approximately  2,073  shareholders of
record. No dividends have been paid by DIANON and it is not anticipated that any
will be paid in the foreseeable future.


<PAGE>




ITEM 6.           SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA

STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS:

                               1998       1997      1996      1995      1994
                               ----       ----      ----      ----      ----
                                   (in thousands, except per share data)
                                   -------------------------------------

Net revenues                    $62,182   $60,887   $56,000   $45,700   $41,017

Gross profit                     26,511    29,766    29,101    25,310    24,300

Expenses:
     Selling, general and
       administrative
       expenses (1)              21,465    22,912    22,443    19,620    17,505
     Research and 
       development                  528     1,666     3,157     5,255     4,512
                                -----------------------------------------------

Income from operations           4,518      5,188    3,500        435     2,283

Net interest income(expense)       682        523      307        181       (90)
Provision for income taxes       2,246      2,413    1,637        509       832
                                -----------------------------------------------
Net income                      $2,954     $3,298   $2,170      $ 107    $1,361
                                ===============================================

EPS:
     Basic                      $  .44     $  .51   $  .35      $ .02    $  .26
     Diluted                    $  .43     $  .48   $  .35      $ .02    $  .26

Weighted average shares
 outstanding:
     Basic                       6,678      6,430    6,151      5,542     5,297
     Diluted                     6,902      6,808    6,287      5,549     5,308


BALANCE SHEET DATA:

Working capital                $24,327    $21,387  $18,058    $16,974   $11,931
Total assets                    36,703     36,889   34,536     30,455    25,206
Long-term obligations               81        107      272        750     1,674
Stockholders' equity (2)        31,383     29,046   26,549     23,452    18,664


(1)  During 1998, 1997, 1996, 1995 and 1994,  non-recurring  charges relating to
     severance  costs as a result  of  streamlining  its  operations  and of the
     resignation of certain officers,  restructuring,  accelerated  amortization
     and other one-time costs of $212,000,  $324,000,  $609,000,  $2,668,000 and
     $692,000, respectively, were incurred. (See Notes 3 and 11 to the Company's
     consolidated financial statements included herewith).
(2) No dividends were paid by the Company during the periods presented above.




<PAGE>


ITEM 7.   MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND
            FINANCIAL CONDITION.

      The  Company's  results of  operations  over the  three-year  period ended
December 31, 1998 reflect its continued shift toward anatomic pathology testing.
The  acquisition  of PRL in February 1998 offset the impact of volume mix shifts
during 1998 toward lower margin  services,  as well as  reimbursement  decreases
which  occurred  throughout  1998.  The reduced  profit  impact of these revenue
factors  was  partially  offset  through  cost  savings  in  selling,   general,
administrative  and other operating  expenses,  principally in the early part of
1998.

YEAR 2000 ISSUE
- ---------------

      The Year 2000 issue is the result of computer programs being written using
two digits rather than four to define the applicable  year. As a result,  any of
the Company's computer programs that have time-sensitive  software may recognize
a date  using  "00" as their year 1900  rather  than the year  2000.  This could
result in a system failure or miscalculations causing disruptions of operations,
including  among other things,  a temporary  inability to process  transactions,
issue bills, or engage in similar normal business activities.

      While the Company believes the remedial measures  necessary to address its
internal Year 2000 issues are not material and will require minimal resources to
resolve, it has determined that certain actions are necessary.  It has developed
a plan to mitigate its Year 2000 issues, which involves four phases: assessment,
remediation,  testing,  and  implementation.  To date,  the  Company  has  fully
completed its  assessment of all material  systems that could be affected by the
Year 2000 issue, and has identified  specific systems  requiring further action.
Currently, 100% of the Company's software has been remediated,  unit tested, and
implemented.  Substantial  progress  has been  made  with  respect  to  personal
computers,  mainframes,  servers  and  laboratory  instrumentation.  The Company
expects all of its computer hardware to be Year 2000 compliant by the end of the
second half of 1999.

      The Company will utilize  internal  resources  to  reprogram,  or replace,
test,  and  implement  the  software  for Year  2000  modifications.  Management
anticipates that its total Year 2000 project costs will be less than $50,000.

      The Company  continues to query its  important  customers,  suppliers  and
vendors  to  assess  their  Year  2000  readiness.  As to  customers,  the  most
significant exposure is that associated with the federal  government's  Medicare
and Medicaid  programs and with major  insurance  companies.  These customers in
aggregate   represent  a  material   portion  of  the  Company's   revenues  and
corresponding  cash flow.  As to  suppliers  and vendors,  the most  significant
exposure is that associated with air transportation (substantially all specimens
are  flown  in  overnight  and the  resulting  reports  overnighted  back to the
customer)  and  laboratory  supplies.  To date,  the Company is not aware of any
problems that would  materially  impact  results of  operations,  liquidity,  or
capital  resources.  However,  the Company  has no means of ensuring  that these
customers,  suppliers and vendors will be Year 2000 compliant.  The inability of
those parties to complete their Year 2000  resolution  process could  materially
impact the Company.  As discussed above, the Company is unaware of any Year 2000
issues related to air transportation. Accordingly, the Company has not developed
a contingency plan in the event its vendors for air  transportation are not Year
2000  compliant.  The Company  will strive to  maintain  liquidity,  through its
credit line and cash position,  to mitigate any cash flow risks  associated with
the aforementioned Year 2000 exposures.

      The  Company's  plans to  complete  Year  2000  modification  are based on
management's best estimates,  which were derived utilizing numerous  assumptions
of future events,  including the continued availability of certain resources and
other factors.  Estimates  regarding the status of remediation  and the expected
completion  dates are based on hours expended to date compared to total expected
hours. However,  there can be no guarantee that these estimates will be achieved
and actual results could differ  materially from those plans.  Specific  factors
that might cause such material  differences include, but are not limited to, the
availability and cost of personnel  training in this area, the ability to locate
and correct all relevant computer codes, and similar uncertainties.

      If the Company's modifications and replacements are not made on a complete
or timely  basis,  the Year  2000  issue  could  have a  material  impact on the
operations of the Company.


<PAGE>


RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
- ---------------------

o     NET REVENUES

      Net revenues increased to $62.2 million in 1998 from $60.9 million in 1997
and $56.0  million  in 1996,  representing  annual  increases  of 2.1% and 8.7%,
respectively.

      Anatomic  pathology  net revenues  increased to $48.2 million in 1998 from
$43.9  million in 1997 and $37.0  million in 1996,  increases of 9.6% and 18.8%,
respectively.  The revenue growth reflects increased penetration in the anatomic
pathology  area,  including the impact of the PRL  acquisition in February 1998,
offset by pricing reductions.

      Clinical chemistry net revenues decreased over the three-year period, from
$19.0  million  in 1996 to $17.0  million  in 1997 and  $14.0  million  in 1998,
decreases  of  10.9%  and  17.3%,  respectively.  These  decreases  reflect  the
Company's  shifting  emphasis toward anatomic  pathology,  and are the result of
both volume and pricing reductions, the latter reflecting Medicare reimbursement
pressures.

o     COST OF SALES

      Cost  of  sales,  which  consists  primarily  of  laboratory  payroll  and
supplies,  logistics and facility costs, increased to $35.7 million in 1998 from
$31.1 million in 1997 and $26.9 million in 1996. As a percentage of sales,  cost
of sales totaled 57.4%,  51.1% and 48.0% in 1998,  1997 and 1996,  respectively.
The  increased  percentages  of  revenue  represented  by cost of sales  largely
reflects the impact of a mix shift toward  certain  lower margin  services,  the
aforementioned price decreases, and the integration of PRL.

o     GROSS PROFIT

      Gross profit  totaled  $26.5  million in 1998 versus $29.8 million in 1997
and $29.1  million in 1996,  while gross profit  margins  were 42.6%,  48.9% and
52.0%,  respectively.  The  decreases  in gross  profit and margins  reflect the
factors  discussed  above under cost of sales.  Also,  the  increase in anatomic
pathology  sales as a percentage of total sales  results in higher  average unit
pricing with lower gross margin percentages,  due to the higher costs associated
with providing these services.

      The clinical laboratory  industry,  which includes both clinical chemistry
and anatomic  pathology,  has seen steady and  continuing  downward  pressure on
prices exerted by both  government  and private third party payers.  Payment for
services such as those provided by the Company is and will likely continue to be
affected by periodic  reevaluations  made by payers concerning which services to
reimburse or cease reimbursing,  and over time Congress has reduced the national
cap on Medicare  laboratory  fee schedules  (under which the Company's  clinical
chemistry   services  are  reimbursed)  to  74%  of  the  national  median.  The
President's  fiscal year 2000 budget proposes to reduce this cap even further to
72% of the  national  median.  In  addition,  legislation  freezes fee  schedule
payments for the 1998-2002 period.

      With respect to the Company's anatomic pathology  services,  which are not
reimbursed under the Medicare  laboratory fee schedules,  the Medicare fees also
generally declined with the implementation of the resource-based  relative value
scale ("RBRVS") system which went into effect in 1992 and was fully phased in by
the end of 1996. In 1997,  there was an overall decrease of 5.7% in payments for
pathology  services due to a five-year  review of the work value component and a
decrease in the 1997 conversion factor applicable to pathology services, plus an
additional  decrease in Connecticut,  where the Company's primary operations are
located,  because  of  the  Health  Care  Financing   Administration's  ("HCFA")
reduction in the number of different  payment  localities  recognized  for RBRVS
purposes.

      On November 1, 1998,  HCFA  published  its final  Medicare  physician  fee
schedule regulation,  which became effective on January 1, 1999. This regulation
decreased the conversion factor by 5.3% in 1999. It also recalculated  physician
practice expenses, a key component of the RBRVS, to reflect resource consumption
rather than  historical  charge data. The resulting new practice  expense values
will be phased in over the period 1999 to 2002.  While the actual  impact on the
Company's  Medicare  pathology  revenues  will  depend  on the mix of  pathology
services  furnished,  HCFA  estimates  that the new  system  will  decrease  the
Medicare  revenue for  pathologists 13% once it is fully phased in at the end of
the four-year period.  Overall,  these fee schedule changes likely will continue
to have a negative  effect on the  Company's  average  unit  price.  The Company
estimates  that the adverse  impact on  revenues  in 1999 will not be  material,
however.

      The  Balanced  Budget Act of 1997 ("BBA")  contains  measures to establish
market-oriented  purchasing for Medicare,  including prospective payment systems
("PPS") for  outpatient  hospital  services,  home health care, and nursing home
care. Of these systems,  only the skilled nursing  facility ("SNF") PPS has been
implemented. Since the Company does only minimal clinical laboratory testing for
SNF  patients,  this change is not expected to  materially  affect the Company's
business.

      The BBA also directs the  Secretary of the  Department of Health and Human
Services to implement a PPS for hospital outpatient services by January 1, 1999.
Because of Year 2000  computer  problems,  however,  HCFA has  asserted  that it
cannot  implement the  outpatient  PPS until April 1, 2000, at the earliest.  On
September  8, 1998,  HCFA  published a proposed  outpatient  PPS rule that would
carve out clinical  laboratory services from the outpatient PPS rates, but would
include the technical component of surgical pathology  services.  The outpatient
PPS could affect the Company's  revenues for these surgical  pathology  services
depending on the precise details of how and when the PPS is implemented.

      Other potential changes in government and third-party payer reimbursement,
resulting from federal, state or local legislation,  the impact of managed care,
competitive bidding, or other market pressures,  are also likely to continue the
downward pressure on prices and make the market for clinical laboratory services
more  competitive,  which  could in turn have a material  adverse  impact on the
Company's gross profits.

o     SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

      Selling,  general and administrative expenses decreased from $22.9 million
in 1997 to $21.5  million  in 1998,  after  increasing  slightly  over the $22.4
million  incurred  in 1996.  As a  percentage  of sales,  selling,  general  and
administrative  expenses decreased significantly over the three-year period from
40.0% in 1996 to 34.5% in 1998, reflecting the operating leverage resulting from
the PRL  acquisition and general  revenue  growth,  lower marketing  expenses in
1998, and lower selling expenses in the early part of 1998 due to changes in the
sales force. These were offset somewhat by increased  spending  corresponding to
an increase in personnel in the billing department.

o     RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

      Research and development  expenses  decreased to $0.5 million in 1998 from
$1.7  million  in 1997 and $3.2  million  in 1996.  The  higher  expense in 1996
reflects the costs  associated  with  launching the anatomic  pathology  testing
services,  including the cost of building the Company's database.  The reduction
in 1997  reflects the  completion of this launch,  and the further  reduction in
1998 partially  reflects the evolution of certain  developmental test costs from
R&D  into  cost of  sales as  those  tests  have  been  brought  to  market  and
reimbursement rates are currently being established.

o     INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

      Income  from  operations  decreased  to $4.5  million  in 1998,  from $5.2
million  in 1997 and $3.5  million in 1996,  reflecting  the  factors  discussed
above. The relatively modest drop in year-to-date  operating income, despite the
larger  drop in  gross  profit,  partially  reflects  cost  control  initiatives
implemented in anticipation of reimbursement reductions.

o     NET INTEREST INCOME

      Net  interest  income grew to  $682,000 in 1998 from  $522,000 in 1997 and
$307,000 in 1996. This reflects the increased cash and cash equivalent  position
of the Company  over the period,  partially  resulting  from cash  generated  by
operations.

o     PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

      The  provision  for income taxes  decreased to $2.2 million in 1998,  from
$2.4 million in 1997 and $1.6 million in 1996,  while the effective tax rate was
43.2%, 42.2% and 43.0%, respectively.

o     NET INCOME

      Net income decreased 10.4% to $3.0 million,  from $3.3 million in 1997 and
$2.2 million in 1996.  Basic earnings per share  decreased to $0.44 per share in
1998, from $0.51 per share in 1997 and $0.35 per share in 1996. Diluted earnings
per share decreased to $0.43 per share in 1998, from $0.48 per share in 1997 and
$0.35 per share in 1996.


LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES

      At December 31, 1998,  the Company had total cash and cash  equivalents of
$12.1  million,  substantially  all of which was invested in a fund holding U.S.
Treasury  securities with maturities of less than three months.  Working capital
was $24.3  million,  $21.4 million and $18.1  million,  as of December 31, 1998,
1997 and 1996,  respectively and the current ratios were 5.6:1, 3.8:1 and 3.4:1,
respectively.

      Accounts  receivable  (net of  allowances)  totaled  $14.4 million at both
December 31, 1998 and 1997 versus  $15.4 as of December  31, 1996,  representing
approximately 82 days, 90 days and 79 days of average sales, respectively.

      Capital  expenditures  for 1998,  1997 and 1996 were  $2.0  million,  $1.9
million,  and $3.4 million,  respectively.  Expenditures  in 1998 were primarily
related to  information  systems  enhancements,  both  medical and  billing.  In
addition, $360,000 was expended in 1998 toward the acquisition of PRL.

      Effective  February 17, 1998, the Company  entered into a three-year,  $15
million line of credit  agreement  with a bank. The agreement  includes  various
provisions regarding  borrowings under the facility,  including those related to
financial  covenants.  To date, there have been no amounts drawn down under this
line.

      As of December 31, 1998,  the Company holds 222,019 shares of Common Stock
in  treasury at a cost of  approximately  $1.8  million.  In October  1998,  the
Company's  Board of Directors  authorized to repurchase up to an additional  1.5
million shares of the Company's Common Stock, on the open market or in a private
transaction, and that the total expenditures for share repurchases be limited to
an additional $10.0 million,  for a total  authorization  of  approximately  1.7
million shares and $12.0 million in total expenditures. The remaining authorized
repurchases  as of December  31, 1998 is  approximately  1.5 million  shares and
$10.2 million in total expenditures.

      On  January  6,  1999,  the  Company  signed a letter of intent to acquire
substantially  all the assets of Kyto-Meridien  Diagnostics,  LLC, an outpatient
OB/Gyn laboratory with locations in Woodbury and New City, New York. The Company
is in the process of conducting due diligence and, subject to the result of this
process,  expects to close the  acquisition  in the second  quarter of 1999. The
Company plans to finance the acquisition through a combination of available cash
and drawdowns of the  aforementioned  credit line, as well as issuance of Common
Stock, newly issued or treasury shares.

      The Company  believes that cash flows from  operations  and available cash
and cash  equivalents  are  adequate to fund the  Company's  operations  for the
foreseeable future.






<PAGE>



Risk Factors; Forward Looking Statements
- ----------------------------------------

      The  Management's  Discussion  and Analysis and the  information  provided
elsewhere in this 10K (including,  without  limitation,  in the third and fourth
paragraphs of "Item 1.  Business" and under "Gross  Profit" and  "Liquidity  and
Capital  Resources"  above) contain  forward  looking  statements  regarding the
Company's future plans, objectives,  and expected performance.  These statements
are based on  assumptions  that the Company  believes  are  reasonable,  but are
subject  to a wide  range of risks and  uncertainties,  and a number of  factors
could  cause the  Company's  actual  results  to differ  materially  from  those
expressed in the  forward-looking  statements  referred to above.  These factors
include,   among  others,   the   uncertainties  in   reimbursement   rates  and
reimbursement  coverage of various tests sold by the Company to beneficiaries of
the  Medicare  program  (see e.g.  Item 1 - Business -  "Reimbursement");  being
deemed to be not in  compliance  with Federal or state  regulatory  requirements
(see e.g. Item 1 - Business - "Regulatory");  the uncertainties  relating to the
ability of the Company to convince  physicians and/or managed care organizations
to use the Company as a provider of anatomic  pathology  testing  services;  the
ability of the Company to maintain superior quality relative to its competitors;
the ability of the Company to maintain its  hospital-based  business in light of
the competitive pressures and changes occurring in hospital healthcare delivery;
the  uncertainties  relating to states  erecting  barriers to the performance of
anatomic  pathology  testing by  out-of-state  laboratories;  the ability of the
Company  to  find,  attract  and  retain  qualified   management  and  technical
personnel;  the  uncertainties  associated with  competitive  pressures from the
large national laboratories, small specialized laboratories and well established
local  pathologists;  and the  uncertainties  which  would  arise if  integrated
delivery  systems  closed to outside  providers  emerged as the dominant form of
health care delivery.


ITEM 7A.    QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK.

      None


ITEM 8.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTARY DATA

      The  Company's  consolidated  financial  statements  and  schedule and the
reports of independent public accountants  thereon appear beginning on page F-2.
See index to such consolidated financial statements and schedules and reports on
page F-1.


ITEM 9.     CHANGES IN AND DISAGREEMENTS WITH ACCOUNTANTS ON ACCOUNTING
              AND FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE

      None




<PAGE>

                                   PART III

ITEM 10.    DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE OFFICERS OF THE REGISTRANT

      The  following  information  with respect to the  principal  occupation or
employment,  other  affiliations  and business  experience  of each director and
executive  officer  during the last five years has been furnished to the Company
by  such  director  or  executive  officer.  Except  as  indicated,  each of the
directors and executive  officers has had the same principal  occupation for the
last five years.

INFORMATION REGARDING DIRECTORS

      Set forth below is certain information  concerning each director of DIANON
Systems, Inc.

      Kevin C.  Johnson,  age 44, a Director  since May 1996,  is President  and
Chief Executive  Officer of the Company.  Mr. Johnson joined DIANON as President
in May 1996,  and was appointed to the  additional  position of Chief  Executive
Officer in February  1997.  Formerly,  Mr.  Johnson  was with  Corning  Inc.,  a
manufacturer of specialty materials and a provider of laboratory  services,  for
eighteen  years,  serving most recently as Vice President and General Manager of
Corning Clinical Laboratories' Eastern region in Teterboro, New Jersey.

      John P. Davis,  age 57, a Director  since 1984, has served as a consultant
to the  Company  since  October  1,  1998.  Mr.  Davis was  President  and Chief
Executive  Officer of Infant Advantage,  Inc., a child development  company from
December 1997 through June 1998. From May 1995 through  December 1997, Mr. Davis
was  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of  Calypte  Biomedical  Corp.,  a
diagnostic products company. From 1984 to January 1995, Mr. Davis was an officer
of the Company.  Mr.  Davis joined the Company in January 1984 as President  and
Chief Operating Officer,  and subsequently  became co-Chief Executive Officer in
1992 and Chief Executive Officer in 1994. In January 1995, Mr. Davis resigned as
Chief Executive Officer of the Company and became Vice Chairman of the Board. As
of February 1997, Mr. Davis was elected non-executive Chairman of the Board. Mr.
Davis also serves as Chairman of the Board of CytoLogix, Inc.

      James B.  Amberson,  age 47, a Director since January 1995, is Senior Vice
President and Chief Medical  Officer of the Company.  Dr. Amberson joined DIANON
in 1989 as Director,  Cytometry  Business Unit, and has served as Vice President
of  Pathology  Services,  Vice  President  of Medical  Affairs  and Senior  Vice
President and General Manager of the Anatomic  Pathology Unit before his present
position.  Prior to joining the Company, Dr. Amberson was Assistant Professor of
Pathology,  Cornell University Medical College for six years. Dr. Amberson holds
an MD from Johns Hopkins  University and an MBA from Columbia  University School
of Business.

      Bruce K.  Crowther,  age 47, a Director  since December 1997, is President
and  Chief  Executive  Officer  of  Northwest  Community  Healthcare,  Northwest
Community Hospital, in Arlington Heights, Illinois and certain of its affiliates
since  January  1992.  Mr.  Crowther  is a Fellow  of the  American  College  of
Healthcare  Executives,  and  immediate  past -  Chairman  of the  Board  of the
Illinois Hospital and HealthSystems  Association and serves on the Board of both
Chicago Hospital Risk Pooling Program and Wintrust  Financial  Corporation.  Mr.
Crowther received an MBA from Virginia  Commonwealth  University Medical College
in Richmond, VA.

      E. Timothy  Geary,  age 47, a Director  since May 1997, had been Chairman,
President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of National  Surgery  Centers,  Inc. of
Chicago,  Illinois,  the leading  independent  owner and operator of  ambulatory
surgery centers in the country, until its acquisition by HealthSouth Corporation
on July 22, 1998. Prior to founding  National Surgery Centers in 1987, Mr. Geary
served as a Vice  President  with  Medical  Care  International.  Mr. Geary is a
member  of  the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Federated   Ambulatory   Surgery
Association. Mr. Geary holds an MBA and BA from the University of Chicago.

      G. S.  Beckwith  Gilbert,  age 57,  a  Director  since  October  1995,  is
President,  Chief  Executive  Officer  and a  Director  of Field  Point  Capital
Management  Company in Greenwich,  Connecticut,  a merchant  banking  firm.  Mr.
Gilbert is also a partner of Wolsey & Co., a merchant banking firm. In addition,
Mr.  Gilbert is  Chairman,  President  and Chief  Executive  Officer of Megadata
Corporation.  He is a Director of Davidson Hubeny Brands,  Inc. and Kionix, Inc.
Mr. Gilbert is a graduate of Princeton University and holds an MBA from New York
University.  In February  1997,  the Board elected Mr.  Gilbert  Chairman of the
Executive Committee.

      Jeffrey  L.  Sklar,  age 51,  a  Director  since  1994,  is  Professor  of
Pathology,  Harvard  Medical  School,  and  Director,  Divisions  of  Diagnostic
Molecular Biology and of Molecular  Oncology,  Department of Pathology,  Brigham
and Women's Hospital.  Dr. Sklar has served on numerous editorial boards and has
consulted widely to the biotechnology industry. In addition, Dr. Sklar serves on
the Scientific  Advisory  Committee for Clinical  Science,  The Fred  Hutchinson
Cancer Center,  Seattle,  Washington;  the Scientific  Advisory  Committee,  New
England  Primate  Research  Center,  Harvard  University;  the  External  Review
Committee,  Dana-Farber  Cancer  Institute,  Boston,  and the  Pathology B Study
Section,  National  Institutes of Health. Dr. Sklar also serves as a Director of
Transgenomic,  Inc.  and holds an MD and Ph.D.  from Yale  University  and an MA
(honorary) from Harvard University.


COMPENSATION OF DIRECTORS

      Directors  who are not  employees  of the Company are paid $1,500 for each
meeting of the Board of  Directors  attended in person and $500 for each meeting
attended by telephone,  and committee  members are paid $500 for each  committee
meeting  attended  which  does not  occur  on the  same day as a Board  meeting.
Directors are also  reimbursed for expenses to attend  meetings of the Board and
its committees.  In addition, the Company has made payments to Brigham & Women's
Hospital,  Inc.,  for which Dr.  Sklar is a  director,  Division  of  Diagnostic
Molecular  Biology,   Department  of  Pathology.   See  "Compensation  Committee
Interlocks and Insider Participation."

      Commencing January 1, 1998, Mr. Davis and Mr. Gilbert,  in connection with
their  capacities  as  non-Executive  Chairman of the Board and  Chairman of the
Executive  Committee,  respectively,  also  receive  $50,000  annually  (payable
monthly at $4,166) and an annual grant of 3,000 stock options,  at a price equal
to the market value on the date of grant,  pursuant to the Company's  1996 Stock
Incentive Plan. They each also received a one-time grant of 13,000 stock options
in December 1997 pursuant to this same plan, in connection  with their  services
in the aforementioned positions during 1997.

      In addition to his aforementioned  duties,  commencing October 1, 1998 Mr.
Davis began serving as a consultant to the Company,  providing approximately two
days per week of consulting  services and  maintaining an office at the Company.
He works closely with the sales and marketing  functions of the Company,  and is
involved in the planning and development of sales training programs, recruiting,
compensation  planning,  market segmentation,  pricing, and national and managed
care marketing programs. As compensation for these services,  Mr. Davis receives
$50,000  annually  (payable  monthly at $4,166),  in  addition  to his  director
compensation  and in addition  to the  $50,000 he  receives  in his  capacity as
non-Executive   Chairman  of  the  Board.  In  connection  with  his  consulting
arrangement,  Mr. Davis was also paid a relocation  reimbursement of $123,667 in
February  1999,  and will receive in 1999 a payment to reimburse him for the tax
effect of the relocation payment.

      Pursuant to the Company's 1996 Stock Incentive Plan, Directors who are not
employees of the Company receive (i) automatic  initial and quarterly  grants of
stock options with tandem limited stock appreciation rights beginning July 1995,
(ii) automatic quarterly grants of shares of Common Stock beginning January 1997
and (iii)  additional stock options or other awards to the extent granted by the
Board of Directors in its discretion.

      Each initial and  quarterly  stock option which is  automatically  granted
under such plan is  exercisable  for that number of shares  obtained by dividing
$5,000  by the  closing  price of the  Common  Stock on the date of grant and is
exercisable  at that price.  Each such option has a 10-year  term and vests with
respect to 10% of the underlying  shares on the date which is three months after
the date of grant, and an additional 10% at the end of each  three-month  period
thereafter.  Each such  option  can be  exercised  for five  years  following  a
director's  termination  of  service  to the  extent  it  had  vested  prior  to
termination.  Each automatic  quarterly  stock grant is for the number of shares
obtained by dividing $2,000 by the closing price of the Common Stock on the date
of grant, and is fully vested at grant.

      In November 1996, pursuant to authorization by the Board of Directors, the
Company granted to Dr. Sklar an option to purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock
at an exercise price of $6.375 to compensate him for his services as a Director.
Such option vests 40% on grant, and an additional 20% on each of August 4, 1997,
August 4, 1998 and August 4, 1999.  Such grant is a replacement  of an option to
purchase 10,000 shares of Common Stock  authorized by the Board in 1994, but not
accepted by Dr. Sklar at that time due to the  conditions  of his  employment by
Brigham & Women's Hospital,  Inc. In October 1996,  pursuant to authorization by
the Board of Directors,  the Company granted an option to purchase 10,000 shares
of Common  Stock at an  exercise  price of $7.125  per  share to a  director  in
replacement  of options  issued in June 1993 which had the same exercise  price,
were due to expire in June 2000 and were 80%  vested as of June 4, 1997 with the
remaining 20% vesting on June 4, 1998. These replacement  options vested 100% in
October 1996 and expire ten years from the date of grant.

      Mr. Johnson and Dr. Amberson, who are employees of the Company,  receive
no additional compensation for their services as Directors of the Company.

INFORMATION REGARDING EXECUTIVE OFFICERS

      Steven T.  Clayton,  age 32,  has  served as Vice  President,  Information
Services  since he joined the  Company in  December  1996.  Prior to joining the
Company,  Mr.  Clayton was with  Corning  Clinical  Laboratories  for nine years
serving most recently as the Midwest Regional  Director of Information  Systems.
Mr. Clayton holds an ASM from Thomas Edison State College.

      Valerie  B.  Palmieri,  age 37,  has  served  as Vice  President,  Service
Operations since November 1998. Ms. Palmieri joined the Company in December 1987
as a Medical  Technologist  and  subsequently  served as Laboratory  Supervisor,
Operations Laboratory Manager,  Director of Operations,  Clinical Pathology, and
Director of Service Operations.  Prior to joining the Company,  Ms. Palmieri was
with Park City and Bridgeport Hospital as a Medical  Technologist.  Ms. Palmieri
holds a BS from Western Connecticut State University.

      David R. Schreiber, age 39, has served as Senior Vice President,  Finance,
Chief  Financial  Officer and Corporate  Secretary  since  November 1996 when he
joined  the  Company.   Formerly,   Mr.  Schreiber  was  with  Corning  Clinical
Laboratories,  a provider of  laboratory  services,  for 10 years,  serving most
recently as Vice  President  and  General  Manager of the  laboratory's  Midwest
region. Mr. Schreiber holds an MBA from Northern Illinois University.

      Martin  J.  Stefanelli,  age 38,  has  served as  Senior  Vice  President,
Operations  since  October  1998.  He  previously   served  as  Vice  President,
Laboratory  Operations.  Mr.  Stefanelli joined the Company in January 1990 as a
Sales  Representative and subsequently  served as Logistics  Manager,  Marketing
Manager and  Director of  Operations,  Anatomic  Pathology.  Before  joining the
Company,  Mr.  Stefanelli was a captain in the U.S. Army. Mr. Stefanelli holds a
BS from the United States Military Academy.

      For information with respect to Mr. Johnson and Dr. Amberson, who are also
directors,  see ITEM 10.  DIRECTORS AND EXECUTIVE  OFFICERS OF THE  REGISTRANT -
Information Regarding Directors.

SECTION 16(A) BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP REPORTING COMPLIANCE

      Section  16(a)  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act  of  1934  requires  the
Company's  directors and executive  officers,  and persons who own more than ten
percent of a registered class of the Company's equity  securities,  to file with
the Securities and Exchange  Commission initial reports of ownership and reports
of changes in  ownership  of Common  Stock and other  equity  securities  of the
Company.  Officers,  directors  and greater  than ten percent  shareholders  are
required  to furnish the  Company  with  copies of all Section  16(a) forms they
file.

      To the Company's  knowledge,  based solely on review of the copies of such
reports furnished to the Company and representations  that no other reports were
required  during the fiscal year ended  December  31,  1998,  all Section  16(a)
reporting  requirements  applicable to its officers,  directors and greater than
ten percent beneficial shareholders were complied with except for the following:
Dr. Amberson,  Mr. Clayton, Mr. Fanuko, Mr. Johnson, Ms. Palmieri, Mr. Schreiber
and Mr.  Stefanelli  each who was late in filing one grant issued on October 28,
1998 and Mr. Barry (formerly Vice President of Marketing and  Technology)  filed
one late report with respect to one transaction.


<PAGE>



ITEM 11.    EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION

      The following table sets forth  information  with respect to the following
named executive  officers:  (i) the person who served as Chief Executive Officer
("CEO") during 1998 and (ii) the four most highly compensated executive officers
other than the CEO serving at December 31, 1998 whose total salary and bonus for
1998 exceeded $100,000.

                          SUMMARY COMPENSATION TABLE

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Long Term
                              Annual Compensation                         Compensation
                          ---------------------------                      ------------
                                                                 Other       Securities                
       Name and                                                  Annual      Underlying      All Other
  Principal Position      Year      Salary       Bonus        Compensation    Options      Compensation  
  ------------------      ----      ------       -----        ------------    -------      ------------
<S>                       <C>      <C>           <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
Kevin C. Johnson          1998     $295,773     $    --       $  --            40,000        $184,599 (1)
President, Chief          1997      281,939       82,378         --              --           158,360
Executive Officer and     1996      174,520       94,000         --           200,000           1,507
  Director           


James B. Amberson, M.D    1998      239,200          --          --            12,000          10,568 (2)
Senior Vice President,    1997      238,790       35,451         --            20,000           2,630
  Chief Medical Officer   1996      200,013       47,869         --            15,000           2,530
  and Director

David R. Schreiber        1998      195,582          --          --            20,000           6,124 (3)
Senior Vice President     1997      191,170       65,702         --            20,000         149,167
Finance, Chief Financial  1996       29,231       80,000         --            50,000           1,742 
  Officer and Corporate   
  Secretary

Steven T. Clayton         1998      127,211          --          --             5,000          43,613 (4)
Vice President,           1997      120,000       35,568         --            15,000          73,073
  Information Services    1996        6,923       14,000         --            15,000              --

John S. Fanuko (5)        1998      120,046       20,000(6)      --            30,000              77 (7)
Vice President, Finance   1997         --            --          --              --                --
  and Corporate           1996         --            --          --              --                --
  Controller

</TABLE>

<PAGE>

(1)   The $184,599  indicated for Mr. Johnson  represents:  (i) a stock grant of
      15,000  shares  of  Common  Stock on  January  2,  1998 at a market  value
      totaling $146,250; (ii) a loan forgiveness aggregating $30,000 pursuant to
      Mr.  Johnson's  employment  agreement;  (iii) an auto allowance of $5,214;
      (iv) contributions of $1,600 paid by the Company pursuant to the Company's
      401(K)  Retirement  Plan; and (v) term life  insurance  premiums of $1,535
      paid by the Company.

(2)   The $10,568  indicated for Dr.  Amberson  represents an auto  allowance of
      $8,028,  contributions  of  $1,600  paid by the  Company  pursuant  to the
      Company's 401(K) Retirement Plan, and term life insurance premiums of $940
      paid by the Company.

(3)   The $6,124  indicated for Mr.  Schreiber  represents an auto  allowance of
      $4,440,  contributions  of  $1,600  paid by the  Company  pursuant  to the
      Company's 401(K)  Retirement Plan and term life insurance  premiums of $84
      paid by the Company.

(4)   The $43,613  indicated  for Mr.  Clayton  represents  relocation  costs of
      $12,267,  a tax  reimbursement  of $31,262 related to relocation costs and
      term life insurance premiums of $84 paid by the Company.

(5)   Mr.  Fanuko  joined the Company in January 1998 as Vice  President-Finance
      and Corporate Controller and resigned from the Company in March 1999.

(6)   The $20,000 indicated  for Mr. Fanuko represents a sign-on bonus.

(7)   The $77 indicated for Mr. Fanuko  represents term life insurance  premiums
      paid by the Company.





<PAGE>

      STOCK OPTIONS

      The  following  table  shows,  as to the named  executive  officers of the
Company,  information  about option grants in the last fiscal year. The Company,
as of  December  31,  1998,  has not granted  any Stock  Appreciation  Rights to
officers.

                        INDIVIDUAL GRANTS
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>                                                                                        
                                                                                          POTENTIAL REALIZABLE 
                                                                                            VALUE AT ASSUMED   
                                                                                            ANNUAL RATES OF   
                           NUMBER OF       % OF TOTAL                                         STOCK PRICE       
                           SECURITIES        OPTIONS        EXERCISE                        APPRECIATION FOR    
                           UNDERLYING      GRANTED TO          OR                              OPTION TERM      
                            OPTIONS         EMPLOYEES       BASE PRICE       EXPIRATION   --------------------    
        NAME                GRANTED(#)       IN 1998        ($/SHARE)           DATE        5%($)      10%($)
        ----               ----------        -------        ---------           ----      -------      -------    
<S>                        <C>                   <C>         <C>           <C>            <C>         <C>
James B. Amberson, M.D.    12,000 (2)            5%         $6.875         10/28/2008     $51,884     $131,484
Steven T. Clayton           5,000 (2)            2%          6.875         10/28/2008      21,618       54,785
John S. Fanuko             15,000 (1)            6%          8.750         01/09/2008      82,542      209,179
John S. Fanuko             15,000 (2)            6%          6.875         10/28/2008      64,855      164,355
Kevin C. Johnson           40,000 (2)           16%          6.875         10/28/2008     172,946      438,279
David R. Schreiber         20,000 (2)            8%          6.875         10/28/2008      86,473      219,140
</TABLE>
                                                                                
(1)   In January  1998,  the  Company  granted  Mr.  John S.  Fanuko  options to
      purchase  15,000  shares of Common Stock at $8.75 per share when he joined
      the  Company.  These  options vest 40% in January 2000 and 20% during each
      year thereafter. Upon termination,  all unvested options are cancelled and
      all vested options expire 90 days after termination of employment.
(2)   In October  1998,  the Company  granted  certain  employees  and  officers
      options to purchase  217,000  shares of Common  Stock at $6.875 per share.
      These  options  vest  40%  in  October  2000  and  20%  during  each  year
      thereafter.  Upon termination,  all unvested options are cancelled and all
      vested options expire 90 days after termination of employment.


<PAGE>



      The following  table shows aggregate  option  exercises in the last fiscal
year and fiscal  year-end option values for the named  executive  officers.  The
Company, as of December 31, 1998, has not granted any Stock Appreciation Rights.

    AGGREGATED OPTION EXERCISES IN LAST FISCAL YEAR AND FY-END OPTION VALUES

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        Value   
                                       Realized 
                                       (Market  
                                        Price                                    Value of Unexercised
                                        Shares       Number of Securities     In-the-money Options At Fy-
                                       Exercise     Underlying Unexercised    End (based on FY-End Price
                         Acquired        Less         Options At Fy-end (#)     of $9.00/Share) ($) (1)
                            On         Exercise                               ----------------------------    
        Name            Exercise(#)    Price)($)    Exercisable  Unexercisable  Exercisable    Unexercisable
        ----            -----------    ---------    -----------  -------------  -----------    -------------
<S>                      <C>             <C>           <C>         <C>           <C>              <C>
James B. Amberson, M.D.      --          $ --          46,300       57,200       $189,777         $113,708
Steven T. Clayton            --            --           6,000       29,000          6,750           24,500
John S. Fanuko               --            --               0       30,000              0           35,625
Kevin C. Johnson             --            --          80,000      160,000        265,000          482,500
David R. Schreiber           --            --          20,000       70,000         47,500          118,750
</TABLE>
                                                     
(1)  Computed  based upon  difference  between  aggregate  fair market value and
     aggregate exercise price.


 EMPLOYMENT AND SEVERANCE AGREEMENTS

      The Company  entered into an employment  agreement with Mr. Johnson on May
2, 1996.  The  agreement  provides for Mr.  Johnson to serve as President of the
Company at an initial base salary of $275,000 per annum, the grant of options to
purchase  200,000  shares of Common  Stock with a 10-year  term and an  exercise
price of $5.69, stock grants of 15,000 shares of Common Stock on January 2, 1997
and 15,000  additional shares on January 2, 1998, a signing bonus of $50,000 and
a loan of $150,000. The loan carries an interest rate of 5.9%, payable annually,
and is repayable upon termination of Mr. Johnson's  employment with the Company.
If Mr.  Johnson  continues to be employed with the Company,  the loan  principal
will be forgiven at the rate of $2,500 per completed  month of  employment  from
January 31, 1998 through December 31, 2002. This agreement  provides that in the
event of a termination of Mr.  Johnson's  employment  other than for "Cause," as
defined in the agreement,  he is entitled to receive one year's salary and other
benefits.  Subject to the foregoing, this agreement is subject to termination at
will by either party.

      The Company  entered into an employment  agreement with David R. Schreiber
on September 30, 1996 as the Chief Financial  Officer and Senior Vice President,
Finance.  The  agreement  provides  for an initial  base salary of $190,000  per
annum,  the grant of options to purchase  50,000  shares of Common  Stock with a
10-year term and an exercise  price of $6.625,  a signing bonus of $80,000 and a
stock grant of 7,500  shares of Common  Stock on April 1, 1997.  This  agreement
provides that in the event of a termination of Mr. Schreiber's  employment other
than for  "Cause,"  as defined in the  agreement,  he is entitled to receive one
year's salary (and certain other benefits) if such termination occurs within the
first year of  employment or six months after the Company is acquired by another
business  entity,  or six month's  salary (and certain  other  benefits) if such
termination occurs after such period.  Subject to the foregoing,  this agreement
is subject to termination at will by either party.

      The Company  entered into an  agreement  with James B.  Amberson,  M.D. on
September 1, 1996,  which  provides that  following a "Change in Control" of the
Company, as defined in the agreement, if Dr. Amberson's employment is terminated
other than for "Cause," as defined in the  agreement,  he is entitled to receive
one year's salary and bonus and all his stock options will vest completely.  Dr.
Amberson's  agreement  expires in  September  2001 and is subject to  successive
automatic one-year renewals thereafter (unless certain notice is given).

      The  Company  also  entered  into an  employment  agreement  with James B.
Amberson, M.D. on September 1, 1996. Pursuant to such agreement, Dr. Amberson is
entitled to a salary as  determined by the Company and other  employee  benefits
made available by the Company to its employees.  This agreement provides that in
the event of a termination of Dr.  Amberson's  employment for other than "Stated
Cause" (as  defined in the  agreement),  he is  entitled  to receive six month's
salary and other benefits.  Subject to the foregoing,  this agreement is subject
to termination at will by either party.

       The Company  entered into an employment  agreement with Steven T. Clayton
on November 18, 1996 as Vice President, Information Services of the Company. The
agreement  provides for an initial base salary of $120,000 per annum,  a signing
bonus of $14,000  and the grant of options to purchase  15,000  shares of Common
Stock with a 10-year term and an exercise price of $7.875.

       COMPENSATION COMMITTEE INTERLOCKS AND INSIDER PARTICIPATION


      Dr.  Sklar  served  as a  member  of  the  Compensation  Committee  of the
Company's  Board of  Directors  during  the last  completed  fiscal  year and is
continuing to serve as such in the 1999 fiscal year. In 1995 the Company entered
into a three-year  research  and  development  agreement  with Brigham & Women's
Hospital,  Inc.,  for  which  Dr.  Sklar is  director,  Division  of  Diagnostic
Molecular Biology,  Department of Pathology.  The agreement required the Company
to make quarterly payments of $30,000 in exchange for an option to obtain rights
in certain existing inventions as well as inventions developed during the course
of the research in the areas of cancer detection and diagnosis. The research was
to be conducted by Dr.  Sklar.  The Company paid $8,000,  $60,000,  $120,000 and
$60,000 under this agreement in 1998,  1997,  1996 and 1995,  respectively.  The
Company terminated this agreement effective as of June 30, 1997 and has made all
required payments.  In addition,  the Company made payments to Brigham & Women's
Hospital, Inc. of $30,000 in 1996 for consulting services.


       COMPENSATION COMMITTEE REPORT ON EXECUTIVE COMPENSATION


       The  information  required by this item is  included in the  registrant's
definitive  proxy statement for the 1998 Annual Meeting of  Shareholders  and is
incorporated herein by reference.

<PAGE>

ITEM 12.    SECURITY OWNERSHIP OF CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS AND MANAGEMENT

OWNERSHIP OF VOTING STOCK BY CERTAIN BENEFICIAL OWNERS

      The  following  table  sets  forth  information  with  respect to the only
persons who, to the best knowledge of the Company as derived from Schedules 13F,
13D and 13G filed by such persons,  beneficially owned more than five percent of
the Common Stock of the Company as of March 4, 1999. Unless otherwise  indicated
below,  each person  included in the table has sole voting and investment  power
with respect to all shares included therein.

                                           Amount and Nature     Percent  
                   Name and Address of       of Beneficial         of       
Title of Class       Beneficial Owner         Ownership          Class(1) 
- --------------       ----------------         ---------          -------- 
Common Stock   G. S. Beckwith Gilbert et al   1,809,452 (2)(3)    27.5% (3)
               66 Field Point Road
               Greenwich, CT 06830

Common Stock   Oracle Management Partners,      688,400           10.5%
               Inc. and Affiliates
               712 E 5th Avenue - 45th Floor
               New York, NY  10019

Common Stock   John M. Bryan et al              356,412            5.4%
               Bryan and Edwards
               600 Montgomery Street - 
               35th Floor San Francisco, CA 94111

(1)  For the purposes of this table,  "Percent of Class" held by each person has
     been  calculated  based on a total class equal to the sum of (i)  6,567,915
     shares of Common  Stock issued and  outstanding  on March 4, 1999 plus (ii)
     for such  person  the  number of shares of Common  Stock  subject  to stock
     options or warrants  presently  exercisable,  or exercisable within 60 days
     after March 4, 1999,  held by that person,  and which percent is rounded to
     the nearest whole number.
(2)  Mr. Gilbert has shared voting and investment  power with respect to 121,951
     shares included in the table above.
(3)  As of March 4, 1999,  Mr.  Gilbert cannot vote,  without  restriction,  any
     Common Stock or other voting securities of the Company  beneficially  owned
     by him  representing  greater  than 20% of the  total  voting  power of the
     Company's  voting  securities  outstanding  from time to time, or 1,313,583
     votes as of March 4, 1999.  Excess  votes above this amount are required to
     be voted in proportion to the votes cast by all other  shareholders  of the
     Company.

<PAGE>

OWNERSHIP OF VOTING STOCK BY MANAGEMENT

       The following table gives information concerning the beneficial ownership
of the  Company's  Common Stock as of March 4, 1999 by each director and each of
the executive  officers named in the summary  compensation table and all current
directors and executive officers (as of March 4, 1999) as a group.

                                Total Shares                           
                                Beneficially    Direct    Right to   Percent of
Beneficial Owners                Owned(1)(2)   Ownership  Acquire(3)  Class(4)
- -----------------                -----------   ---------  ----------  --------

James B. Amberson, M.D.              95,384      31,402     46,300      1.4%
Steven T. Clayton                     6,000          --      6,000        -- (5)
Bruce K. Crowther                     2,339       1,196      1,143        -- (5)
John P. Davis                       242,675     118,325    124,350      3.6%
John S. Fanuko                           --          --         --        -- (5)
E. Timothy Geary                      3,595       1,642      1,953        -- (5)
G. S. Beckwith Gilbert            1,809,452   1,802,105      7,347     27.5% (6)
Kevin C. Johnson                    168,340      30,658    120,000      2.5%
David R. Schreiber                   45,182       7,500     20,000        -- (5)
Jeffrey L. Sklar, M.D., Ph.D.        18,371       2,105     16,266        -- (5)

All current directors and
  executive officers as a         2,363,274   1,994,985    350,607     34.2%
  group (12 persons)

(1)  The information as to beneficial ownership is based on statements furnished
     to the Company by its  executive  officers and  directors.  Each  executive
     officer and director has sole voting and sole investment power with respect
     to his respective shares listed above,  except that the shares reported for
     Mr. Gilbert  include  121,951 shares which are held by a trust of which Mr.
     Gilbert is a trustee,  as to which Mr. Gilbert shares voting and investment
     powers.  Amounts  shown for each of Messrs.  Johnson and  Schreiber and Dr.
     Amberson  include  17,682  shares held in the Company's  401(K)  Retirement
     Plan, as to which such officers share voting power as trustees of such plan
     and each individual plan participant has investment  power,  subject to the
     terms of such plan, of the shares in his account;  such amount includes 658
     shares in Mr. Johnson's account.
(2)  Includes shares listed under the captions "Direct  Ownership" and "Right to
     Acquire," as well as shares held in the Company's  401(K)  Retirement  Plan
     which are beneficially  owned by the named  individuals as trustees of such
     plan but as to which such trustees have no economic interest.
(3)  Individuals  have the right to acquire these shares within 60 days of March
     4, 1999 by the  exercise of stock  options or through  purchases  under the
     Company's Employee Stock Purchase Plan.
(4)  For the purposes of this table,  "Percent of Class" held by each individual
     has  been  calculated  based  on a  total  class  equal  to the  sum of (i)
     6,567,915  shares of Common Stock issued and  outstanding  on March 4, 1999
     plus (ii) for such  individual the number of shares of Common Stock subject
     to stock options presently exercisable, or exercisable within 60 days after
     March 4, 1999, held by that individual, and which percent is rounded to the
     nearest whole number.
(5) Owns less than 1% of the outstanding Common Stock.
(6)  As of March 4, 1999,  Mr.  Gilbert cannot vote,  without  restriction,  any
     Common Stock or other voting securities of the Company  beneficially  owned
     by him  representing  greater  than 20% of the  total  voting  power of the
     Company's  voting  securities  outstanding  from time to time, or 1,313,583
     votes as of March 4, 1999.  Excess  votes above this amount are required to
     be voted in proportion to the votes cast by all other  shareholders  of the
     Company.



<PAGE>




ITEM 13.    CERTAIN RELATIONSHIPS AND RELATED TRANSACTIONS

      See Item 11 - Executive Compensation - "Compensation  Committee Interlocks
and  Insider  Participation"  and Notes 6 and 13 of the  Company's  consolidated
financial statements included herewith.

      Pursuant  to his  employment  agreement,  the  President  of  the  Company
received a loan in 1996 totaling $150,000 which bears interest at 5.9%,  payable
annually,  and is repayable upon termination of his employment with the Company.
In addition,  the loan  principal will be forgiven at a rate of $2,500 per month
over the period January 1998 through December 2002 if the President continues to
be employed by the Company.


<PAGE>





                                   PART IV



ITEM 14.    EXHIBITS, FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K

(a)   Financial Statements, Financial Statement Schedules Filed.

      1)    Financial  Statements  -  See  accompanying  Consolidated  Financial
            Statements and Schedules, Pages F-1 through F-18.

      2)    Financial  Statement  Schedules  -  See  accompanying   Consolidated
            Financial Statements and Schedules, Pages F-1 through F-18.

      3)    Exhibits - Refer to 14(c) below.

(b)   The  Company  filed no reports  on Form 8-K in the fourth  quarter of 1998
      with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

(c)   Exhibit Index


3.1   Restated  Certificate of Incorporation of the Company,  as amended through
      June  12,  1991   (incorporated   by  reference  to  Exhibit  3.1  of  the
      Registrant's Registration Statement No. 33-41226).
3.2   Restated  By-Laws of the  Company,  as amended  through  October  24, 1996
      (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Registrant's Registration
      Statement No. 333-18817).
3.3   Restated  By-Laws of the  Company,  as amended  through  February  2, 1997
      (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 of the Registrant's Registration
      Statement No. 333-18817).
10.1  Consulting  Agreement,  dated August 4, 1989, between DIANON Systems, Inc.
      and Nonda Katopodis,  Ph.D.  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.7 of
      the Registrant's Registration Statement No. 33-41226).**
10.2  Executive  Vesting  Agreement,  dated as of June 11, 1991,  between DIANON
      Systems,  Inc. and James B. Amberson,  M.D.  (incorporated by reference to
      Exhibit 10.13 of the Registrant's Registration Statement No. 33-41226).**
10.3  1991 Stock Incentive Plan  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 10.17 of
      the Registrant's Registration Statement No. 33-41226).**
10.4  Management  Incentive Plan  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.18 of
      the Registrant's Registration Statement No. 33-41226).**
10.5  Stock  Option  Grant  to  Walter  O.  Fredericks,  dated  April  27,  1990
      (incorporated   by  reference  to  Exhibit   10.23  of  the   Registrant's
      Registration Statement No. 33-41226).**
10.6  Stock  Option  Grant  to  Richard  A.   Sandberg,   dated  June  12,  1991
      (incorporated   by  reference  to  Exhibit   10.24  of  the   Registrant's
      Registration Statement No. 33-41226).**
10.7  Stock  Option  Grant  to  Richard  A.   Sandberg,   dated  June  12,  1991
      (incorporated   by  reference  to  Exhibit   10.25  of  the   Registrant's
      Registration Statement No. 33-41226).**
10.8  Lease  Agreement,  made as of February 14, 1989,  between Watson Boulevard
      Development Limited Partnership,  as lessor, and DIANON Systems,  Inc., as
      lessee,  for premises  located at 200 Watson  Boulevard  (incorporated  by
      reference to Exhibit 10.29 of the Registrant's  Registration Statement No.
      33-41226).
10.9  License Agreement,  dated June 9, 1983, between Sloan-Kettering  Institute
      for Cancer Research and N-K Laboratories Limited Partnership (incorporated
      by reference to Exhibit 10.30 of the Registrant's  Registration  Statement
      No. 33-41226).
10.10 License  Agreement,  dated July 29, 1987,  between University of Rochester
      and DIANON Systems,  Inc.  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 10.32 of
      the Registrant's Registration Statement No. 33-41226).
10.11 Development  Agreement,  effective September 25, 1987, between Connecticut
      Product Development  Corporation and DIANON Systems, Inc. (incorporated by
      reference to Exhibit 10.33 of the Registrant's  Registration Statement No.
      33-41226).


<PAGE>

Exhibit Index (continued)

10.12 Stock  Option  Grant to James B.  Amberson,  M.D.,  dated  April 23,  1991
      (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 28.1 to the  Registrant's  Quarterly
      Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1991).**
10.13 Stock Option Grant to Richard A. Sandberg, dated June 12, 1991, as amended
      (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit  10.37 to the  Registrant's  Annual
      Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1991).**
10.14 Asset  Purchase  Agreement,  dated  April  30,  1993,  by  and  among  the
      Registrant and Molecular Oncology, Inc., and Oncologix, Inc. (incorporated
      by reference to Exhibit 1.1 to the  Registrant's  Form 8-K dated April 30,
      1993, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 14, 1993).
10.15 Asset Purchase Agreement, dated June 29, 1993, by and among the Registrant
      and Collaborative Research, Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 1.2
      to the  Registrant's  Form  8-K  dated  June  29,  1993,  filed  with  the
      Securities and Exchange Commission on July 13, 1993).
10.16 Term Loan Agreement,  dated July 14, 1993, by and among the Registrant and
      the Union Trust Company (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.34 to the
      Registrant's  Annual Report on Form 10-K/A  Amendment 1 for the year ended
      December 31, 1993,  filed with the Securities  and Exchange  Commission on
      April 28, 1994).
10.17 Rights  Agreement,  dated April 29, 1994, by and among the  Registrant and
      American  Stock  and  Trust  Company,  as Rights  Agent  (incorporated  by
      reference to Exhibit 1 to the Registrant's  Form 8-K dated April 29, 1994,
      filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on May 9, 1994).
10.18 Severance  Agreement,  dated January 20, 1995, by and among the Registrant
      and John P. Davis  (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.36 to the
      Registrant's  Annual  Report on Form 10-K for the year ended  December 31,
      1995,  filed with the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  on March 29,
      1996).**
10.19 Employment  Agreement,  dated May 3, 1996, by the  Registrant and Kevin C.
      Johnson  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 10.37 to the  Registrant's
      Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 1996).**
10.20 Executive Employment Agreement, dated September 1, 1996, by the Registrant
      and Richard A. Sandberg (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.38 to the
      Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September
      30, 1996).**
10.21 Employment Agreement, dated September 1, 1996, by the Registrant and James
      B.  Amberson,  M.D.  (incorporated  by reference  to Exhibit  10.39 to the
      Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September
      30, 1996).**
10.22 Executive Employment Agreement, dated September 1, 1996, by the Registrant
      and James B. Amberson, M.D. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.40 to
      the  Registrant's  Quarterly  Report  on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended
      September 30, 1996).**
10.23 Severance Agreement,  dated September 27, 1996, by the Registrant and Carl
      R. Iberger (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 10.41 to the Registrant's
      Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996).**
10.24 Employment Agreement, dated September 30,1996, by the Registrant and David
      R.  Schreiber   (incorporated   by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.42  to  the
      Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September
      30, 1996).**
10.25 Employment  Agreement,  dated  November 18, 1996,  by the  registrant  and
      Steven T. Clayton.**
10.26 Severance  Agreement dated November 18, 1996, by the registrant and Daniel
      J. Cronin, III.**
10.27 Amendment  dated as of  October  4, 1995 to Rights  Agreement  dated as of
      April 29, 1994  between the  Registrant  and American  Stock  Transfer and
      Trust Company, as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to Exhibit No. 1
      to the  Registrant's  Form 8-K  dated  October  30,  1996  filed  with the
      Securities and Exchange Commission on November 8, 1995).
10.28 1996 Stock Incentive Plan  (incorporated by reference to Appendix A to the
      Registrant's  Statement  on  Schedule  14A filed with the  Securities  and
      Exchange Commission on September 23, 1996).**
10.29 Stock and Warrant Purchase  Agreement,  dated as of October 4, 1995, among
      the Gilbert Family Trust, the G. S. Beckwith  Gilbert I.R.A.  Contributory
      Account, G. S. Beckwith Gilbert and the Registrant.
10.30 Registration  Rights  Agreement,  dated as of October  4, 1995,  among the
      Gilbert  Family Trust,  the G. S.  Beckwith  Gilbert  I.R.A.  Contributory
      Account, G. S. Beckwith Gilbert and the Registrant.
10.31 Warrant No. 1, dated as of October 4, 1995, by the  Registrant in favor of
      G. S. Beckwith.
10.32 Promissory Note, dated October 4, 1995, by G. S. Beckwith Gilbert in favor
      of the Registrant.
10.33 Stock Option Grant dated  October 24, 1996 by the  Registrant  to Andre de
      Bruin.**

<PAGE>

Exhibit Index (continued)

10.34 Stock Option Grant dated  November 4, 1996 by the Registrant to Jeffrey M.
      Sklar, M.D., Ph.D.**
10.35 Loan  Agreement  dated  December  3,  1996 by the  Registrant  to Kevin C.
      Johnson).**
10.36 Form of  standard  Stock  Option  Grant  for  outside  directors.**  
10.37 Amendment  to  Warrant  Certificate  No.  W-1 dated as of  October 2, 1996
      between the Registrant and G. S. Beckwith Gilbert.
10.38 Severance  Agreement dated February 27, 1997 by the Registrant and Richard
      A. Sandberg.**
10.39 Amendment   dated  April  30,  1997  by  the  Registrant  and  Richard  A.
      Sandberg.**
10.40 Security  Agreement  dated April 30, 1997 by the Registrant and Richard A.
      Sandberg.**
10.41 Secured Promissory Note dated April 30, 1997 by the Registrant and Richard
      A. Sandberg.**
10.42 Non-Compete Agreement dated September 3, 1997 by the Registrant and Vernon
      L. Wells.**
10.43 Severance  Agreement dated September 15, 1997 by the Registrant and Robert
      C. Verfurth.**
10.44 Consulting and  Proprietary  Information  and Inventions  Agreement  dated
      October 1, 1997 by the Registrant and Jeffrey L. Sklar, M.D., Ph.D.
10.45 Severance Agreement dated January 27, 1998 by the Registrant and Vernon L.
      Wells.**
11.1  Statement re: computation of per share earnings. *
22.1  List of Subsidiaries of the Company  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
      22.1 of the Registrant's Registration Statement No. 33-41226).
23.1  Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP (filed herewith).
27.1  Financial Data Schedule.
- --------------

      *     Not applicable or contained elsewhere herein.
      **    A management  contract or compensatory plan or arrangement  required
            to be filed as an  exhibit  to this form  pursuant  to Item 14(c) of
            this report.


<PAGE>

                                  SIGNATURES

      Pursuant to  the  requirements  of Section  13 or 15(d) of the  Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on
its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

DATED:    March 19, 1999

                                   DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.

                                   By: /s/ KEVIN C. JOHNSON
                                       ----------------------------------    
                                       Kevin C. Johnson,
                                       President and Chief Executive Officer

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities  Exchange Act of 1934, this
report  has  been  signed  below  by the  following  persons  on  behalf  of the
Registrant and in the capacities and on the dates indicated.

      Signature                            Title                        Date
      ---------                            -----                        ----
 
      /s/ KEVIN C. JOHNSON              President and             March 19, 1999
      --------------------------------- Chief Executive Officer            
      Kevin C. Johnson                  and a Director                     
                                        (Principal Executive 
                                        Office)

      /s/ DAVID R. SCHREIBER            Senior Vice  President,   March 19, 1999
      --------------------------------- Finance and  Chief 
      David R. Schreiber                Financial Officer                  
                                        (Principal Financial  
                                        and Accounting Officer)

      /s/ JOHN P. DAVIS                 Chairman of the Board     March 19, 1999
      ---------------------------------                                       
      John P. Davis

      /s/ G. S. BECKWITH GILBERT        Director and Chairman     March 19, 1999
      --------------------------------- of the Executive   
      G. S. Beckwith Gilbert            Committee
                              

      /s/ JAMES B. AMBERSON, M.D.       Director, Chief Medical   March 19, 1999
      --------------------------------- Officer and Senior Vice  
      James B. Amberson, M.D.           President                
                                   

      /s/ BRUCE K. CROWTHER             Director                  March 19, 1999
      ---------------------------------
      Bruce K. Crowther

      /s/ E. TIMOTHY GEARY              Director                  March 19, 1999
      ---------------------------------
      E. Timothy Geary

      /s/ JEFFREY L. SKLAR, M.D., Ph.D. Director                  March 19, 1999
      ---------------------------------                        
      Jeffrey L. Sklar, M.D., Ph.D.

<PAGE>



                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
            INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND SCHEDULES



                                                                  Page
                                                                  ----

Report of Independent Public Accountants                          F-2

Consolidated Balance Sheets as of December 31, 1998 and 1997      F-3 & F-4

Consolidated Statements of Operations for the Years Ended
December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996                                  F-5

Consolidated Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the
Years Ended December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996                      F-6

Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the Years Ended
December 31, 1998, 1997 and 1996                                  F-7 & F-8

Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                        F-9 to F-18


Schedules:

Report of Independent Public Accountants                          F-19

Schedule II - Valuation and Qualifying Accounts                   F-20

      All other  schedules  required by Regulation S-X have been omitted because
they are not  applicable or because the required  information is included in the
consolidated financial statements or notes thereto.



<PAGE>



                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS



To DIANON Systems, Inc.:

      We have audited the  accompanying  consolidated  balance  sheets of DIANON
Systems,  Inc. (a Delaware corporation) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 1998
and 1997, and the related consolidated  statements of operations,  stockholders'
equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period  ended  December
31, 1998.  These financial  statements are the  responsibility  of the Company's
management.  Our  responsibility  is to express  an  opinion on these  financial
statements based on our audits.

      We conducted our audits in accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material
misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting
the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements.  An audit also includes
assessing the  accounting  principles  used and  significant  estimates  made by
management,  as well as evaluating the overall financial statement presentation.
We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.

      In our opinion, the financial statements referred to above present fairly,
in all material  respects,  the financial  position of DIANON Systems,  Inc. and
subsidiaries  as of  December  31,  1998  and  1997  and the  results  of  their
operations  and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended
December 31, 1998 in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles.

      As explained in Note 3 to the financial  statements,  effective January 1,
1998,  the Company  changed its method of accounting  for  internally  developed
software  costs to conform with Statement of Position 98-1  "Accounting  for the
Costs of Computer Software Developed or Obtained for Internal Use."



                              ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP



Stamford, Connecticut,
February 23, 1999


<PAGE>




                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                        CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF
                           DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                        1998         1997
                                                     -------------------------
    ASSETS

CURRENT ASSETS:
<S>                                                  <C>           <C>         
   Cash and cash equivalents                         $12,126,076   $12,401,062 
   Accounts receivable, net of allowances of
      $1,033,059 and $1,292,095, at December 31,
      1998 and 1997, respectively                     14,403,878    14,444,767
   Prepaid expenses and employee advances              1,007,577       529,887
   Inventory                                             981,647       729,658
   Deferred income taxes                               1,047,118     1,016,797
                                                     --------------------------
        Total current assets                          29,566,296    29,122,171
                                                     --------------------------

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, at cost
   Laboratory and office equipment                    10,367,848     8,489,323  
   Leasehold improvements                              3,786,759     3,676,200  
     Less - accumulated depreciation and
      amortization                                    (8,620,122)   (6,057,511)
                                                     --------------------------
                                                       5,534,485     6,108,012  
                                                     --------------------------

INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net of accumulated amortization
   of $3,181,779 and $3,207,570, at December 31,
   1998 and 1997, respectively                           377,751       388,030

DEFERRED INCOME TAXES                                  1,005,869       670,191

OTHER ASSETS                                             218,714       600,657 
                                                     ==========================
      TOTAL ASSETS                                   $36,703,115   $36,889,061 
                                                     ==========================

</TABLE>



<PAGE>



                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                        CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AS OF
                     DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND 1997 (CONTINUED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                        1998          1997
                                                    --------------------------
      LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY

CURRENT LIABILITIES:
<S>                                                  <C>            <C>       
   Accounts payable                                  $1,260,620     $1,540,922
   Accrued employee compensation                        576,335      1,631,180 
   Accrued employee stock purchase plan                  31,996        549,619 
   Accrued income taxes payable                         309,623        747,564 
   Current portion of capitalized lease obligations      42,334         41,470 
   Other accrued expenses                             3,018,468      3,224,613
                                                    --------------------------
        Total current liabilities                     5,239,376      7,735,368 
                                                    --------------------------

LONG-TERM PORTION OF CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS       80,675        107,449

                                                    --------------------------
        Total liabilities                             5,320,051      7,842,817 
                                                    --------------------------

STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
   Common stock, par value $.01 per share,
      20,000,000 shares authorized, 6,808,729
      and 6,791,320 shares issued and outstanding
      at December 31, 1998 and 1997,respectively         68,088         67,914
   Additional paid-in capital                        27,398,120     27,880,223
   Retained earnings                                  5,697,710      2,743,380
   Common stock held in treasury, at cost - 
     222,019 and 197,617 shares at December 31, 
     1998 and 1997, respectively                     (1,780,854)    (1,645,273)
                                                    --------------------------
      Total stockholders' equity                     31,383,064     29,046,244 
                                                    --------------------------
      TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY    $36,703,115    $36,889,061 
                                                    ==========================

</TABLE>

         The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements are
                    an integral part of these balance sheets.



<PAGE>


                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS
              FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998, 1997 AND 1996


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                             1998         1997         1996
                                          -------------------------------------

<S>                                       <C>          <C>          <C>        
NET REVENUES                              $62,181,503  $60,887,193  $55,998,995

COST OF SALES                              35,670,153   31,121,507   26,897,576 
                                          -------------------------------------

      GROSS PROFIT                         26,511,350   29,765,686   29,101,419 

SELLING, GENERAL, AND ADMINISTRATIVE
      EXPENSES                             21,464,737   22,912,147   22,443,192 

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES             528,478    1,665,735    3,157,846 
                                          -------------------------------------

      INCOME FROM OPERATIONS                4,518,135    5,187,804    3,500,381 

INTEREST INCOME, NET                          682,138      522,427      306,840

                                          -------------------------------------
      INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME
         TAXES                              5,200,273    5,710,231    3,807,221 

 PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES                 2,245,943    2,412,534    1,637,105 
                                          -------------------------------------

      NET INCOME                           $2,954,330   $3,297,697   $2,170,116 
                                          =====================================

      EARNINGS PER SHARE:
           BASIC                           $     .44    $      .51   $      .35 
           DILUTED                         $     .43    $      .48   $      .35 

      WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
           BASIC                            6,677,524    6,430,060    6,151,061
           DILUTED                          6,902,080    6,808,250    6,287,159

</TABLE>

           The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
                    are an integral part of these statements.



<PAGE>


                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
              FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998, 1997, AND 1996


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                         Additional     Retained         Common Stock       Shareholder
                                       Common Stock        Paid-In      Earnings     Acquired for Treasury      Note   
                                     Shares     Amount     Capital      (Deficit)     Shares      Amount     Receivable     Total
                                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                 <C>         <C>      <C>           <C>           <C>        <C>         <C>         <C>        
BALANCE, December 31, 1995          6,311,451   $63,115  $26,609,627   ($2,724,43)   (50,000)   ($200,000)  ($296,000)  $23,452,339
   Stock options exercised             23,621       236      107,476           --         --           --          --       107,712
   Exercise of warrants, net
      of exercise costs               377,702     3,777    1,536,540           --    422,298    2,478,889          --     4,019,206
   Common stock acquired
      for treasury                         --        --           --           --   (489,494   (3,208,332)         --    (3,208,332)
   Extinguishment of shareholder
      note receivable                      --        --     (296,000)          --         --           --     296,000            --
   Stock compensation expense -
      stock options                        --        --        7,887           --         --           --          --         7,887
   Net income                              --        --           --    2,170,116         --           --          --     2,170,116
                                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALANCE, December 31, 1996          6,712,774    67,128   27,965,560     (554,317)  (117,196)    (929,443)         --    26,548,928
   Stock options exercised             51,764       518      248,498           --         --           --          --       249,016
   Employee stock purchase plan            --        --     (564,822)          --    146,579    1,220,200          --       655,378
   Stock grants                        26,782       268      230,987           --         --           --          --       231,255
   Common stock acquired
      for treasury                         --        --           --           --   (227,000)  (1,936,030)         --    (1,936,030)
   Net income                              --        --           --    3,297,697         --           --          --     3,297,697
                                    -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BALANCE, December 31, 1997          6,791,320    67,914   27,880,223    2,743,380   (197,617)  (1,645,273)         --    29,046,244
   Stock options exercised             53,584       535      288,012           --         --           --          --       288,547
   Employee stock purchase plan            --        --     (499,193)          --    131,498    1,094,800          --       595,607
   Stock grants                        19,825       199      186,018           --         --           --          --       186,217
   Common stock acquired
      for treasury                         --        --           --           --   (211,900)  (1,687,881)         --    (1,687,881)
   Retired shares                     (56,000)     (560)    (456,940)          --     56,000      457,500          --            --
   Net income                              --        --           --    2,954,330         --           --          --     2,954,330
                                    ===============================================================================================
BALANCE, December 31, 1998          6,808,729   $68,088  $27,398,120   $5,697,710   (222,019) ($1,780,854)   $     --   $31,383,064
                                    ===============================================================================================


                                     The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
                                              are an integral part of these statements.
</TABLE>


<PAGE>


                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
              FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998, 1997 AND 1996


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                              1998        1997         1996
                                           ------------------------------------

CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:

<S>                                        <C>         <C>          <C>       
   Net income                              $2,954,330  $3,297,697   $2,170,116
Adjustments to reconcile net income
   to net cash provided by (used in)
   operations - 
   Non-cash charges
    Depreciation and amortization           2,786,821   3,109,515    2,463,325 
    Stock compensation expense                186,217     231,255        7,887 
    Loss on disposal of fixed assets               --      55,241       27,240 
    Investment write-down                          --          --       61,846 
    Deferred tax provision                   (365,999)   (753,197)    (168,539)
   Changes in other current assets
     and liabilities
    Decrease (increase) in accounts
     receivable                               337,054     981,454   (5,772,250)
    (Increase) decrease in prepaid
     expenses and employee advances          (183,473)    988,623     (278,127)
    Increase in inventory                    (212,042)    (67,091)    (108,169)
    (Increase) decrease in other assets        256,073    (160,853)    (320,176)
    (Decrease) increase in accounts
     payable and other accrued liabilities (2,979,916)    646,762    1,740,665 
                                           ------------------------------------
     Net cash provided by (used in)
       operating activities                 2,779,065   8,329,406     (176,182)
                                           ------------------------------------

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:

   Capital expenditures                    (1,864,824) (1,860,646)  (3,431,895)
   Acquisition of PRL, net of debt assumed   (359,590)         --           -- 
   Other                                           --      16,124       81,161 
                                           ------------------------------------
    Net cash (used in) investing
      activities                           (2,224,414) (1,844,522)  (3,350,734)
                                           ------------------------------------

</TABLE>

<PAGE>



                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
        FOR THE YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998, 1997 AND 1996 (CONTINUED)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                             1998         1997         1996
                                         --------------------------------------
<S>                                       <C>          <C>           <C>        
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:

   Purchase of common stock held in
     treasury                             ($1,687,881) ($1,936,030) ($3,208,332)
   Net borrowings (repayments) of
     capitalized lease obligations            (25,910)     109,378       22,839
   Repayments of note payable                      --     (650,154)    (916,150)
   Net proceeds from exercise of warrants          --           --    4,019,206 
   Exercise of stock options                  288,547      249,016      107,712 
   Employee stock purchase plan               595,607      655,378           -- 
                                         ---------------------------------------
   Net cash (used in) provided by
     financing activities                    (829,637)  (1,572,412)      25,275 
                                         ---------------------------------------

   Net (decrease) increase in cash and
     cash equivalents                        (274,986)   4,912,472   (3,501,641)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,
   beginning of year                       12,401,062    7,488,590   10,990,231
                                         ---------------------------------------

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,
   end of year                            $12,401,062  $12,126,076   $ 7,488,590
                                         =======================================




SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOWS DISCLOSURES:

   Cash paid during the year:
    Interest                              $   20,275   $    27,416   $   77,782
    Income taxes                           2,883,890     2,171,422    1,712,200 

</TABLE>

           The accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements
                      are an integral part of these statements.



<PAGE>



                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


(1)   THE COMPANY

      DIANON  Systems,  Inc.  (the  "Company")  provides a full line of anatomic
pathology  testing  services,  as well  as a  number  of  genetic  and  clinical
chemistry   testing   services  to   patients,   physicians   and  managed  care
organizations  throughout  the  United  States.  A  significant  portion  of the
services  provided by the Company are paid for by either the patients'  Medicare
or private medical insurance carriers. The remaining services are generally paid
for by patients, physicians or hospitals directly.

      SFAS No. 131,  "Disclosures  about  Segments of an Enterprise  and Related
Information",  requires that the Company  disclose  selected  information  about
operating  segments in its annual and interim financial  statements,  commencing
with the fiscal year 1998  financial  statements.  The  Company  operates in one
reportable segment,  the medical laboratory  industry.  Its testing services are
separated  based upon the nature of the test:  anatomic  pathology  testing  and
clinical  chemistry  testing.  Anatomic  pathology  testing is  characterized by
tissue or cell specimens that are interpreted by physicians.  Clinical chemistry
testing  is  characterized  by  blood or urine  specimens  that are  interpreted
through highly automated processes. Net revenues by test type of test for fiscal
year 1998, 1997 and 1996 are presented below:

                                              Year Ended December 31
                                     ----------------------------------------
                                        1998           1997         1996
                                     ----------------------------------------

Anatomic pathology testing           $48,151,160   $43,923,487   $36,971,234
Clinical chemistry testing            14,030,343    16,963,706   $19,027,761
                                     ----------------------------------------
     Consolidated net revenues       $62,181,503   $60,887,193   $55,998,995
                                     ========================================

    The Company's  operations are conducted  entirely in the United States since
the  discontinuation of its international  operations,  the liquidation of which
was completed in 1998. No customer  accounted for more than 10% of the Company's
revenues; however, in 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively,  approximately 33%, 37%
and 40% of the Company's  net revenues  were derived from testing  performed for
beneficiaries under the Medicare and Medicaid programs (primarily Medicare).

(2)   ACQUISITIONS

    Effective  February  1,  1998,  the  Company  acquired  certain  assets of a
pathology laboratory in Tampa, Florida  ("Pathologists  Reference Laboratory" or
"PRL"). The acquisition price was approximately  $558,000 (including acquisition
costs),  of which  $359,590 was paid through  March 31, 1998 and the balance was
satisfied  through the  assumption of certain  liabilities.  The purchase  price
consisted  primarily of trade  receivables for ($265,000) and customer lists for
($164,000),  and the acquisition has been accounted for pursuant to the purchase
method of  accounting.  Pro forma  consolidated  net  revenue for the year ended
December 31, 1998 adjusted as if the  acquisition  had occurred  January 1, 1998
approximate  $62.6 million.  Pro forma  consolidated net income and earnings per
share would not differ materially from the reported amounts.

(3)   SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

Principles of Consolidation -

      The consolidated  financial statements include the accounts of the Company
and all of its subsidiaries. All significant intercompany transactions have been
eliminated in consolidation.



<PAGE>



                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Use of Estimates -

      The  preparation  of financial  statements  in conformity  with  generally
accepted  accounting  principles  requires  management  to  make  estimates  and
assumptions  that  affect the  reported  amounts of assets and  liabilities  and
disclosure of  contingent  assets and  liabilities  at the date of the financial
statements  and the  reported  amounts  of  revenues  and  expenses  during  the
reporting period. Actual results could differ from those estimates.

Cash and Cash Equivalents -

      The Company  considers all highly  liquid  instruments  purchased  with an
original  maturity  of  three  months  or less to be cash  equivalents.  At both
December 31, 1998 and 1997,  the Company had  approximately  $13 million and $12
million,   respectively,   invested  in  short-term  U.S.  treasury  funds  with
maturities  of  less  than  three  months.  The  carrying  amount  of  the  cash
equivalents  approximates  its fair value due to the relatively  short period to
maturity of these instruments.  Interest income per the consolidated  statements
of  operations  is  presented  net of interest  expense of $32,529,  $26,869 and
$77,466 for 1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

Inventory -

      Inventory  consists primarily of bulk reagents,  specimen  collection kits
and  devices.  Inventories  are stated at the lower of cost or  market.  Cost is
determined using the first-in, first-out method.

Property and Equipment -

      Property and equipment are stated at cost. Major improvements which add to
productive capacity or extend the life of an asset are capitalized while repairs
and maintenance are charged to expense as incurred.

      Effective  January 1, 1998,  the  Company  adopted  Statement  of Position
("SOP") 98-1  "Accounting for Costs of Computer  Software  Developed or Obtained
for Internal  Use." In  accordance  with SOP 98-1,  the Company has  capitalized
approximately  $443,000 in internally  developed  software costs in 1998.  These
costs  relate to the purchase of external  materials  and direct  payroll  costs
associated with software development. The Company is amortizing these costs on a
straight-line basis over five years.

Intangible Assets -

      Intangible  assets  are  amortized  on  a  straight-line  basis  over  the
respective economic life as follows:


                     Years
                     -----
            Customer lists               7
            Non-compete agreements     4-5

      The Company  periodically  reviews  the  anticipated  revenues  related to
intangible  assets to determine whether any adjustments to their carrying values
are  necessary.  During 1996, the Company  recorded an accelerated  amortization
charge of  approximately  $44,000,  based on the Company's  revised  estimate of
future benefits from a customer list.

Revenue Recognition -

      Revenues are  recognized  in the period in which  services  are  provided.
Revenues subject to Medicare and Medicaid, direct physician and hospital billing
are based on fixed  reimbursement fee schedules.  All remaining revenues subject
to  third-party  reimbursement  are recorded at estimated  reimbursable  amounts
based on Uniform  Customary  Charges.  Such  estimates are revised  periodically
based upon the Company's actual reimbursement experience.

<PAGE>


                             DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                  NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Depreciation and Amortization -

      Laboratory  and office  equipment is depreciated  using the  straight-line
method  over a useful life of two to seven  years.  Leasehold  improvements  are
amortized over the shorter of their  economic  useful life or the remaining life
of the lease.

Research and Development -

      Research and development costs are charged to expense as incurred.

Income Taxes -

      The Company  utilizes the liability  method of accounting for income taxes
as set forth in Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 109, "Accounting
for Income Taxes." Under this method, deferred income taxes are determined based
on the  difference  between the financial  statement and tax bases of assets and
liabilities using presently enacted tax rates and regulations.

Earnings Per Share -

      In 1997, the Company adopted Statement of Financial  Accounting  Standards
No. 128 "Earnings per share,"  effective  December 15, 1997.  Basic earnings per
share have been computed  based on the weighted  average number of common shares
outstanding  during each year.  Diluted  earnings  per share have been  computed
based on the  weighted  average  number of common  shares and common  equivalent
shares  outstanding  during  each year.  Common  equivalent  shares  outstanding
include the common  equivalent  shares calculated for warrants and stock options
under the  treasury  stock  method.  Reported  earnings  per share for all prior
periods have been restated.

Below is a  reconciliation  of the numerators and  denominators of the basic and
diluted EPS computations:

                                                  1998       1997       1996
                                                  ----       ----       ----

     BASIC EARNING PER SHARE:
     Weighted-average number of common
       shares outstanding                       6,677,524  6,430,060  6,151,061

     DILUTED EFFECT OF:
     Stock options                                224,556    378,190    136,098
                                               ----------  ---------  ---------

     DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE:
     Weighted-average number of common
       shares outstanding                       6,902,080  6,808,250  6,287,159
                                               ========== ========== ==========

     NET INCOME                                $2,954,330 $3,297,697 $2,170,116
                                               ========== ========== ==========

     BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE                       $0.44      $0.51      $0.35
                                               ========== ========== ==========

     DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE                     $0.43      $0.48      $0.35
                                               ========== ========== ==========


      Options to purchase  474,756 shares of common stock at prices ranging from
$7.625 and $12.25 per share were  outstanding  as of December  31, 1998 but were
not  included  in the  computation  of diluted  earnings  per share  because the
options'  exercise  price was greater  than the average  market  price of common
shares.


<PAGE>


                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Reclassifications -

      Certain  reclassifications have been made to prior year amounts to conform
to the classifications used in the current year presentation.


(4)         INCOME TAXES

   The income tax  provisions  for the years ended  December 31, 1998,  1997 and
1996 consist of the following:

                                             Year Ended December 31
                                     ----------------------------------------
                                        1998           1997          1996
                                     ----------------------------------------
Current
   Federal                           $2,080,854     $2,444,187    $1,387,967
   State                                540,088        721,544       446,091 
                                     ----------------------------------------
      Total Current                   2,620,942      3,165,731     1,834,058 
                                     ----------------------------------------
Deferred
   Federal                             (280,806)      (598,785)     (152,112)
   State                                (85,193)      (154,412)      (44,841)
                                     ----------------------------------------
      Total Deferred                   (365,999)      (753,197)     (196,953)
                                     ----------------------------------------

Total provision for income taxes     $2,245,943     $2,412,534    $1,637,105
                                     ========================================


   The reasons for the differences between the statutory and effective rates are
as follows:

                                             Year Ended December 31
                                     ----------------------------------------
                                           1998         1997         1996
                                     ----------------------------------------
Statutory federal income tax rate          34.0%        34.0%         34.0%
State taxes, net of federal tax benefit     5.8          6.6           7.0   
Non-deductible expenses                     1.7          1.3           2.9   
Non-deductible write-down of                 --          (.1)           .7   
investment in stock
Other                                       1.7           .4          (1.6)  
                                     ========================================
                                           43.2%        42.2%         43.0%
                                     ========================================


   The  net  deferred  tax  asset  is  a  result  of  the  following   temporary
differences:

                                             Year Ended December 31
                                     ----------------------------------------
                                           1998         1997         1996
                                     ----------------------------------------
Allowance for bad debts                 $  407,533  $  520,986     $428,761 
Accrued expenses                           639,585     417,457       (4,395)
Depreciation                               823,822     416,824       95,067 
Compensation not currently recognized      131,347     215,103      180,126 
for tax reporting
International restructuring reserve             --      72,835      196,417 
Amortization                                42,441      43,783       37,264 
Other                                        8,259          --          550 
                                     ========================================
                                        $2,052,987  $1,686,988     $933,790 
                                     ========================================


<PAGE>


                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


(5)   LEASE OBLIGATIONS

      Included  in  property  and  equipment  at  December  31, 1998 and 1997 is
laboratory and office equipment held under capitalized leases as follows:

                                                         1998        1997
   Property and equipment                              $303,325    $278,645  
   Less - accumulated depreciation                     (184,156)   (135,181)
                                                       ======================
                                                       $119,169    $143,464 
                                                       ======================

      The future minimum lease payments under  non-cancelable  operating  leases
and the present value of future  minimum  capital lease payments at December 31,
1998 are:

                                                       Capital      Operating
                                                        Leases        Leases
   1999                                                 $53,152     $1,119,321
   2000                                                  36,176      1,150,214
   2001                                                  34,440      1,083,784
   2002                                                  15,756      1,063,863
   2003                                                      --        430,464
   Thereafter                                                --         34,616
                                                       ------------------------
   Minimum lease payments                               139,524      4,882,261
   Less - amount representing interest                   16,515             --
                                                       ========================
   Present value of total minimum lease payments       $123,009     $4,882,261
                                                       ========================

      Total  rental  expense  relating to  operating  leases for the years ended
December 31,  1998,  1997,  and 1996 was  $1,117,967,  $997,869 and  $1,041,127,
respectively.


      The  Company  leases  office and  laboratory  space at two  facilities  in
Stratford,  Connecticut.  The leases  expire in May 2003 and contain  options to
renew for up to three  years.  The annual rent on these leases will be increased
by a pro rata  portion of the  increase in real estate taxes and the increase in
common  area  maintenance.  The  Company  also  leases an  office  in  Stamford,
Connecticut  and a  record  storage  facility  in  Stratford,  Connecticut.  The
Stamford  lease expires in November 2000 with an option to renew for up to three
years. The record storage facility lease expires in May 2004.

      The Company also leases four regional  sales  offices  located in Florida,
North Carolina,  Texas and Ohio. The terms of the leases range from one to three
years.

      In March 1996, the Company  executed a lease for a laboratory  facility in
Wilmington,  Ohio with a five-year term  commencing  April 1, 1996 and a renewal
option for five additional terms of three years each.

      In  connection  with the  acquisition  of PRL (see  Note 2),  the  Company
entered into a lease for an office and laboratory facility in Tampa, Florida for
a  five-year  term  commencing  January  31, 1998 with an option to renew for an
additional  five-year period.  In addition,  the Company assumed leases for four
branch offices in Florida with remaining terms of up to two years.



<PAGE>


                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS


(6)   STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION PLANS

       In June 1991,  the Company  adopted the 1991 Stock  Incentive  Plan which
provides for up to 400,000 shares of the Company's  Common Stock, par value $.01
per share  ("Common  Stock"),  to be reserved for potential  future  issuance of
stock options or awards.  This plan is the  successor to the Company's  previous
plan which expired.  In June 1994, the Company offered certain  officers and key
employees the  opportunity  to revise the terms of their  original stock options
issued  in 1991,  1992  and  1993;  all  such  revisions  are  reflected  in the
information  presented  below. As of December 31, 1998,  33,693 shares of Common
Stock are available under the 1991 Stock Incentive Plan for future issuance. The
majority  of the  options  vest 40% in the second  year after grant and 20% each
year thereafter and expire ten years from the original grant date.

       In October  1996,  the  Company's  shareholders  approved  the  Company's
adoption of the 1996 Stock  Incentive  Plan,  which  provides  for up to 700,000
shares of Common Stock to be reserved  for  potential  future  issuance of stock
options or awards.  This plan is the successor to the 1991 Stock  Incentive Plan
for which only a limited  number of shares of Common Stock remain  available for
grants.  As of December 31, 1998,  10,629  shares of Common Stock are  available
under the 1996 Stock  Incentive Plan. The majority of options issued to officers
and key  employees of the Company vest at a rate of 40% in the second year after
grant and 20% per year  thereafter  or 40% in the third year after grant and 20%
per year  thereafter  and expire ten years from the original date of grant.  The
majority of options  issued to  directors  vest at a rate of 10% per quarter and
expire ten years from the original date of grant.

      The Company  accounts for these plans under  Accounting  Principles  Board
Opinion  No. 25,  under  which no  compensation  cost has been  recognized.  Had
compensation cost for these plans been determined  consistent with the Statement
of Financial Accounting Standards No. 123, the Company's net income and earnings
per share would have been reduced to the following pro forma amounts:


                                         1998          1997          1996
                                         ----          ----          ----
Net Income:          As Reported      $2,954,000    $3,298,000   $2,170,000
                     Pro Forma        $2,300,000    $2,704,000   $1,586,000
Basic earnings per
 share:              As Reported         $.44           $.51        $.35
                     Pro Forma           $.34           $.42        $.26
Diluted earnings     As Reported         $.43           $.48        $.35
  per share:         Pro Forma           $.33           $.40        $.25


<PAGE>


                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

      For purposes of the pro forma  information  above,  the fair value of each
option grant is estimated  on the date of grant using the  Black-Scholes  option
pricing model with the following weighted average assumptions used for grants in
1998,  1997 and  1996,:  risk-free  interest  rates of 5.38%,  6.52% and  6.67%,
respectively;  expected  volatility  of 71%,  74%  and  80%,  respectively;  and
expected  lives of 8.6 years for 1998 and 1997 and 8.1 years for 1996. A summary
of the status of the  Company's  two fixed stock option plans as of December 31,
1998,  1997 and 1996,  and  changes  during the years  ending on those  dates is
presented below:

                         -------------------------------------------------------
                               1998               1997              1996
                         -------------------------------------------------------
                                  WEIGHTED           WEIGHTED          WEIGHTED
                                  AVERAGE            AVERAGE           AVERAGE
                                  EXERCISE           EXERCISE          EXERCISE
FIXED OPTIONS             SHARES   PRICE    SHARES    PRICE    SHARES   PRICE
- -------------             ------   -----    ------    -----    ------   -----
Outstanding at      
  beginning of  year      781,458   $7.24    597,676    $6.00   397,153   $5.42
Granted                   265,060    7.13    338,351     8.61   296,550    6.43
Exercised                 (43,584)   4.99    (51,764)    4.81   (23,621)   4.56
Forfeited / canceled     (118,480)   7.53   (102,805)    5.65   (72,406)   5.06
                         ---------          ---------          --------
Outstanding at end of
  year                    884,454    7.28    781,458     7.24   597,676    6.00
                          -------    ----    -------     ----   -------    ----
Options exercisable at
  year-end                203,993    6.67    152,218     6.24   120,512    6.35
Weighted-average fair
  value of options      
  granted                   $5.43               $6.82             $5.19
                         -------------------------------------------------------


      The table below contains  information  with respect to the 884,454 options
outstanding  for the Company's 1991 and 1996 Stock Incentive Plan as of December
31, 1998:

                    EXERCISE PRICE                        EXERCISABLE OPTIONS
               --------------------------              ------------------------
                                                                      WEIGHTED
   OPTIONS                    WEIGHTED     REMAINING                  AVERAGE
 OUTSTANDING      RANGE       AVERAGE     CONTRACTUAL     OPTIONS     EXERCISE
 -----------      -----       -------     -----------     -------     --------
                                             LIFE                      PRICE
   129,774   $4.13 - $5.00      $4.96          5.7         90,409       $4.82
   708,698   $6.01 - $9.00      $7.51          8.9         78,734       $7.05
    45,982   $9.01 - $10.75     $10.40         3.5         34,850       $10.62

      In addition to the disclosures  above related to options granted under the
Company's  1991  Stock  Incentive  Plan  and  1996  Stock  Incentive  Plan,  the
disclosure  that  follows  relates to options  granted  pursuant  to  employment
agreements or otherwise not under such plans.

      In July 1995, the Company adopted the DIANON Systems,  Inc. Employee Stock
Purchase Plan (the "ESPP" or "Plan") as described in Section 423 of the Internal
Revenue Code.  The Plan provides for the sale of not more than 300,000 shares of
Common  Stock,  subject to  adjustments  in the event of stock  splits and other
changes in capitalization.  The Plan provides that all shares issued pursuant to
the Plan be treasury shares acquired by the Company in open market  transactions
and  that no  shares  issued  will be  authorized  but  unissued  Common  Stock.
Commencing  on  August  15,  1995,  the  Company  offered  the ESPP to  eligible
employees as defined by the Plan at a purchase  price equal to the lesser of 85%
of the market  price at the date of grant or 85% of the market price at the date
of purchase or as otherwise defined in the grant offering.

      In May 1996, the Company  granted an officer  options to purchase  200,000
shares of Common  Stock at $5.69 per share  pursuant to the terms of an employee
agreement.  These  options  vested  40% in May  1998  and  20%  over  each  year
thereafter.



<PAGE>



                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

      In October 1996, the Company  granted options to purchase 10,000 shares of
Common  Stock at $7.13 per  share to an  outside  director  of the  Company,  in
replacement of options issued in June 1993. These options vested immediately and
expire ten years from the date of grant.

(7)   RELATED PARTIES

      The Company pays a stockholder, who is also Chairman Emeritus, and who was
a director  until  January  1995, a royalty of 6% of revenue on sales of certain
technology  covered by a license  agreement.  In addition,  the Company provides
this stockholder with certain insurance  benefits,  the use of an automobile and
the reimbursement of expenses incident to his performance as a consultant to the
Company.  The Company paid  licensing  and royalty fees to this  stockholder  of
approximately  $27,000,  $42,000 and $79,000 during the years ended December 31,
1998, 1997 and 1996, respectively.

      In 1995, the Company  entered into a three-year  research and  development
agreement  with  Brigham & Women's  Hospital,  Inc. The  agreement  required the
Company to make  quarterly  payments  of $30,000  in  exchange  for an option to
obtain rights in certain  existing  inventions  as well as inventions  developed
during  the  course  of the  research  in the  areas  of  cancer  detection  and
diagnosis.  The research  was to be conducted by a director of the Company.  The
Company paid $8,000, $60,000 and $120,000 under this agreement in 1998, 1997 and
1996,  respectively.  The Company terminated this agreement effective as of June
30, 1997 and has made all  required  payments.  In  addition,  the Company  made
payments to Brigham & Women's  Hospital,  Inc. of $30,000 in 1996 for consulting
services.

      Pursuant  to his  employment  agreement,  the  President  of  the  Company
received a loan in 1996 totaling $150,000 which bears interest at 5.9%,  payable
annually,  and is repayable upon termination with the Company. In addition,  the
loan  principal  will be  forgiven at a rate of $2,500 per month over the period
January 1998 through December 2002 if the President  continues to be employed by
the Company.

      In the fourth quarter 1997, the Company entered into a one-year consulting
and  proprietary  information  and  inventions  agreement with Jeffrey L. Sklar,
M.D.,  Ph.D., a director of the Company.  The agreement  requires the Company to
make quarterly  payments at the beginning of each quarter for $5,000 in exchange
for delivery of services for molecular diagnosis. The Company paid $15,000 under
this agreement in 1998 and $5,000 in 1997.

 (8)  COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES

      The Company is involved in certain legal matters which  periodically arise
in the normal course of business.  Management believes that the outcome of these
legal matters will not have a material adverse effect on the financial  position
and results of operations of the Company.

      The Company operates in the medical laboratory industry,  which is subject
to numerous federal and state laws and regulations.  In addition,  a significant
portion   of   the   Company's   net   revenue   is   from   payments   by   the
government-sponsored   Medicare  and  Medicaid  programs.  These  programs  have
extensive compliance requirements,  and the payments made thereunder are subject
to audit and  adjustment by applicable  regulatory  agencies.  Failure to comply
with these laws and regulations, or the results of regulatory audits and payment
adjustments,  could have a material  adverse  effect on the Company's  financial
position and results of operations.

      On November 19,  1997, a suit was filed  against the Company in the United
States District Court,  District of South Carolina  (Frances P. Hadden v. DIANON
Systems,  Inc.). The complaint alleged,  among other things, medical malpractice
due to an incorrect  diagnosis.  The claim was settled in 1998 by the  Company's
insurance  carrier,  with  the  cost  to  the  Company  limited  to  the  policy
deductible.


<PAGE>


                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

      Prior to 1998, the Medical Director of the Connecticut Medicare carrier to
whom the Company submits its Medicare claims orally expressed the view that some
amount of money which the carrier has paid to the Company for certain  pathology
services  involving  DNA  measurements  in prostate  tumor  cells  (morphometric
analysis of tumor)  potentially is  recoverable by the carrier.  (The company is
not presently  submitting claims for this service.) The carrier Medical Director
has  never  reduced  his  view  to  writing  or  otherwise   asserted  a  claim.
Accordingly,  at this time, the Company cannot evaluate any such possible claim,
or the probability of assertion of any such claim.

      During  1997,  the  Company  was made  aware  that an  agent  based in the
Hartford  Connecticut branch of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office of the Inspector General ("OIG") was investigating the Company's practice
of supplying  pathology specimen  collection devices without charge to physician
customers  as well as  unspecified  billing  issues  that had been raised by the
local Medicare carrier.  The company believes that its practices with respect to
specimen  collection  devices were proper, and a letter describing the Company's
actions and its views regarding  applicable  regulations was sent by the Company
to the OIG. That letter also requested  information  about any billing issues of
concern to the OIG so that the Company  could  address  them.  As of the date of
this  report,  the Company had not received a response  from or  otherwise  been
contacted by the OIG regarding  these  matters,  and has not received any formal
notification regarding the matter.

      Although the Company  seeks to structure  its practices to comply with all
applicable  laws,  and  management  believes such  practices are in  compliance,
uncertainty  nevertheless  exists as to how these  matters may develop,  and the
Company  currently is unable to predict  their  impact,  if any, on the Company.
While  management does not believe that this matter will have a material adverse
effect on the Company's  financial  condition,  if the carrier  and/or OIG agent
were to pursue and prevail on these matters, any significant recoupment of funds
or civil or criminal penalty  potentially  resulting from such proceedings could
have a material  adverse  effect on the  Company's  business  and its results of
operations.


 (9)  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN

      The Company has  established  a 401(k)  employee  benefit plan pursuant to
which   participants   receive  certain  benefits  upon  retirement,   death  or
termination of employment.  The Company is required to contribute  amounts equal
to 20% of the  contributions  made by  employees  up to 1% of their total annual
salary  (subject  to tax code  limits).  The Company  contributed  approximately
$132,000,  $105,000  and  $88,000  to the  plan  during  1998,  1997  and  1996,
respectively.   The  Company  offers  no  other   post-retirement   benefits  or
post-employment benefits to its employees.


(10)  RIGHTS AGREEMENT

      On April 29, 1994, the Board of Directors of DIANON Systems, Inc. declared
a dividend distribution of one Right for each outstanding share of Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share,  of the Company to  stockholders  of record on May 10,
1994.  Each Right entitles the registered  holder to purchase from the Company a
unit  ("Unit")  consisting  of one  one-hundredth  of a share of Series A Junior
Participating  Preferred Stock,  par value $.01 per share, of the Company,  at a
price of $20 per Unit,  subject  to  adjustment,  upon  change of control in the
Company, as defined in the rights agreement.

(11)  SEVERANCE COSTS

      The Company  recorded  charges of  approximately  $212,000,  $324,000  and
$148,000  during 1998,  1997 and 1996,  respectively,  for severance  costs as a
result of streamlining its operations and of the resignation of certain officers
of the Company.



<PAGE>



                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

(12)  PRIVATE PLACEMENT

      On October 5, 1995, the Company  completed a $5,612,000  private placement
with an investor for one million  shares of Common Stock and a two-year  warrant
for 800,000  shares  exercisable  at $6.00 per share of Common Stock  (except as
otherwise  described  below).  The Company  received  cash of  $5,316,000  and a
two-year  promissory  note for  $296,000  bearing  7%  interest,  which note was
classified  as a reduction to  additional  paid-in  capital.  Some or all of the
warrants could be exercised at a price of $5.00 at any time on or before October
31, 1996.  Upon such  election the Company would be required to extinguish as an
adjustment to the purchase price paid for such  warrants,  for each such warrant
for which such election has been made, $0.37 of the principal amount of the note
upon payment of the interest due on such extinguished amount for the outstanding
period.  If the  warrants  for 800,000  shares were all  exercised  on or before
October 31,  1996,  the two year  promissory  note for  $296,000  would be fully
extinguished.  On August 20, 1996, the Company's Board of Directors  approved an
amendment to the terms of the warrants to extend from October 4, 1996 to October
31, 1996,  the date through  which the warrants  could be exercised at $5.00 per
share.  The  amendment  was approved in  connection  with the  scheduling of the
Company's  Annual  Meeting for October 24, 1996 to enable voting at such meeting
on the  Company's  agreement  to  enable  the  investor  to vote  shares  of the
Company's   common  stock  owned  by  such   investor  and  certain   affiliates
representing  up to  20% of the  total  voting  power  of the  Company's  voting
securities outstanding from time to time to be completed prior to the expiration
of the $5.00 per share exercise price.  The Company's  agreement was approved at
the  Company's  Annual  Meeting on October 24, 1996.  On October 29,  1996,  the
investor  exercised  warrants  for all 800,000  shares and in  exchange  for the
payment  of  approximately  $4.0  million  in cash  representing  the  aggregate
exercise  price of such  warrants  and interest on the  principal  amount of the
two-year  promissory note for the outstanding  period, the Company issued to the
investor 800,000 shares of its Common Stock and fully extinguished and cancelled
the promissory note.

(13)        SUBSEQUENT EVENT

      On  January  6,  1999,  the  Company  signed a letter of intent to acquire
substantially  all the assets of Kyto-Meridien  Diagnostics,  LLC, an outpatient
OB/Gyn laboratory with locations in Woodbury and New City, New York. The Company
is in the process of conducting due diligence and, subject to the result of this
process, expects to close the acquisition in the second quarter of 1999.





<PAGE>




                    REPORT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS



To DIANON Systems, Inc.:

      We have audited in accordance with generally accepted auditing  standards,
the  consolidated  financial  statements of DIANON Systems,  Inc. and subsidiary
companies  included in this Form 10-K and have issued our report  thereon  dated
February 23, 1999. Our audits were made for the purpose of forming an opinion on
the basic  consolidated  financial  statements  taken as a whole.  The  schedule
listed in the index to consolidated  financial  statements is the responsibility
of the Company's  management and is presented for purposes of complying with the
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission's  rules  and is  not  part  of the  basic
consolidated  financial  statements.  This  schedule  has been  subjected to the
auditing  procedures applied in the audits of the basic  consolidated  financial
statements  and, in our  opinion,  fairly  states in all  material  respects the
financial  data  required  to be set  forth  therein  in  relation  to the basic
consolidated financial statements taken as a whole.



                                   ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP



Stamford, Connecticut
February 23, 1999


<PAGE>



                                      DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                        SCHEDULE II -- VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                 Balance at
                                                  Beginning   Provision  Charges to  Balance at
                                                   of Year       for      Allowance  End of Year
                                                              Allowance
                                               ------------------------------------------------

For the year ended December 31, 1996:
<S>                                              <C>         <C>           <C>     <C>        
   Allowance for bad debts                       $786,920    $270,000      $   --  $1,056,920 
   Domestic restructuring reserve                   4,557          --       4,557          -- 
   International restructuring reserve            162,041          --       6,566     155,475 
   Non-deductible write-down of
     investment in stock                          529,625          --     529,625          -- 

For the year ended December 31, 1997:
   Allowance for bad debts                      1,056,920     300,294      65,119   1,292,095 
   International restructuring reserve            155,475          --     135,404      20,071 

For the year ended December 31, 1998:
   Allowance for bad debts (a)                  1,292,095      75,000     334,036   1,033,059 
   International restructuring reserve             20,071          --      20,071          -- 

</TABLE>

(a)The bad debt  provision  of $75,000  for the year  ended  December  31,  1998
   represents a purchase  accounting  adjustment  related to the  acquisition of
   PRL, rather than a charge to expense.

<PAGE>



EXHIBIT INDEX

 Exhibit
 Document                                                               Page
   No.                             Reference                         Reference
   ---                             ---------                         ---------

3.1        Restated  Certificate of Incorporation of the Company,
           as amended  through  June 12,  1991  (incorporated  by
           reference   to   Exhibit   3.1  of  the   Registrant's
           Registration Statement No. 33-41226).
3.2        Restated  By-Laws of the Company,  as amended  through
           October 24, 1996 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
           4.2 of the  Registrant's  Registration  Statement  No.
           333-18817).
3.3        Restated  By-Laws of the Company,  as amended  through
           February 2, 1997 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
           4.2 of the  Registrant's  Registration  Statement  No.
           333-18817).
10.1       Consulting  Agreement,  dated August 4, 1989,  between
           DIANON  Systems,  Inc.  and  Nonda  Katopodis,   Ph.D.
           (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.7 of the
           Registrant's Registration Statement No. 33-41226).**
10.2       Executive  Vesting  Agreement,  dated  as of June  11,
           1991,  between  DIANON  Systems,  Inc.  and  James  B.
           Amberson,  M.D.  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
           10.13 of the Registrant's  Registration  Statement No.
           33-41226).**
10.3       1991 Stock Incentive Plan  (incorporated  by reference
           to  Exhibit  10.17  of the  Registrant's  Registration
           Statement No. 33-41226).**
10.4       Management  Incentive Plan  (incorporated by reference
           to  Exhibit  10.18  of the  Registrant's  Registration
           Statement No. 33-41226).**
10.5       Stock  Option  Grant to  Walter O.  Fredericks,  dated
           April 27, 1990  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit
           10.23 of the Registrant's  Registration  Statement No.
           33-41226).**
10.6       Stock Option Grant to Richard A. Sandberg,  dated June
           12, 1991  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 10.24
           of  the   Registrant's   Registration   Statement  No.
           33-41226).**
10.7       Stock Option Grant to Richard A. Sandberg,  dated June
           12, 1991  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit 10.25
           of  the   Registrant's   Registration   Statement  No.
           33-41226).**
10.8       Lease Agreement, made as of February 14, 1989, between
           Watson Boulevard  Development Limited Partnership,  as
           lessor,  and DIANON  Systems,  Inc.,  as  lessee,  for
           premises located at 200 Watson Boulevard (incorporated
           by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.29 of the  Registrant's
           Registration Statement No. 33-41226).
10.9       License   Agreement,   dated  June  9,  1983,  between
           Sloan-Kettering  Institute for Cancer Research and N-K
           Laboratories  Limited  Partnership   (incorporated  by
           reference  to  Exhibit   10.30  of  the   Registrant's
           Registration Statement No. 33-41226).
10.10      License  Agreement,   dated  July  29,  1987,  between
           University  of  Rochester  and  DIANON  Systems,  Inc.
           (incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit  10.32 of the
           Registrant's Registration Statement No. 33-41226).
10.11      Development  Agreement,  effective September 25, 1987,
           between Connecticut  Product  Development  Corporation
           and DIANON Systems, Inc. (incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit   10.33  of  the   Registrant's   Registration
           Statement No. 33-41226).
10.12      Stock Option Grant to James B. Amberson,  M.D.,  dated
           April 23, 1991  (incorporated  by reference to Exhibit
           28.1 to the Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
           for the quarter ended September 30, 1991).**
10.13      Stock Option Grant to Richard A. Sandberg,  dated June
           12,  1991,  as amended  (incorporated  by reference to
           Exhibit  10.37 to the  Registrant's  Annual  Report on
           Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1991).**
10.14      Asset Purchase Agreement, dated April 30, 1993, by and
           among the Registrant and Molecular Oncology, Inc., and
           Oncologix,  Inc. (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
           1.1 to the Registrant's Form 8-K dated April 30, 1993,
           filed with the Securities  and Exchange  Commission on
           May 14, 1993).
10.15      Asset Purchase Agreement,  dated June 29, 1993, by and
           among the Registrant and Collaborative  Research, Inc.
           (incorporated  by  reference  to  Exhibit  1.2  to the
           Registrant's  Form 8-K dated June 29, 1993, filed with
           the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  on July 13,
           1993).
10.16      Term Loan Agreement, dated July 14, 1993, by and among
           the   Registrant   and   the   Union   Trust   Company
           (incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit  10.34 to the
           Registrant's  Annual Report on Form 10-K/A Amendment 1
           for the year ended  December 31, 1993,  filed with the
           Securities and Exchange Commission on April 28, 1994).
10.17      Rights  Agreement,  dated April 29, 1994, by and among
           the  Registrant  and American Stock and Trust Company,
           as Rights Agent  (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
           1 to the  Registrant's  Form 8-K dated April 29, 1994,
           filed with the Securities  and Exchange  Commission on
           May 9, 1994).
10.18      Severance  Agreement,  dated  January 20, 1995, by and
           among the Registrant  and John P. Davis  (incorporated
           by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.36 to the  Registrant's
           Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December
           31,  1995,  filed  with the  Securities  and  Exchange
           Commission on March 29, 1996).**
10.19      Employment  Agreement,  dated  May  3,  1996,  by  the
           Registrant  and  Kevin  C.  Johnson  (incorporated  by
           reference  to  Exhibit   10.37  to  the   Registrant's
           Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended
           June 30, 1996).**
10.20      Executive  Employment  Agreement,  dated  September 1,
           1996,  by  the  Registrant  and  Richard  A.  Sandberg
           (incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit  10.38 to the
           Registrant's  Quarterly  Report  on Form  10-Q for the
           quarter ended September 30, 1996).**
10.21      Employment Agreement,  dated September 1, 1996, by the
           Registrant and James B. Amberson,  M.D.  (incorporated
           by  reference  to  Exhibit  10.39 to the  Registrant's
           Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended
           September 30, 1996).**
10.22      Executive  Employment  Agreement,  dated  September 1,
           1996, by the Registrant  and James B.  Amberson,  M.D.
           (incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit  10.40 to the
           Registrant's  Quarterly  Report  on Form  10-Q for the
           quarter ended September 30, 1996).**
10.23      Severance Agreement,  dated September 27, 1996, by the
           Registrant  and  Carl  R.  Iberger   (incorporated  by
           reference  to  Exhibit   10.41  to  the   Registrant's
           Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended
           September 30, 1996).**
10.24      Employment Agreement,  dated September 30,1996, by the
           Registrant  and David R.  Schreiber  (incorporated  by
           reference  to  Exhibit   10.42  to  the   Registrant's
           Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended
           September 30, 1996).**
10.25      Employment Agreement,  dated November 18, 1996, by the
           registrant and Steven T. Clayton.**
10.26      Severance  Agreement  dated  November 18, 1996, by the
           registrant and Daniel J. Cronin, III.**
10.27      Amendment  dated  as of  October  4,  1995  to  Rights
           Agreement  dated  as of April  29,  1994  between  the
           Registrant  and  American  Stock  Transfer  and  Trust
           Company, as Rights Agent (incorporated by reference to
           Exhibit  No.  1 to the  Registrant's  Form  8-K  dated
           October  30,  1996  filed  with  the   Securities  and
           Exchange Commission on November 8, 1995).
10.28      1996 Stock Incentive Plan  (incorporated  by reference
           to  Appendix  A  to  the  Registrant's   Statement  on
           Schedule  14A filed with the  Securities  and Exchange
           Commission on September 23, 1996).**
10.29      Stock  and  Warrant  Purchase  Agreement,  dated as of
           October 4, 1995,  among the Gilbert Family Trust,  the
           G. S. Beckwith Gilbert I.R.A. Contributory Account, G.
           S. Beckwith Gilbert and the Registrant.
10.30      Registration Rights Agreement,  dated as of October 4,
           1995,  among  the  Gilbert  Family  Trust,  the G.  S.
           Beckwith Gilbert I.R.A.  Contributory  Account,  G. S.
           Beckwith Gilbert and the Registrant.
10.31      Warrant  No. 1, dated as of  October  4, 1995,  by the
           Registrant in favor of G. S. Beckwith.
10.32      Promissory  Note,  dated  October  4,  1995,  by G. S.
           Beckwith Gilbert in favor of the Registrant.
10.33      Stock  Option  Grant  dated  October  24,  1996 by the
           Registrant to Andre de Bruin.**
10.34      Stock  Option  Grant  dated  November  4,  1996 by the
           Registrant to Jeffrey M. Sklar, M.D., Ph.D.**
10.35      Loan   Agreement   dated   December  3,  1996  by  the
           Registrant to Kevin C. Johnson).**
10.36      Form  of  standard  Stock  Option  Grant  for  outside
           directors.**
10.37      Amendment to Warrant  Certificate  No. W-1 dated as of
           October  2,  1996  between  the  Registrant  and G. S.
           Beckwith Gilbert.
10.38      Severance  Agreement  dated  February  27, 1997 by the
           Registrant and Richard A. Sandberg.**
10.39      Amendment  dated April 30, 1997 by the  Registrant and
           Richard A. Sandberg.**
10.40      Security   Agreement  dated  April  30,  1997  by  the
           Registrant and Richard A. Sandberg.**
10.41      Secured  Promissory  Note dated  April 30, 1997 by the
           Registrant and Richard A. Sandberg.**
10.42      Non-Compete  Agreement  dated September 3, 1997 by the
           Registrant and Vernon L. Wells.**
10.43      Severance  Agreement  dated  September 15, 1997 by the
           Registrant and Robert C. Verfurth.**
10.44      Consulting and Proprietary  Information and Inventions
           Agreement  dated October 1, 1997 by the Registrant and
           Jeffrey L. Sklar, M.D., Ph.D.
10.45      Severance  Agreement  dated  January  27,  1998 by the
           Registrant and Vernon L. Wells (filed herewith).**
11.1       Statement re: computation of per share earnings. *
22.1       List of Subsidiaries of the Company  (incorporated  by
           reference   to  Exhibit   22.1  of  the   Registrant's
           Registration Statement No. 33-41226).
23.1       Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP (filed herewith).                 57
27.1       Financial Data Schedule.                                         58



- --------------

      *     Not applicable or contained elsewhere herein.
      **    A management  contract or compensatory plan or arrangement  required
            to be filed as an  exhibit  to this form  pursuant  to Item 14(c) of
            this report.








                                                                  Exhibit 23.1


                    CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS



As independent  public  accountants,  we hereby consent to the  incorporation by
reference of our report dated  February 23, 1999,  incorporated  by reference in
DIANON Systems,  Inc.'s Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998, into the
previously file  Registration  Statements  Nos.  33-41226,  33-94176,  33-94178,
33-43673 and 333-18817.





                                      ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP



Stamford, Connecticut
March 19, 1999



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