DIANON SYSTEMS INC
10-Q, 1999-05-10
MEDICAL LABORATORIES
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                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              Washington, DC 20549
                                 ---------------

                                    FORM 10-Q


[X] QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
                                   ACT OF 1934

                  For the Quarterly Period Ended March 31, 1999

                                       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 of incorporation)                (IRS Employer Identification No.)

     200 Watson Blvd, Stratford, CT                          06615
(Address of principal executive offices)                   (zip code)

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

                                 NOT APPLICABLE
              (Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
                          if changed since last report)

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.

                                                            Yes   X     No     
                                                                -----      -----


The number of shares of Issuer's  Common Stock,  $.01 par value,  outstanding on
May 5, 1999 was 6,834,511 shares.


<PAGE>


                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                                      INDEX


PART I  FINANCIAL INFORMATION                                           PAGE NO.
- -----------------------------                                           --------

Item 1.     FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

            Balance Sheets as of                                           3
            March 31, 1999 and December 31, 1998

            Income Statements for the                                      4
            three months ended March 31, 1999 and 1998

            Statements of Stockholders' Equity for the                     5
            three months ended March 31, 1999 and 1998

            Statements of Cash Flows for the                               6
            three months ended March 31, 1999 and 1998

            Notes to Financial Statements                                  7-8

Item 2.     MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
            FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS                  9-13

Item 3.     QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES
            ABOUT MARKET RISK                                              13


PART II  OTHER INFORMATION
- --------------------------

Item 6.     EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON  FORM 8-K                              14

Signatures                                                                 15


                                       2

<PAGE>


                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                                 BALANCE SHEETS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            MARCH 31,          DECEMBER 31,
                                                                              1999                1998
                                                                        ---------------      ---------------
                                                                          (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                                                     <C>                  <C>            
            ASSETS
CURRENT ASSETS:
     Cash and cash equivalents                                          $    14,471,758      $    12,126,076
       Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $960,266 and
       $1,033,059, respectively                                              14,149,880           14,403,878
     Prepaid expenses and employee advances                                   1,025,511            1,007,577
     Inventory                                                                  877,241              981,647
     Deferred income tax asset                                                1,124,118            1,047,118
                                                                        ---------------      ---------------
              Total current assets                                           31,648,508           29,566,296
                                                                        ---------------      ---------------
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, at cost
     Laboratory and office equipment                                         10,693,623           10,367,848
     Leasehold improvements                                                   3,820,514            3,786,759
       Less - accumulated depreciation and amortization                      (9,264,954)          (8,620,122)
                                                                        ---------------      ---------------
                                                                              5,249,183            5,534,485
                                                                        ---------------      ---------------

INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net of accumulated amortization of
     $3,229,337 and $3,181,779 respectively                                     368,234              377,751
DEFERRED INCOME TAX ASSET                                                     1,124,869            1,005,869
OTHER ASSETS                                                                    211,214              218,714
                                                                        ===============      ===============
         TOTAL ASSETS                                                   $    38,602,008      $    36,703,115
                                                                        ===============      ===============

         LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
     Accounts payable                                                   $     1,081,525      $     1,260,620
     Accrued employee compensation                                            1,394,510              576,335
     Accrued employee stock purchase plan                                        29,115               31,996
     Accrued income taxes payable                                               796,534              309,623
     Current portion of capitalized lease obligations                            34,661               42,334
     Other accrued expenses                                                   3,347,801            3,018,468
                                                                        ---------------      ---------------
           Total current liabilities                                          6,684,146            5,239,376
LONG-TERM PORTION OF CAPITALIZED LEASE OBLIGATIONS                               86,063               80,675
                                                                        ---------------      ---------------
           TOTAL LIABILITIES                                                  6,770,209            5,320,051
                                                                        ---------------      ---------------
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
     Common stock, par value $.01 per share, 20,000,000 shares
       authorized, 6,759,884 and 6,808,729 shares issued and
       outstanding at March 31, 1999 and December 31, 1998,
       respectively                                                              67,599               68,088
     Additional paid-in capital                                              27,012,489           27,398,120
     Retained earnings                                                        6,570,553            5,697,710
     Common stock held in treasury, at cost - 225,373 and 222,019
       shares at March 31, 1999 and December 31, 1998, respectively          (1,818,842)          (1,780,854)
                                                                        ---------------      ---------------
         TOTAL STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                                          31,831,799           31,383,064
                                                                        ===============      ===============
         TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                     $    38,602,008      $    36,703,115
                                                                        ===============      ===============
</TABLE>

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


                                        3

<PAGE>


                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                                INCOME STATEMENTS
                           FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED
                             MARCH 31, 1999 AND 1998
                                   (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                            MARCH 31,
                                                     1999             1998    
                                                  -----------      -----------
<S>                                               <C>              <C>        
Net revenues                                      $15,856,721      $15,081,473

Cost of sales                                       9,187,602        8,459,027
                                                  -----------      -----------

    GROSS PROFIT                                    6,669,119        6,622,446

Selling, general and administrative expenses        5,219,629        5,341,554

Research and development expenses                     118,724          165,364
                                                  -----------      -----------

    INCOME  FROM OPERATIONS                         1,330,766        1,115,528

Interest income, net                                  161,274          182,260
                                                  -----------      -----------
    INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES        1,492,040        1,297,788

Provision for income taxes                            619,197          558,048
                                                  -----------      -----------

    NET INCOME                                    $   872,843      $   739,740
                                                  ===========      ===========

    EARNINGS PER SHARE:
           BASIC                                  $       .13      $       .11
           DILUTED                                $       .13      $       .11

    WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING:
           BASIC                                    6,533,757        6,624,120
           DILUTED                                  6,716,461        6,978,126
</TABLE>


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


                                        4

<PAGE>


                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                       STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
               FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1999 AND 1998
                                   (UNAUDITED)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  Additional                      Common Stock
                                              Common Stock          Paid-In     Retained     Acquired for Treasury
                                          Shares       Amount       Capital     Earnings      Shares       Amount         Total
                                        -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------   -----------
<S>                                     <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>           <C>        
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                  25,738          257      119,868           --           --           --       120,125
    Employee stock purchase plan                 --           --     (106,978)          --       28,518      237,429       130,451
    Stock grants                             16,025          160      156,083           --           --           --       156,243
    Net income                                   --           --           --      739,740           --           --       739,740
                                        -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------   -----------
BALANCE,  March  31, 1998                 6,833,083  $    68,331  $28,049,196  $ 3,483,120     (169,099) ($1,407,844)  $30,192,803
                                        ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========   ===========


BALANCE, December 31, 1998                6,808,729  $    68,088  $27,398,120  $ 5,697,710     (222,019) ($1,780,854)  $31,383,064
    Employee stock purchase plan                 --           --       (2,332)          --          646        5,213         2,881
    Stock grants                              1,155           11        9,951           --           --           --         9,962
    Common stock acquired for treasury           --           --           --           --      (54,000)    (436,951)     (436,951)
    Retired shares                          (50,000)        (500)    (393,250)          --       50,000      393,750            --
    Net income                                   --           --           --      872,843           --           --       872,843
                                        -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------  -----------   -----------
BALANCE, March 31, 1999                   6,759,884  $    67,599  $27,012,489  $ 6,570,553     (225,373) ($1,818,842)  $31,831,799
                                        ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========  ===========   ===========
</TABLE>


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


                                        5

<PAGE>


                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                            STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
               FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1999 AND 1998
                                   (UNAUDITED)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                     MARCH 31,
                                                                              1999               1998    
                                                                          ------------       ------------
<S>                                                                       <C>                <C>         
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
    Net income                                                            $    872,843       $    739,740
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
    cash provided by (used in) operations -
    Non-cash charges
      Depreciation and amortization                                            692,390            730,840
      Provision for bad debts                                                       --            300,000
      Stock compensation expense                                                 9,962            156,243
Changes in other current assets and liabilities
    Increase (decrease)  in accounts payable and accrued liabilities         1,452,443         (1,824,308)
    Decrease (increase) in accounts receivable                                 253,998         (1,615,863)
    Decrease in inventory                                                      104,406             51,832
    (Increase) in prepaid expenses and employee advances                       (17,934)          (506,429)
    (Increase) in other assets                                                (188,500)            69,711
                                                                          ------------       ------------
            Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities              3,179,608         (1,898,234)
                                                                          ------------       ------------

CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
    Capital expenditures                                                      (359,530)          (420,428)
    Intangible asset expenditures                                              (38,041)                --
    Acquisition of PRL assets, net                                                  --           (359,590)
                                                                          ------------       ------------
            Net cash (used in) investing activities                           (397,571)          (780,018)
                                                                          ------------       ------------

CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
    Purchase of common stock acquired for treasury                            (436,951)                --
    Repayments of note payable and other                                        (2,285)            (2,384)
    Employee stock purchase plan and stock options exercised                     2,881            250,576
                                                                          ------------       ------------
            Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities               (436,355)           248,192
                                                                          ------------       ------------

            Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents             2,345,682         (2,430,060)

CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period                              12,126,076         12,401,062
                                                                          ------------       ------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period                                  $ 14,471,758       $  9,971,002
                                                                          ============       ============

SUPPLEMENTAL CASH FLOW DISCLOSURES:
    Cash paid during the period:
      Interest                                                            $      7,735       $     16,131
      Income Taxes                                                        $    311,350       $  1,056,790
</TABLE>


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


                                        6

<PAGE>


                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.  BASIS OF PRESENTATION - The consolidated financial statements at and for the
    three  months  ended  March 31,  1999 and 1998 have been  prepared by DIANON
    Systems,  Inc. (the "Company")  without audit. In the opinion of management,
    all adjustments necessary to present fairly the financial position,  results
    of  operations  and cash  flows for such  periods  have been  made,  and the
    interim  accounting  policies  followed  are in  conformity  with  generally
    accepted  accounting  principles and are  consistent  with those applied for
    annual  periods as described  in the  Company's  annual  report for the year
    ended December 31, 1998,  previously  filed on Form 10-K with the Securities
    and Exchange Commission (the "Annual Report").

    Certain information and footnote  disclosures normally included in financial
    statements   prepared  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting
    principles  have been  omitted.  It is  suggested  that  these  consolidated
    financial  statements be read in conjunction  with the financial  statements
    included in the Company's  Annual Report.  The results of operations for the
    three months ended March 31, 1999 and 1998 are not necessarily indicative of
    the operating results for the full years.

2.  ACQUISITION  - 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 was primarily allocated to trade receivables
    ($265,000)  and customer  lists  ($164,000),  and the  acquisition  has been
    accounted for pursuant to the purchase  method of accounting.  Pro forma net
    revenues  for the three  months  ended  March 31,  1998,  adjusted as if the
    acquisition  had occurred  January 1, 1998  approximate  $15.5 million.  Pro
    forma  consolidated  net  income  and  earnings  per share  would not differ
    materially from the reported amounts.

3.  EARNINGS PER SHARE - Basic  earnings per share have been  computed  based on
    the weighted average number of common shares outstanding during each period.
    Diluted  earnings per share have been computed based on the weighted average
    number of common shares and common equivalent shares outstanding during each
    period.  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:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                            First Quarter    First Quarter
                                                                 1999            1998
                                                              ----------      ----------
<S>                                                           <C>             <C>      
    BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE
    Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding       6,533,757       6,624,120

    DILUTED EFFECT OF:
    Stock options                                                182,704         354,006
                                                              ----------      ----------

    DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE
    Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding       6,716,461       6,978,126
                                                              ----------      ----------

    NET INCOME                                                $  872,843      $  739,740
                                                              ----------      ----------

    BASIC EARNINGS PER SHARE                                  $     0.13      $     0.11
                                                              ----------      ----------

    DILUTED EARNINGS PER SHARE                                $     0.13      $     0.11
                                                              ----------      ----------
</TABLE>


                                        7

<PAGE>


    Options to purchase  297,456  shares of common stock at prices  ranging from
    $8.125 to $12.25 per share were  outstanding  as of March 31,  1999 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.


4.  SUBSEQUENT  EVENT - On April  7,  1999,  the  Company  signed  a  definitive
    agreement  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,  scheduled  to become  effective  May 1, 1999.  The
    Company plans to finance the acquisition  through a combination of available
    cash and  drawdowns of its credit line, as well as issuance of Common Stock,
    newly issued or treasury shares.



                                        8


<PAGE>


                MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
                   CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS FOR THE
                   THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 1999 AND 1998

The descriptive  analysis contained herein compares the financial results of the
Company for the three months ended March 31, 1999 ("First  Quarter-1999") to the
three months ended March 31, 1998 ("First Quarter-1998").

The Company's  results of operations in the First  Quarter-1999  reflect  higher
revenues on  increased  volume  compared to the First  Quarter-1998,  along with
continued emphasis on controlling costs in selling, general,  administrative and
other operating expenses.  In addition,  the Company's revenue base continues to
shift toward anatomic pathology from clinical chemistry.


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

     o   NET REVENUES

Net revenues  increased 5.1% to $15.9 million in First  Quarter-1999  from $15.1
million in First Quarter-1998. This increase is primarily due to the acquisition
of PRL on February 1, 1998 and the related sales for three months in 1999 versus
two months in 1998.

     o   COST OF SALES

Cost of sales, which consists primarily of payroll, laboratory supplies, outside
services, logistics and depreciation expense, increased to $9.2 million in First
Quarter-1999 from $8.5 million in First Quarter-1998.  As a percentage of sales,
cost of sales totaled 57.9% and 56.1%, respectively. The increased percentage of
revenue  represented by cost of sales largely  reflects the Company's  strategic
focus on  anatomic  pathology,  which  requires a larger  laboratory  work force
versus the clinical chemistry market segment.  Salaries and wages increased from
$3.3  million  in First  Quarter-1998  to $3.7  million  in First  Quarter-1999,
primarily due to an additional  month of salaries at PRL. In addition,  overhead
expenses (primarily building rent, utilities,  and depreciation)  increased from
$2.4 million in First Quarter-1998 to $2.8 million in First Quarter-1999.

     o   GROSS PROFIT

Gross profit was similar in First  Quarter-1999 to First  Quarter-1998,  at $6.7
million  and  $6.6  million,  with  gross  profit  margins  of 42.1%  and  43.9%
respectively.  The  decrease  in  margins  is  primarily  attributable  to price
reimbursement denials for certain laboratory 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.  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,  the  Balanced  Budget Act of 1997  ("BBA")  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


                                        9

<PAGE>


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  to be  effective  January  1, 1999.  The  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.

HCFA is required to recalculate the malpractice  expense  component of the RBRVS
to make it  resource-based,  effective  January  1,  2000.  Because  malpractice
expenses  are  the  least  significant  component  of  the  RBRVS  formula,  the
implementation of resource-based  malpractice  expense is not expected to make a
significant  difference  in  reimbursement  amounts.  More  information  will be
available  on  HCFA's  malpractice  proposal  when  once the  proposed  Medicare
physician fee schedule is published this May or June.

The BBA directs the Secretary of the  Department of Health and Human Services to
implement a prospective  payment system ("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 after January 1,
2000. 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,
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.

The Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1998,  previously  filed
with the Securities and Exchange  Commission,  contains  additional  information
regarding the complex area of reimbursement.

     o   SELLING, GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES

Selling, general and administrative expenses decreased 2.3% from $5.3 million in
First  Quarter-1998  to $5.2 million in First  Quarter-1999.  As a percentage of
sales,  selling,  general and  administrative  expenses  decreased from 35.4% in
First  Quarter-1998  to  32.9%  in First  Quarter-1999,  primarily  due to lower
marketing and administrative expenses, largely offset by higher sales commission
and other selling costs.  Also, First  Quarter-1998  includes severance costs of
$98,000.

     o   RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT EXPENSES

Research  and  development  expenses  decreased  28.2%  from  $165,000  in First
Quarter-1998  to $119,000  in First  Quarter-1999  as a result of the  Company's
continuing selectivity in evaluating existing and new technologies.

     o   INCOME FROM OPERATIONS

Income from operations  increased 19.3% from $1.1 million in First  Quarter-1998
to $1.3 million in First Quarter-1999, primarily as a result of reduced general,
administrative and research and development costs discussed previously.


                                       10
<PAGE>

     o   NET INTEREST INCOME

Net  interest  income  declined  11.5% from  $182,000 in First  Quarter-1998  to
$161,000  in First  Quarter-1999,  partially  due to lower  interest  earned  on
officer loans.

     o   PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES

The provision for income taxes reflects a 41.5% and 43.0%  effective tax rate in
First Quarter-1999 and First Quarter-1998,  respectively,  totaling $619,000 and
$558,000  in the  corresponding  periods.  The lower rate in First  Quarter-1999
reflects reduced state and miscellaneous taxes.

     o   NET INCOME

Net income  increased  18.0% from $740,000 in First  Quarter-1998 to $873,000 in
First  Quarter-1999,  while basic and diluted  earnings per share also increased
18.0%, from $0.11 per share to $0.13 per share, respectively.

LIQUIDITY AND CAPITAL RESOURCES
- -------------------------------

At March 31,  1999,  the  Company had total cash and cash  equivalents  of $14.5
million, substantially all of which was invested in a fund holding U.S. Treasury
securities with maturities of less than three months.  The $2.3 million increase
in  cash  from  December  31,  1998  is  primarily   attributable  to  increased
collections  on sales,  and timing  differences  in the payment of salaries  and
other  liabilities.  Working  capital was $25.0  million and $24.3 million as of
March 31, 1999 and December 31, 1998,  respectively,  and the current  ratio was
4.7:1 and 5.6:1, respectively.

Accounts  receivable  (net of allowances)  totaled $14.1 million as of March 31,
1999 representing  approximately 79 days of sales outstanding ("DSO"),  compared
to $14.4  million as of December  31, 1998 or 82 days.  DSO as of March 31, 1998
approximated  96 days. The decrease in DSO relates to improved  Company  billing
and collection processes, resulting largely from enhancements in our billing and
communications systems.

Total  capital  expenditures  during the First  Quarter-1999  totaled  $360,000.
Expenditures were primarily for ongoing operations.

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 compliance
with financial covenants.  As of March 31, 1999, there have been no amouts drawn
down under this line.

As of March 31,  1999,  the  Company  holds  225,373  shares of Common  Stock in
treasury at a cost of approximately $1.8 million. In October 1998, the Company's
Board of Directors  authorized the repurchase of 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 March 31, 1999 are  approximately  1.4 million shares and $9.3
million in total expenditures.

On April  7,  1999,  the  Company  signed  a  definitive  agreement  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,  scheduled
to become  effective May 1, 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.


                                       11

<PAGE>


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 the 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 during 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.

RISK FACTORS; FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
- ----------------------------------------

This document contains 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


                                       12
<PAGE>

uncertainties in reimbursement rates and reimbursement coverage of various tests
sold by the Company to  beneficiaries  of the Medicare  program;  possibility of
being  deemed  to  be  not  in  compliance  with  Federal  or  state  regulatory
requirements;  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  national  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  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.  These and other
risks are set forth in greater detail in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10K
for the year ended  December 31, 1998 on file with the  Securities  and Exchange
Commission.


QUANTITATIVE AND QUALITATIVE DISCLOSURES ABOUT MARKET RISK

The  Company  is not  subject to market  risk with  respect to its cash and cash
equivalents since  substantially all amounts are invested in a fund holding U.S.
Treasury securities with maturities of less than three months.



                                       13


<PAGE>


PART II OTHER INFORMATION


Item 6   EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON FORM 8-K
         --------------------------------

a        Exhibits

           (11.1)   Statement regarding computation of per share earnings is not
                    required because the relevant  computation can be determined
                    from the  material  contained  in the  Financial  Statements
                    included herein.

           (27.1)   Financial Data Schedule

b        Report on Form 8-K.

           No reports on Form 8-K were filed during the First Quarter 1999.




                                       14

<PAGE>


Pursuant  to the  requirements  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.


                                          DIANON Systems, Inc.



                       May 7, 1999        /s/ KEVIN C. JOHNSON
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          By: Kevin C. Johnson
                                              President and
                                              Chief Executive Officer
                                              (Principal Executive Officer)




                       May 7, 1999        /s/ DAVID R. SCHREIBER
                                          --------------------------------------
                                          By: David R. Schreiber
                                              Senior Vice President, Finance and
                                              Chief Financial Officer
                                              (Principal Financial Officer and
                                              Principal Accounting Officer)



                                       15

<PAGE>


                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----

27.1  Financial Data Schedule (filed herewith)








                                       16


<TABLE> <S> <C>


<ARTICLE>                     5
<CIK>                         0000779282
<NAME>                        DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
<MULTIPLIER>                  1,000
<CURRENCY>                    U.S. Dollars
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1999
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1999
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<CASH>                                          14,472
<SECURITIES>                                         0
<RECEIVABLES>                                   15,110
<ALLOWANCES>                                       960
<INVENTORY>                                        877
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                31,649
<PP&E>                                          14,514
<DEPRECIATION>                                   9,265
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  38,602
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            6,684
<BONDS>                                              0
                                0
                                          0
<COMMON>                                            68
<OTHER-SE>                                      31,764
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    37,338
<SALES>                                         15,857
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                15,857
<CGS>                                            9,188
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    9,188
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                 5,338
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   8
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  1,492
<INCOME-TAX>                                       619
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                873
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                       873
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.13
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.13
        


</TABLE>


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