Responsible laboratory surveillance of pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease on biologic infusion therapy

The annual healthcare spending on pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has increased over time. The objectives of the study were to investigate the cost of routine laboratory surveillance in pediatric IBD patients during outpatient maintenance biologic infusions and determine their impact on clinical management. We performed a retrospective chart review between June 30, 2020 and July 1, 2021 of subjects aged 0–21 years with IBD receiving maintenance biologic infusions at Stony Brook Children's Hospital (SBCH). 34 subjects met the inclusion criteria. A total of 248 lab sets/infusions were reviewed during the study window. The average hospital charge for studies obtained per infusion was $1308.36 ± $136.66 with an average annual cost of $9543.44 ± $1885.44 per patient. Fifteen (6%) instances of change in clinical management were found. Our study suggests routine laboratory surveillance during infusions does not affect clinical management and may represent excess financial spending.