The Dark Report is a subscription newsletter from The Dark Intelligence Group, which is now part of the LabX Media Group. The publication aims to provide “reliable business intelligence for clinical laboratories, pathology groups, and laboratory diagnostics,” per its tagline.
Most of my stories are based on interviews with experts and/or presentations at the publisher’s annual conference. Topics include regulatory compliance, court cases, insurance claims, new technology, and best management practices.
The stories are behind a paywall, so I can’t provide direct links. Here are some recent examples.
Pathology Journals Not Immune to Questionable Studies
Published Oct. 27, 2025
This was a follow-up to an earlier story about paper mills, shady organizations that profit from placing low-quality or fraudulent studies in peer-reviewed journals.
I analyzed a database of journal retractions to identify how many questionable studies have appeared in journals read by pathologists and other laboratory professionals. Spoiler alert: It’s a high number.
I also interviewed Ivan Oransky, MD, executive director of the Center for Scientific Integrity, which maintains the database. He provided insights regarding the prevalence of questionable studies and the factors driving the problem.
Clinical Labs Battle Complex Claims Denials
Published Aug. 4, 2025
Insurance claim denials have long been a major headache for laboratories. This story, based on a conference presentation, looks at how the reasons for denials have become more complex, raising the costs for labs seeking to collect payments.
Lab Industry Fallout from CLIAC Termination
Published June 23, 2025
In March 2025, without public notice, the CDC eliminated the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Advisory Committee (CLIAC), which provided scientific and technical advice to federal agencies that regulate labs.
Lab organizations and former CLIAC members criticized the move. The story includes a Q&A with Donald Karcher, MD, FCAP, president of the College of American Pathologists.
Labs Beware: ‘Vishing’ Rises as Major Cybersecurity Threat
Published June 2, 2025
This story was based on a report from cybersecurity company CrowdStrike about the rise of “vishing” (voice phishing), in which criminals use sophisticated social engineering techniques to gain access to employees’ computer systems.
