Lab Echandi

What Lab Echandi does

Lab Echandi (legal name Laboratorios Clínicos Echandi, operating entity Microbiologos Asociados Sociedad Anónima) is a Costa Rica-headquartered clinical laboratory network founded in 1953 by Dr. Carlos Alberto Echandi Rodríguez. The company operates 30+ physical laboratory branches across Costa Rica — the largest such network in the country — spanning San José, Escazú, Santa Ana, Alajuela, Cartago, Heredia, Guanacaste, and Puntarenas, supplemented by international presence in Guatemala and Nicaragua. It is the only clinical laboratory in Costa Rica holding dual ISO 17025 and ISO 15189 accreditation from the Ente Costarricense de Acreditación (ECA).

The company's core product is comprehensive clinical laboratory analysis across chemistry, hematology, immunology, hormones, genetics, allergy, toxicology, and infectious disease screening, performed using accredited methodologies (CLIA, ECLIA, real-time PCR, immunochromatography) on standard analyzers (Cobas c503/e801, Maglumi X3, Immulite 2000). Specialized offerings include non-invasive fetal sex determination via real-time PCR, DNA paternity testing with 99.99% accuracy, STD/STI panels, and pediatric-friendly service at dedicated locations (Sedes Super Valientes). Ancillary services include home sample collection in the Greater Metropolitan Area, a 24/7 online results portal, the Echandi Mujer women's health sub-brand, and a medical-professionals portal for physicians.

Lab Echandi makes money through a hybrid revenue model: (a) one-time per-test and per-panel payments from individual patients via branches, e-commerce, or home service; (b) recurring corporate wellness and occupational health contracts including drug testing for recruitment and health fairs; and (c) transactional reimbursements from 9 in-network insurance providers (INS, Pan-American Life, Assa, BMI, ADISA, Redbridge, ADDIUVA, Cuéntame, LHS) under pre-authorization and co-pay structures. In 2024, the company became part of the diagnostic division of Grupo Echevarne, a healthcare holding company operating across Assistential, Diagnostic, and Prevention services, marking Grupo Echevarne's entry into the American continent. Third-generation Echandi family members continue in operating leadership.

Name

Lab Echandi

Legal name

Laboratorios Clínicos Echandi

Website

https://labechandi.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1953

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Lab Echandi is Costa Rica's largest clinical laboratory network, operating 30+ branches and offering comprehensive diagnostic testing — from routine chemistry to genetics, paternity, and fetal sex screening — under dual ISO 17025/15189 accreditation for individual patients, physicians, corporate clients, and insurance partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Escazú

HQ country

Costa Rica

HQ region

Latin America

Offices35 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Clinical Laboratory Testing Services: Individual patients pay out-of-pocket or via insurance for routine and specialized clinical tests across categories including clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, hormones, genetics, allergy testing, toxicology, and infectious disease screening. Tests are purchased individually or as bundled panels via the website or at laboratory locations.
2. Home Visit Services: Home sample collection service within the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM), coordinated in advance. Revenue generated through service fees bundled with test costs for patients unable or unwilling to visit physical locations.
3. Corporate Health and Wellness Programs: B2B services including health fairs, corporate wellness packages, drug testing for recruitment and HR control, and discounted examination packages for company employees, clients, and their families. Includes credit terms for enterprise clients.
4. Insurance Network Reimbursements: Reimbursement revenue through partnerships with national and international insurance providers. Insured patients pay only co-pays at Lab Echandi locations, with the laboratory billing insurers directly under pre-authorization or claim processes.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Lab Echandi provides clinical laboratory testing services across routine diagnostics (clinical chemistry, hematology, immunology, hormones, allergy, toxicology, infectious disease) and specialized genetic testing (paternity and fetal sex determination). Services are delivered through 30+ physical branches across Costa Rica, a home sample collection service in the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM), an e-commerce-enabled test catalog, and a 24/7 online results portal. The business also sells corporate wellness programs and is in-network with nine national and international insurance providers.

Product overview

Lab Echandi operates as a clinical laboratory network offering comprehensive diagnostic testing services. The core offering consists of clinical laboratory analyses (blood, urine, biological samples), supported by specialized modules including home sample collection service, online results portal, fetal sex testing via cell-free fetal DNA analysis, DNA paternity testing, STD/STI panels, and corporate health programs. The company also maintains dedicated sub-brands for women's health (Echandí Mujer) and pediatric-friendly locations (Sedes Super Valientes). Individual tests are available through an online catalog, with bundled panel products such as Perfil Hormonal Femenino and Perfil Especial Mujer offering discounted pricing compared to individual tests. The laboratory operates across 30+ locations throughout Costa Rica with home service available in the GAM area.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Echandi Mujer: Women's health initiative and specialized care program with 75% of collaborators being women.

Products and services

• Servicios de Análisis Clínicos (Clinical Laboratory Analysis Services) Comprehensive clinical laboratory testing services covering routine blood work, urine tests, and biological sample analysis across multiple diagnostic categories for individual patients and physicians.
• Servicio a Domicilio (Home Sample Collection Service) Home sample collection service allowing patients to have samples taken at their home or office within the Greater Metropolitan Area (GAM) of Costa Rica, coordinated one day in advance between 7:00am and 4:00pm, available Monday through Saturday.
• Prueba de Sexo Fetal (Fetal Sex Determination Test) Non-invasive fetal sex determination test using real-time PCR to detect Y chromosome markers in maternal blood from the 10th week of gestation, with results in approximately two weeks and high reliability for singleton pregnancies.
• Prueba de Paternidad (DNA Paternity Test) DNA-based paternity testing that compares genetic markers between alleged father and child with 99.99% accuracy for inclusive results, using buccal epithelial cells or blood samples. Mother's sample included free of charge; results available as confidential or legally valid.
• Pruebas ETS (Sexually Transmitted Disease Testing Panel) Comprehensive STD/STI testing panel including Chlamydia, Gonorrhea, Syphilis, HIV 1/2, Hepatitis B and C, Herpes simplex 1 and 2, and HPV detection, purchasable through the online store.
• Servicios Empresariales (Corporate Health and Wellness Services) B2B corporate health services including health fairs, corporate wellness packages, drug testing (doping) for recruitment and HR control, and discounted examination packages for company employees and their families, with credit terms available for enterprise clients.
• Perfil Hormonal Femenino (Women's Hormonal Profile) Bundled women's hormonal panel including LH, FSH, Estradiol, Progesterone, and Total Testosterone tests, priced at ₡52,000 (discounted from ₡72,000) during promotional periods.
• Perfil Especial Mujer (Women's Special Profile) Bundled women's health profile including Ferritin, Vitamin D (D3), and TSH tests, priced at ₡44,000 (reduced from ₡69,500) during promotional periods.
• Directorio de Exámenes (Test Directory / Online Test Catalog) Comprehensive catalog of laboratory tests available for individual online purchase, including basic panels, cardiovascular, thyroid, fertility, drug testing, and specialized panels, with published individual test pricing.

Quantifiable outcome

• 30+ physical laboratory locations across Costa Rica providing broad geographic coverage
• +4 more outcomes

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• INS (Instituto Nacional de Seguros)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorINS is a major national insurance provider. Lab Echandi is an in-network provider accepting INS policies with pre-authorization (5 days in advance) or direct patient presentation with policy number. Chequeos médicos (medical checkups) handled via dedicated email/phone. Insured patients pay co-pay or full rate depending on authorization status.
• Pan-American Life Insurance de Costa Rica, S.A.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLab Echandi is a member of Pan-American's Select Network (Red Selecta), providing access to special pricing for insured patients who pay only the co-pay. Patients present insurance card and completed claim form with doctor diagnosis, signature, and seal.
• Assa Compañía de Seguros, S.A. (formerly Blue Cross Blue Shield)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPart of the ASSA provider network with special pricing for asegurados. Accepts pre-authorizations so patients pay only co-pay. Pre-authorization process involves calling ASSA, specifying tests and Lab Echandi location, and ASSA sends information directly to the laboratory.
• BMIcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBMI network provider offering special pricing for asegurados. Accepts pre-authorizations (called in to BMI at 800-7666-7264) which BMI then sends to Lab Echandi. Patients present ID and insurance card.
• ADISA (Aseguradora del Istmo, S.A.)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorADISA network provider with special pricing for asegurados. Some tests available without pre-authorization (card only). Pre-authorization called to ADISA at 4101-0000.
• RedbridgeminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork provider for Redbridge. Special pricing for asegurados. Patients without pre-authorization pay full price and file claim with Redbridge.
• ADDIUVA (Interamerican Assist Costa Rica S.A.)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork provider with special pricing for asegurados. Pre-authorization may be required, called to ADDIUVA at 2520-7590. Patient presents identification.
• Cuéntame Costa Rica (SALUD PRIMERO)minorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNetwork provider with special pricing. Pre-authorization may be required, coordinated by calling 4404-1171.
• RED DE LHScoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLHS network provider with special pricing for asegurados. Accepts pre-authorizations so patients pay only co-pay. Contact: 4032-2040.
• Grupo EchevarnecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLab Echandi is part of the diagnostic division of Grupo Echevarne, a holding company operating in the healthcare sector offering Assistential, Diagnostic, and Prevention services. This partnership marks Grupo Echevarne's entry into the American continent, with plans to expand into other countries.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves9 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Eurofins Scientific: International testing services group with significant clinical diagnostic and genomic testing operations across Europe, the Americas and Asia. Relevant peer for the Latin American regional expansion trajectory backed by an international parent, and for the breadth of clinical and genetic test offerings.
• Quest Diagnostics: US clinical laboratory giant with the largest US patient service center network and a broad routine and specialty test menu. Highly comparable in the multi-location patient service center model, esoteric testing capability, and broad payer relationships, though operating in the US market.
• Labcorp (Laboratory Corporation of America): US clinical laboratory network operating a large patient service center footprint with routine chemistry, immunoassay, and specialty genetics offerings. Comparable in omni-channel patient access, broad test catalog, and employer/insurer channel partnerships, though at much larger scale and US-focused.
• Synlab: Europe's largest clinical laboratory services provider, offering routine and esoteric diagnostics across multiple countries via hub-and-spoke models. Comparable in the breadth of test catalog (clinical chemistry, immunology, genetics) and mixed B2C/B2B/insurance channel mix, though at international scale.
• Cerba Healthcare: European clinical laboratory group combining routine and specialty/reference testing across Europe and select international markets. Directly comparable for the mix of routine diagnostics with reference/esoteric specialty testing, plus multi-channel (B2C, B2B, hospital outreach) distribution.
• Unilabs: Pan-European clinical laboratory network providing routine and specialty diagnostics through centralized labs and patient service centers. Highly comparable multi-location clinical lab operator with broad test menus and insurer/health-system contracts, though operating at much larger geographic scale than Lab Echandi.

Direct peers

• Bacteriólogo e Inmunoanálisis (Labin) / Laboratorios Páez (regional CR labs): Established Costa Rican clinical laboratory competitors operating physical patient service centers and serving individual patients, physicians, and corporate clients with comparable routine and specialty testing. Direct competitors for branch-level volume, physician referral share, and insured patient routing in Costa Rica.

Emerging players

• Igenomix: Spain-based reproductive genetics laboratory serving fertility clinics and individuals with non-invasive prenatal testing and reproductive genetics. Most comparable emerging player to Lab Echandi's fetal sex determination and reproductive genetics line (Azul Fertility center), though operating globally rather than in a single national footprint.
• GENOMIKA: Latin American (Mexico-headquartered) genetic diagnostics laboratory offering prenatal, paternity, and hereditary disease testing. Closest regional emerging competitor to Lab Echandi's specialty DNA and reproductive testing services, providing a comparable Latin American specialty lab comparison point.

Others

• Hospital Clínica Bíblica lab services: Hospital-affiliated clinical laboratory operating within one of Costa Rica's largest private hospital networks. Indirect competitor for outpatient diagnostic testing and an adjacent ecosystem participant given Lab Echandi's founding ties to the hospital (Dr. Carlos Echandi transferred his lab from Hospital Clínica Bíblica to Clínica Aguilar Bonilla in 1953).

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks1 record

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/LaboratoriosEchandi
• Instagraminstagram.com/labechandi
• TikToktiktok.com/@labechandicr
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lab-echandi

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Lab Echandi