Clinical, Diagnostics & Lab Consumables Manufacturing worked example

Diagnostic Cartridge Cost at 68% cartridges expected to pass release and packaging: a worked example

Suppose cartridges expected to pass release and packaging falls to 68%. This page works the full calculation at that level so you can see exactly which result moves and by how much. Estimate total cost for diagnostic assay cartridges using cartridge count, cost per assembled cartridge, usable lot share, and fixed setup or validation cost.

The inputs for this scenario

  • Diagnostic cartridges in the production lot: 25,000 cartridges (held at the documented default)
  • Cost per assembled diagnostic cartridge: 2.85 $ / cartridge (held at the documented default)
  • Cartridges expected to pass release and packaging: 68 % (the input this scenario stresses; the baseline uses 94)
  • Fixed molding, reagent fill, assembly setup, and validation cost: 18,500 $ (held at the documented default)

Working through the calculation

  • The calculation starts from the formula this tool documents: Variable diagnostic cartridge cost = diagnostic cartridges in the production lot × cost per assembled diagnostic cartridge × cartridges expected to pass release and packaging.
  • Total diagnostic cartridge lot cost works out to 66,950 total diagnostic cartridge lot cost at these inputs, and this is the headline figure for the scenario.
  • Cost per assembled diagnostic cartridge works out to 2.68 $ / piece at these inputs.
  • Variable diagnostic cartridge cost works out to 48,450 $ at these inputs.
  • Fixed molding, reagent fill, assembly setup, and validation cost works out to 18,500 $ at these inputs.

How this compares with the baseline

  • Against the tool's baseline example, where cartridges expected to pass release and packaging sits at 94% and the headline result is 85,475 total diagnostic cartridge lot cost, this scenario comes in 21.67% below the baseline at 66,950 total diagnostic cartridge lot cost.
  • It computes the total cost of a diagnostic cartridge lot by combining the yield-weighted variable assembly cost with the fixed setup and validation overhead, then divides to show cost per cartridge actually produced. When the numbers land here, the stressed input is the lever to work; the walkthrough above shows exactly how much each output recovers as it climbs back toward the baseline.

Results at a glance

  • Total diagnostic cartridge lot cost: 66,950 total diagnostic cartridge lot cost (headline result)
  • Cost per assembled diagnostic cartridge: 2.68 $ / piece
  • Variable diagnostic cartridge cost: 48,450 $
  • Fixed molding, reagent fill, assembly setup, and validation cost: 18,500 $

Run it with your numbers

  • To rerun this with your own numbers, open the live Diagnostic Cartridge Cost calculator, set cartridges expected to pass release and packaging to your actual value, and adjust the remaining inputs to match your operation.

Last reviewed 2026-05-12.