Shelf-life has become an increasingly critical variable in lab inventory strategy, especially as year-round testing demands stray further from the clean, seasonal arc seen pre-2020. Merging his operational expertise with frontline perspective, CEO and President Dr. Nicholas Lorenzo recently authored an article for Lab Manager exploring how longer shelf-life supports the balance between readiness and excess for more efficient year-round inventory management.
In the article, Dr. Lorenzo broke down how short product lifespans have historically forced labs into reactive purchasing patterns, often leading to unnecessary waste and supply gaps during surges. He outlined why collection methods with greater longevity allow labs to stock more reserve capacity with less turnover pressure, even as testing baselines trend upward outside peak season.
Additionally, Dr. Lorenzo emphasized the foundational role of specimen collection in overall performance. High-sensitivity samples paired with long shelf-life — as demonstrated in the evolved nasal lavage specimen collection device, MicroWash — can strengthen the entire diagnostic pathway. He encouraged lab leaders to enhance decision-making through AI-driven data, as well as to analyze regional and patient demographic trends for more comprehensive planning.
Dr. Lorenzo is a seasoned medical executive with more than 30 years of experience in neurology, healthcare management and entrepreneurship. Along with serving as founder and CEO of MicroWash, parent company University Medical Devices and national consulting firm PHLT Consulting, he has founded and scaled multiple health-tech startups that have been acquired by notable industry leaders, including McGraw Hill, WebMD/Medscape, Gannett Communications and Walmart Health.
