Laboratory testing duel nears resolution

The Auckland community laboratory testing saga is coming to an end.

The Supreme Court has refused Diagnostic Medlab permission to appeal a Court of Appeal decision which cleared the way for Labtests Auckland to take over the contract.

Labtests was originally awarded the multi-million dollar contract by Auckland's three district health boards in July 2006. But DML took the case to the High Court, arguing the contracting process was unfair since Labtests' chief executive was also an Auckland DHB member.

The High Court upheld the appeal, but it was overturned by the Court of Appeal last September.

Now the Supreme Court has dismissed DML's appeal application and ordered it to pay costs totaling $5,000.

- NEWSTALK ZB