In January, business grew about 20 percent compared to November's figures, Coe said. The data used to calculate growth is the number of urine samples Litholink receives from doctors for analysis. Litholink Inc.'s mission is to prevent kidney stones, or crystal rocks, from recurring by working with doctors to test patients who are at risk and helping them change the patients' lifestyles. The company bills more than 800 payors or insurance companies in the United States for lab tests. Litholink currently provides services to five percent of all U.S. urologists.
Some stones require surgery for removal.
The best prevention method is altering urine chemistry through a combination of diet and medication, Coe said. Preventing kidney stones saves insurance companies money and Litholink hopes to attract their business. For example, Coe said insurance provider Aetna has about half a million customers who experience repeated kidney stones. Kirk Johnson, Litholink's general counsel and executive vice-president, joined the company in November, sees inefficiencies in the communications between insurance companies and doctors. But Johnson said Litholink can serve as a middleman between the two and help both operate more smoothly.