Document:

Exhibit 4.3

______________________________________________________________________________

                                WARRANT AGREEMENT

                                      Among

                                  LABONE, INC.,

                    WELSH, CARSON, ANDERSON & STOWE IX, L.P.

                                       and

                             THE OTHER HOLDERS NAMED
                          ON THE SIGNATURE PAGES HERETO

                           Dated as of August 31, 2001

______________________________________________________________________________

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                           TABLE OF CONTENTS
                           -----------------

                                                                   Page

      SECTION 1.  Warrant Certificates................................1
      SECTION 2.  Execution of Warrant Certificates...................1
      SECTION 3.  Registration........................................2
      SECTION 4.  Registration of Transfers and Exchanges.............2
      SECTION 5.  Warrants; Exercise of Warrants......................3
      SECTION 6.  Payment of Taxes....................................4
      SECTION 7.  Mutilated or Missing Warrant Certificates...........5
      SECTION 8.  Reservation of Warrant Shares.......................5
      SECTION 9.  Obtaining Stock Exchange Listings...................6
      SECTION 10. Adjustment of Number of Warrant Shares Issuable.....6
      SECTION 11. Fractional Interests...............................14
      SECTION 12. Notices to Warrant Holders.........................14
      SECTION 13. Notices to Company and Warrant Holder..............15
      SECTION 14. Supplements and Amendments.........................15
      SECTION 15. Successors.........................................15
      SECTION 16. Termination........................................15
      SECTION 17. Governing Law......................................15
      SECTION 18. Benefits of This Agreement.........................15
      SECTION 19. Counterparts.......................................15

                                       i

<PAGE>

           WARRANT AGREEMENT (the "Warrant Agreement" or this "Agreement") dated
as of August 31, 2001 (the "Original Issue Date") among LABONE, INC., a Missouri
corporation (the "Company"), WELSH, CARSON, ANDERSON & STOWE IX, L.P., a
Delaware limited partnership ("WCAS"), and the other parties named on the
signature pages hereto (such other parties, together with WCAS and their
respective successors and assigns, the "Holders"). Terms defined in the
Securities Purchase Agreement (the "Securities Purchase Agreement") dated as of
August 31, 2001 among the Company, WCAS and the other purchasers named therein,
unless otherwise defined herein, are used herein as therein defined.

                              W I T N E S S E T H:
                              - - - - - - - - - -

           WHEREAS, the Company proposes to issue (i) on the Original Issue
Date, in connection with the issuance of the Series B-1 Preferred Shares and the
Series B-2 Preferred Shares on the Original Issue Date pursuant to the
Securities Purchase Agreement, warrants to purchase 350,000 shares (the "Initial
Warrants") of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company ("Common
Stock") and (ii) from time to time after the Original Issue Date, in connection
with the issuance of Series B Notes in accordance with the provisions of Section
6.05 of the Securities Purchase Agreement, certain additional warrants to
purchase Common Stock (the "Additional Warrants" and, together with the Initial
Warrants, the "Warrants"); and

           WHEREAS, subject to adjustment as set forth herein, each Warrant
shall initially entitle the Holder thereof to purchase one share of Common Stock
(the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Warrants being
referred to herein as the "Warrant Shares");

           NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the mutual
covenants and agreements herein contained and for other good and valuable
consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the
parties hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:

           SECTION 1.  Warrant Certificates. The certificates evidencing the
Warrants (the "Warrant Certificates") shall be in registered form only and shall
be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto.

           SECTION 2.  Execution of Warrant Certificates. (a) Warrant
Certificates shall be signed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman of the
Board or its Chief Executive Officer or its President or its Chief Financial
Officer and by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary under its corporate seal.
Each such signature upon the Warrant Certificates may be in the form of a
facsimile signature of the present or any future Chairman of the Board, Chief
Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary or Assistant
Secretary and may be imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Warrant
Certificates and for that purpose the Company may adopt and use the facsimile
signature of any person who shall have been Chairman of the Board, Chief
Executive Officer, President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary or Assistant
Secretary, notwithstanding the fact that at the time the Warrant Certificates
shall be delivered or disposed of

<PAGE>

such person shall have ceased to hold such office. The seal of the Company may
be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed, imprinted
or otherwise reproduced on the Warrant Certificates.

           (b) In case any officer of the Company who shall have signed any of
the Warrant Certificates shall cease to be such officer before the Warrant
Certificates so signed shall have been disposed of by the Company, such Warrant
Certificates nevertheless may be delivered or disposed of as though such person
had not ceased to be such officer of the Company; and any Warrant Certificate
may be signed on behalf of the Company by any person who, at the actual date of
the execution of such Warrant Certificate, shall be a proper officer of the
Company to sign such Warrant Certificate, although at the date of the execution
of this Agreement any such person was not such an officer.

           SECTION 3.  Registration. The Company shall number and register the
Warrant Certificates in a register as they are issued. The Company may deem and
treat the registered Holder(s) of the Warrant Certificates as the absolute
owner(s) thereof (notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing
thereon made by anyone), for all purposes, and shall not be affected by any
notice to the contrary or bound to recognize any equitable or other claim to or
interest in such Warrant on the part of any other person or entity. The Company
shall act as the registrar for the Warrants.

           SECTION 4.  Registration of Transfers and Exchanges. (a) The Company
shall from time to time register the transfer of any outstanding Warrant
Certificates in a Warrant register to be maintained by the Company at its office
designated for such purposes (the address of which is set forth in Section 13
hereof), upon surrender thereof accompanied by the assignment form on the
reverse of the Warrant Certificate (the "Assignment Form"), duly executed by the
registered Holder or Holders thereof or by the duly appointed legal
representative thereof or by a duly authorized attorney. Upon any such
registration of transfer, a new Warrant Certificate shall be issued to the
transferee(s) and the surrendered Warrant Certificate shall be canceled and
disposed of by the Company. No transfer or exchange of any Warrant shall be
valid unless (x) made in the foregoing manner at such office and (y) registered
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any applicable state securities
laws or unless an exemption from registration is available.

           (b) The Holders agree that each Warrant Certificate and any
certificate representing the Warrant Shares will bear the following legend:

     "THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
     UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS
     AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
     REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH ACT AND SUCH OTHER SECURITIES LAWS OR
     UNLESS EXEMPTIONS FROM SUCH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS ARE APPLICABLE WITH
     RESPECT TO SUCH DISPOSITION."

                                       2

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           (c) Warrant Certificates may be exchanged at the option of the
Holder(s) thereof, when surrendered to the Company at its office for another
Warrant Certificate or other Warrant Certificates of like tenor and representing
in the aggregate a like number of Warrants. Upon any sale or transfer of any
Warrant Certificate or Warrant Shares pursuant to an effective registration
statement under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act") or
in a transaction meeting the requirements of Rule 144 under the Securities Act,
the Company shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Warrant Certificate
or such Warrant Shares for another Warrant Certificate or certificate evidencing
Warrant Shares, as applicable, that does not bear the legend set forth in
Section 4(b) above. Warrant Certificates surrendered for exchange shall be
canceled and disposed of by the Company.

           SECTION 5.  Warrants; Exercise of Warrants. (a) Subject to the terms
of this Agreement, each Holder shall have the right, which may be exercised at
any time prior to 5:00 p.m. (EST) on August 31, 2008, to receive from the
Company the number of fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares and any other
capital stock of the Company issuable upon exercise of the Warrant as provided
for in Section 10(a) ("Additional Warrant Shares") which the Holder may at the
time be entitled to receive on exercise of such Warrants and payment of the
Exercise Price (as hereinafter defined) then in effect for such Warrant Shares
(if such exercise is not a Cash-Less Exercise (as hereinafter defined). Each
Warrant not exercised prior to 5:00 p.m. (EST) on August 31, 2008 shall become
void and all rights thereunder and all rights in respect thereof under this
Agreement shall cease as of such time.

           (b) A Warrant may be exercised upon surrender to the Company at its
office designated for such purpose (the address of which is set forth in Section
13 hereof) of the Warrant Certificate or Certificates evidencing the Warrants to
be exercised with the form of election to purchase on the reverse thereof duly
filled in and signed, and upon payment to the Company of the exercise price (the
"Exercise Price") which is set forth in the form of Warrant Certificate attached
hereto as Exhibit A as adjusted as herein provided, for the number of Warrant
Shares and Additional Warrant Shares, if any, in respect of which such Warrants
are then exercised. Payment of the aggregate Exercise Price shall be made in
cash or by certified or official bank check to the order of the Company. In lieu
of exercising a Warrant by paying in full the Exercise Price, the Holder may,
from time to time, convert a Warrant, in whole or in part, into a number of
shares of Common Stock determined by dividing (i) the aggregate current market
price of the number of shares of Common Stock represented by the Warrants
converted, minus the aggregate Exercise Price for such shares of Common Stock by
(ii) the current market price of one share of Common Stock (a "Cash-Less
Exercise"). The current market price shall be determined pursuant to Section
10(f).

           (c) Subject to the provisions of Section 6 hereof, upon such
surrender of Warrant Certificates and payment of the Exercise Price (if such
exercise is not a Cash-Less Exercise) the Company shall issue and cause to be
delivered with all reasonable dispatch (and in any event within five business
days after such receipt) to or upon the written order of the Holder and, subject
to compliance with all applicable securities laws, in such name or names as the
Holder may designate, a certificate or certificates for the number of full
Warrant Shares and Additional Warrant Shares, if any, issuable upon the exercise
of such Warrants together with cash as provided

                                       3

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in Section 11. Such certificate or certificates shall be deemed to have been
issued and any person so designated to be named therein shall be deemed to have
become a Holder of record of such Warrant Shares and Additional Warrant Shares,
if any, as of the date of the surrender of such Warrant Certificates and payment
of the Exercise Price (if such exercise is not a Cash-Less Exercise).

           (d) Prior to the exercise of the Warrants, except as may be
specifically provided for herein, (i) no Holder of a Warrant Certificate, as
such, shall be entitled to any of the rights of a holder of Common Stock of the
Company, including, without limitation, the right to vote at or to receive any
notice of any meetings of stockholders; (ii) the consent of any such Holder
shall not be required with respect to any action or proceeding of the Company;
(iii) except as provided in Section 10(i), no such Holder, by reason of the
ownership or possession of a Warrant or the Warrant Certificate representing the
same, shall have any right to receive any cash dividends, stock dividends,
allotments or rights or other distributions paid, allotted or distributed or
distributable to the stockholders of the Company prior to, or for which the
relevant record date preceded, the date of the exercise of such Warrant; and
(iv) no such Holder shall have any right not expressly conferred by the Warrant
or Warrant Certificate held by such Holder.

           (e) The holders of the Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants will not be entitled to vote or give or withhold consent with respect
to any matter submitted to the stockholders of the Company for a vote or action
at any time that the Series B-1 Preferred Shares are outstanding and each
Warrant Share shall bear a legend to such effect.

           (f) The Warrants shall be exercisable, at the election of the Holders
thereof, either in full or from time to time in part (but not for fractional
shares unless the Warrant is exercised in full) and, in the event that a Warrant
Certificate is exercised in respect of fewer than all of the Warrant Shares
issuable on such exercise at any time prior to the date of expiration of the
Warrants, a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the remaining Warrant or Warrants
will be issued and delivered pursuant to the provisions of this Section 5 and of
Section 2 hereof.

           (g) All Warrant Certificates surrendered upon exercise of Warrants
shall be canceled and disposed of by the Company. The Company shall keep copies
of this Agreement and any notices given or received hereunder available for
inspection by the Holders during normal business hours at its office.

           SECTION 6.  Payment of Taxes. The Company will pay all documentary
stamp taxes attributable to the initial issuance of Warrant Shares and
Additional Warrant Shares, if any, upon the exercise of Warrants; provided, that
the Company shall not be required to pay any tax or taxes which may be payable
in respect of any transfer involved in the issue of any Warrant Certificates or
any certificates for Warrant Shares or Additional Warrant Shares, if any, in a
name other than that of the registered Holder of a Warrant Certificate
surrendered for registration of transfer or upon the exercise of a Warrant, and
the Company shall not be required to issue or deliver such Warrant Certificates
unless or until the person or persons requesting the issuance thereof shall have
paid to the Company the amount of such tax or shall have established to the
reasonable satisfaction of the Company that such tax has been paid.

                                       4

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           SECTION 7.  Mutilated or Missing Warrant Certificates. In case any
of the Warrant Certificates shall be mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, the
Company may in its discretion issue, in exchange and substitution for and upon
cancellation of the mutilated Warrant Certificate, or in lieu of and
substitution for the Warrant Certificate lost, stolen or destroyed, a new
Warrant Certificate of like tenor and representing an equivalent number of
Warrants, but only upon receipt of evidence reasonably satisfactory to the
Company of such loss, theft or destruction of such Warrant Certificate and
indemnity, if requested, also reasonably satisfactory to it. Applicants for such
substitute Warrant Certificates shall also comply with such other reasonable
regulations and pay such other reasonable charges as the Company may prescribe.

           SECTION 8.  Reservation of Warrant Shares. (a) The Company will at
all times reserve and keep available, free from preemptive rights, out of the
aggregate of its authorized but unissued Common Stock or other capital stock of
the class with respect to Additional Warrant Shares, if any, or its authorized
and issued Common Stock or other capital stock of the class with respect to
Additional Warrant Shares, if any, held in its treasury, for the purpose of
enabling it to satisfy any obligation to issue Warrant Shares and Additional
Warrant Shares, if any, upon exercise of Warrants, the maximum number of shares
of Common Stock and other capital stock with respect to Additional Warrant
Shares, if any, which may then be deliverable upon the exercise of all
outstanding Warrants.

           (b) The Company or, if appointed, the transfer agent for the Common
Stock (the "Transfer Agent") and every subsequent transfer agent for any shares
of the Company's capital stock issuable upon the exercise of any of the rights
of purchase aforesaid will be irrevocably authorized and directed at all times
to reserve such number of authorized shares as shall be required for such
purpose. The Company will keep a copy of this Agreement on file with the
Transfer Agent and with every subsequent transfer agent for any shares of the
Company's capital stock issuable upon the exercise of the rights of purchase
represented by the Warrants. The Company will furnish such Transfer Agent a copy
of all notices of adjustments and certificates related thereto, transmitted to
each Holder pursuant to Section 12 hereof.

           (c) Before taking any action which would cause an adjustment pursuant
to Section 10 hereof to reduce the Exercise Price below the then par value (if
any) of the Warrant Shares, the Company will take any corporate action which
may, in the opinion of its counsel (which may be counsel employed by the
Company), be necessary in order that the Company may validly and legally issue
fully paid and nonassessable Warrant Shares at the Exercise Price as so
adjusted.

           (d) The Company represents and warrants that the initial Warrant
Shares issuable upon conversion of Warrants have been duly authorized and
covenants that all Warrant Shares and Additional Warrant Shares, if any, which
may be issued upon exercise of Warrants will, upon issue, be fully paid,
nonassessable, free of preemptive rights and, subject to Section 6, free from
all taxes, liens, charges and security interests (other than caused by the
holder) with respect to the issue thereof.

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           (e) If at any time after conversion of the Series B-1 Preferred
Shares into Common Stock and prior to Company Shareholder Approval, the
aggregate number of Warrant Shares that are issuable upon exercise of the
Warrants would, together with the number of shares of Common Stock issued upon
such conversion of the Series B-1 Preferred Shares (the "Aggregate Conversion
Shares"), exceed the Conversion Cap Number (as defined in the Series B-1
Preferred Certificate of Designation), then the Company shall, at the option of
the majority in interest of the Holders, redeem a number of Warrant Shares
(following exercise by the Holders of the appropriate portion of the Warrants)
equal to the excess of the Aggregate Conversion Shares over the Conversion Cap
Number (the "Excess Shares") and, on a pro rata basis, pay the Holders in cash
the fair market value of such Excess Shares or exchange such Excess Shares for a
number of Series B-2 Preferred Shares equal to the fair market value of the such
Excess Shares divided by $1,000.

           SECTION 9.  Obtaining Stock Exchange Listings. The Company will from
time to time take all action which may be necessary so that the Warrant Shares
and the Additional Warrant Shares, if any, immediately upon their issuance upon
the exercise of Warrants, will be listed on the Nasdaq Stock Market and/or any
other principal securities exchanges and markets within the United States of
America, if any, on which other shares of Common Stock or the Additional Warrant
Shares, if any, as the case may be, are then listed.

           SECTION 10.  Adjustment of Number of Warrant Shares Issuable. The
number of Warrant Shares issuable upon the exercise of each Warrant is subject
to adjustment from time to time upon the occurrence of the events enumerated in
this Section 10. For purposes of this Section 10, "Common Stock" means shares
now or hereafter authorized of any class of common stock of the Company and any
other stock of the Company, however designated, that has the right (subject to
any prior rights of any class or series of preferred stock) to participate in
any distribution of the assets or earnings of the Company without limit as to
per share amount (other than the Series B-1 Preferred Shares, Series B-2
Preferred Shares, Series C-1 Preferred Shares and Series C-2 Preferred Shares).

     (a)  Adjustment for Change in Capital Stock. If the Company, after the
Original Issue Date:

                (1)  pays a dividend or makes a distribution on its Common
           Stock in shares of its Common Stock;

                (2)  subdivides its outstanding shares of Common Stock
           into a greater number of shares;

                (3)  combines its outstanding shares of Common Stock
           into a smaller number of shares;

                (4)  makes a distribution on its Common Stock in
           shares of its capital stock other than Common Stock; or

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                (5)  issues by reclassification of its Common Stock
           any shares of its capital stock;

then the number and kind of shares of its capital stock issuable upon exercise
of any Warrant in effect immediately prior to such action shall be
proportionately adjusted so that the Holder of any Warrant thereafter exercised
may receive the aggregate number and kind of shares of capital stock of the
Company which he or she would have owned immediately following such action if
such Warrant had been exercised immediately prior to such action. The adjustment
shall become effective immediately after the record date in the case of a
dividend or distribution and immediately after the effective date in the case of
a subdivision, combination or reclassification. If, after an adjustment, a
Holder of a Warrant upon exercise of it may receive shares of two or more
classes of capital stock of the Company, the exercise privilege of each class of
capital stock shall thereafter be subject to adjustment on terms comparable to
those applicable to Common Stock in this Section 10. Such adjustment shall be
made successively whenever any event listed above shall occur.

           (b) Adjustment for Rights Issue. If after the Original Issue Date the
Company distributes any rights, options or warrants to all holders of its Common
Stock entitling them to purchase shares of Common Stock or securities directly
or indirectly convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock (or options or
rights with respect to such securities) at a price per share less than the
current market price per share on the record date for the determination of
stockholders entitled to receive the rights, options or warrants, the number of
Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of one Warrant shall be adjusted in
accordance with the formula:

                N' = N x    (O + A)
                         -----------------
                            (O + (A x P))
                                      -
                                      M

where:

      N' =  the adjusted number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of
            one Warrant.

      N  =  the current number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of
            one Warrant.

      O  =  the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the
            record date.

      A  =  the number of additional shares of Common Stock offered pursuant to
            such rights issuance.

      P  =  the offering price per share of the additional shares.

      M  =  the current market price per share of Common Stock on the record
            date.

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The adjustment shall be made successively whenever any such rights, options or
warrants are issued and shall become effective immediately after the record date
for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive the rights, options or
warrants. If at the end of the period during which such rights, options or
warrants are exercisable, not all rights, options or warrants shall have been
exercised, the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of the Warrants
shall be immediately readjusted to what it would have been if the shares
represented by "A" in the above formula had been the number of shares actually
issued.

           (c) Adjustment for Other Distributions. If after the Original Issue
Date the Company distributes to all holders of its Common Stock any of its
assets (including but not limited to cash), debt securities, or any rights or
warrants to purchase debt securities, assets or other securities of the Company
(other than Common Stock), the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise
of one Warrant shall be adjusted in accordance with the formula:

                N' = N x M
                         ---
                         M-F

where:

      N' =  the adjusted number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise
            of one Warrant.

      N  =  the current number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of
            one Warrant.

      M  =  the current market price per share of Common Stock on the
            record date mentioned below.

      F  =  the fair market value on the record date of the assets,
            securities, rights or warrants applicable to one share of Common
            Stock. The Board of Directors shall determine the fair market
            value thereof in good faith.

The adjustment shall be made successively whenever any such distribution is made
and shall become effective immediately after the record date for the
determination of stockholders entitled to receive the distribution. No
adjustment shall be made pursuant to this Section 10(c) if the fair market value
on the applicable record date of the assets, securities, rights or warrants
applicable to one share of Common Stock is equal to or greater than the current
market price per share of Common Stock on such record date.

     This subsection (c) does not apply to regular quarterly cash dividends or
cash distributions paid out of consolidated current or retained earnings as
shown on the books of the Company prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied. Also this subsection does not apply
to rights, options or warrants referred to in subsection (b) of this Section 10.
If any adjustment is made pursuant to this subsection (c) as a result of the
issuance of rights, options or warrants and at the end of the period during
which any rights, options or warrants

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are exercisable, not all such rights, options or warrants shall have been
exercised, the Warrant shall be immediately readjusted as if "F" in the above
formula was the fair market value on the record date of the indebtedness or
assets actually distributed upon exercise of such rights, options or warrants
divided by the number of shares of Common Stock outstanding on the record date.

           (d) Adjustment for Common Stock Issue. If after the Original Issue
Date the Company issues shares of Common Stock for a consideration per share
less than the current market price per share on the date the Company fixes the
offering price of such additional shares, the number of Warrant Shares issuable
upon exercise of one Warrant shall be adjusted in accordance with the formula:

                N' = N x  A
                        ---
                        O + P
                            -
                            M

where:

      N' =  the adjusted number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of
            one Warrant.

      N  =  the then current number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of
            one Warrant.

      O  =  the number of shares outstanding immediately prior to the issuance
            of such additional shares.

      P  =  the aggregate consideration received for the issuance of such
            additional shares.

      M  =  the current market price per share on the date of sale of such
            additional shares.

      A  =  the number of shares outstanding immediately after the issuance of
            such additional shares.

The adjustment shall be made successively whenever any such issuance is made,
and shall become effective immediately after such issuance. This Section 10(d)
does not apply to the issuance of shares of Common Stock:

                (1)  in connection with any transaction of the type described
          in Section 10(a) above, upon exercise of any securities of the type
          referred to in Section 10(b) above, or upon the conversion or exchange
          of any securities of the type referred to in Section 10(e) below,

                (2)  upon the exercise of any Warrants,

                (3)  upon the conversion of any Series B-1 Preferred Shares
          or Series C-1 Preferred Shares,

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                (4)  upon the exercise of any option or warrant outstanding on
          the Original Issue Date and disclosed in Item 6.04(b) of the
          Disclosure Schedule delivered in connection with the Securities
          Purchase Agreement,

                (5)  upon the exercise of warrants or other rights issued to
          banks or institutional lenders in connection with debt financings,
          equipment financings or similar transactions or to strategic partners
          in primarily non-financing transactions, in all such cases as approved
          by the Board of Directors of the Company so long as the aggregate
          number of such shares of Common Stock does not exceed 400,000 in the
          aggregate (as hereinafter adjusted for stock dividends, stock splits,
          subdivisions and combinations of shares and like transactions),

                (6)  issued as a dividend on any Series B-1 Preferred Shares,
          Series B-2 Preferred Shares, Series C-1 Preferred Shares or Series C-2
          Preferred Shares,

                (7)  issued pursuant to the Company's Rights Agreement, dated
          as of February 11, 2000, as amended (the "Rights Plan") as a result of
          a Holder becoming an Acquiring Person within the meaning of the Rights
          Plan, or

                (8) issued to WCAS, and/or any of its partners or Affiliates (as
          such terms are defined in the Securities Purchase Agreement).

           (e) Adjustment for Convertible Securities Issue. If after the
Original Issue Date the Company issues any securities convertible into or
exchangeable for Common Stock (other than securities issued in transactions
described in Section 10(b) above) for a consideration per share of Common Stock
initially deliverable upon conversion or exchange of such securities less than
the current market price per share on the date of issuance of such securities,
the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of one Warrant shall be
adjusted in accordance with this formula:

                N' = N  x  O + D
                           -----
                           O + P
                               -
                               M

where:

      N' =  the adjusted number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of
            one Warrant.

      N  =  the then current number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of
            one Warrant.

      O  =  the number of shares outstanding immediately prior to the issuance
            of such securities.

      P  =  the aggregate consideration received for the issuance of such
            securities.

      M  =  the current market price per share on the date of sale of such
            securities.

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<PAGE>

      D  =  the maximum number of shares deliverable upon conversion or in
            exchange for such securities at the initial conversion or exchange
            rate.

The adjustment shall be made successively whenever any such issuance is made,
and shall become effective immediately after such issuance. If all of the Common
Stock deliverable upon conversion or exchange of such securities have not been
issued when such securities are no longer outstanding, then the number of
Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of one Warrant shall promptly be
readjusted to the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of one Warrant
which would then be in effect had the adjustment upon the issuance of such
securities been made on the basis of the actual number of shares of Common Stock
issued upon conversion or exchange of such securities. This Section 10(e) does
not apply to:

                (1)  convertible or exchangeable securities issued in a
          transaction described in Section 10(a) or (c) above or upon exercise
          of any securities of the type referred to in Section 10(b) above,

                (2)  the issuance of options, rights, warrants and other
          securities that are exercisable for Common Stock (it being understood
          that adjustment shall be made upon the exercise of such securities to
          the extent required by Section 10(d) above),

                (3)  Series B-1 Preferred Shares, Series B-2 Preferred Shares,
          Series C-1 Preferred Shares or Series C-2 Preferred Shares,

                (4)  convertible or exchangeable securities issued as a
          dividend on any Series B-1 Preferred Shares, Series B-2 Preferred
          Shares, Series C-1 Preferred Shares, or Series C-2 Preferred Shares in
          accordance with the stated terms of such preferred stock,

                (5)  convertible or exchangeable securities issued pursuant to
          the Rights Plan as a result of a Holder becoming an Acquiring Person
          within the meaning of the Rights Plan, or

                (6)  convertible or exchangeable securities issued to WCAS,
          and/or any of its partners or Affiliates (as such terms are defined in
          the Securities Purchase Agreement).

           (f) Current Market Price. In Sections 5 and 11 and in Sections 10(b),
(c), (d) and (e) the current market price per share of Common Stock on any date
is the average of the Quoted Prices of the Common Stock for 30 consecutive
trading days commencing 45 trading days before the date in question. The "Quoted
Price" of the Common Stock is the last reported sales price of the Common Stock
as reported by NASDAQ Stock Market, or if the Common Stock is listed on a
securities exchange, the last reported sales price of the Common Stock on such
exchange which shall be for consolidated trading if applicable to such exchange,
or if neither so reported or listed, the last reported bid price of the Common
Stock. In the absence of such quotations, the value of the security shall be
determined in good faith by the Board of Directors of the Company, which

                                       11

<PAGE>

determination shall be described in a Board resolution or, if requested by the
holder, by an independent nationally recognized investment banking firm or
appraisal firm.

           (g)  Consideration Received.  For purposes of any computation
respecting consideration received pursuant to Sections 10(d) and (e), the
following shall apply:

                (1)  in the case of the issuance of shares of Common Stock for
          cash, the consideration shall be the amount of such cash, provided
          that in no case shall any deduction be made for any commissions,
          discounts or other expenses incurred by the Company for any
          underwriting of the issue or otherwise in connection therewith;

                (2)  in the case of the issuance of shares of Common Stock for
          a consideration in whole or in part other than cash, the consideration
          other than cash shall be deemed to be the fair market value thereof as
          determined in good faith by the Board of Directors (irrespective of
          the accounting treatment thereof), whose determination shall be
          described in a Board resolution;

                (3)  in the case of the issuance of securities convertible into
          or exchangeable for shares, the aggregate consideration received
          therefor shall be deemed to be the consideration received by the
          Company for the issuance of such securities plus the additional
          minimum consideration, if any, to be received by the Company upon the
          conversion or exchange thereof (the consideration in each case to be
          determined in the same manner as provided in clauses (1) and (2) of
          this subsection).

           (h) When De Minimis Adjustment May Be Deferred. No adjustment in the
number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of one Warrant need be made
unless the adjustment would require an increase or decrease of at least 1% in
the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of one Warrant. Any
adjustments that are not made shall be carried forward and taken into account in
any subsequent adjustment. All calculations under this Section shall be made to
the nearest 1/100th of a share.

           (i) When No Adjustment Required. No adjustment need be made for a
transaction referred to in Section 10(a), (b), (c), (d) or (e), if the holders
hereof is to participate (without being required to exercise their Warrants) in
the transaction on a basis and with notice that the Board of Directors of the
Company determines to be fair and appropriate in light of the basis and notice
on which holders of Common Stock participate in the transaction. No adjustment
need be made for rights to purchase Common Stock pursuant to a Company plan for
reinvestment of dividends or interest. No adjustment need be made for a change
in the par value or no par value of the Common Stock. To the extent the Warrants
become convertible into cash, no adjustment need be made thereafter as to the
cash. Interest will not accrue on the cash.

           (j) Notice of Adjustment. Whenever the number of Warrant Shares
issuable upon exercise of one Warrant is adjusted, the Company shall provide the
notices required by Section 12 hereof.

                                       12

<PAGE>

           (k) Reorganization of Company. If the Company consolidates or merges
with or into, or transfers or leases all or substantially all its assets to, any
person, upon consummation of such transaction the Warrants shall automatically
become exercisable for the kind and amount of securities, cash or other assets
which the Holder of a Warrant would have owned immediately after the
consolidation, merger, transfer or lease if the Holder had exercised the Warrant
immediately before the effective date of the transaction. If, in connection with
any such merger, consolidation or sale, holders of Common Stock are entitled to
elect to receive either securities, cash, or other property upon completion of
such transaction, the Company shall provide or cause to be provided to each
holder of Warrants the right to elect the securities, cash, or other property
into which the Warrants shall be convertible, subject to the same conditions
applicable to holders of shares of Common Stock (including, without limitation,
notice of the right to elect, limitations on the period in which such election
shall be made, and the effect of failing to exercise the election). Concurrently
with the consummation of such transaction, the corporation formed by or
surviving any such consolidation or merger if other than the Company, or the
person to which such sale or conveyance shall have been made, shall enter into a
supplemental Warrant Agreement so providing and further providing for
adjustments which shall be as nearly equivalent as may be practical to the
adjustments provided for in this Section. The successor company shall mail to
Holders a notice describing the supplemental Warrant Agreement as soon as
reasonably practicable after the execution of any such supplemental Warrant
Agreement. If the issuer of securities deliverable upon exercise of Warrants
under the supplemental Warrant Agreement is an affiliate of the formed,
surviving, transferee or lessee corporation, that issuer shall join in the
supplemental Warrant Agreement. If this Section 10(k) applies, the provisions of
Sections 10(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) do not apply.

           (l) When Issuance or Payment May Be Deferred. In any case in which
this Section 10 shall require that an adjustment in the number of Warrant Shares
issuable upon exercise of one Warrant be made effective as of a record date for
a specified event, the Company may elect to defer until the occurrence of such
event (i) issuing to the Holder of any Warrant exercised after such record date
the Warrant Shares and other capital stock of the Company, if any, issuable upon
such exercise over and above the Warrant Shares and other capital stock of the
Company, if any, issuable upon such exercise on the basis of the current number
of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of one Warrant and (ii) paying to such
Holder any amount in cash in lieu of a fractional share pursuant to Section 11;
provided, that the Company shall deliver to such Holder a due bill or other
appropriate instrument evidencing such Holder's right to receive such additional
Warrant Shares, other capital stock and cash upon the occurrence of the event
requiring such adjustment.

           (m) Adjustment in Exercise Price. Upon each adjustment of the number
of Warrant Shares pursuant to this Section 10, the Exercise Price for each
Warrant outstanding prior to the making of the adjustment in the number of
Warrant Shares shall thereafter be adjusted to the Exercise Price (calculated to
the nearest hundredth of one cent) obtained from the following formula:

                E'= E x N
                        -
                        N'

                                       13

<PAGE>

where:

      E' =  the adjusted Exercise Price.

      E  =  the Exercise Price prior to adjustment.

      N' =  the adjusted number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of a
            Warrant.

      N  =  the number or Warrant Shares previously issuable upon exercise of a
            Warrant prior to adjustment.

           (n) Form of Warrants. Irrespective of any adjustments in the number
or kind of shares purchasable upon the exercise of the Warrants, Warrants
theretofore or thereafter issued may continue to express the same price and
number and kind of shares as are stated in the Warrants initially issuable
pursuant to this Agreement.

           SECTION 11.  Fractional Interests. The Company shall not be required
to issue fractional Warrant Shares on the exercise of Warrants. If more than one
Warrant shall be presented for exercise at the same time by the same Holder, the
number of full Warrant Shares which shall be issuable upon the exercise thereof
shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate number of Warrant Shares
purchasable on exercise of the Warrants so requested to be exercised. If any
fraction of a Warrant Share would, except for the provisions of this Section 11,
be issuable on the exercise of any Warrants (or specified portion thereof), the
Company shall pay an amount in cash equal to the product of (i) such fraction of
a Warrant Share and (ii) the difference between the current market price of a
share of Common Stock and the Exercise Price.

           SECTION 12.  Notices to Warrant Holders. (a) Upon any adjustment of
the Exercise Price or the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of one
Warrant pursuant to Section 10, the Company shall promptly thereafter (i) cause
to be filed with the Company a certificate which includes the report of a firm
of independent public accountants of recognized standing selected by the Board
of Directors of the Company (who may be the regular auditors of the Company)
setting forth the Exercise Price and the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon
exercise of one Warrant after such adjustment and setting forth in reasonable
detail the method of calculation and the facts upon which such calculations are
based and (ii) cause to be given to each of the registered Holders of the
Warrant Certificates at his or her address appearing on the Warrant register
written notice of such adjustments by first-class mail, postage prepaid. Where
appropriate, such notice may be given in advance and included as a part of the
notice required to be mailed under the other provisions of this Section 12.

          (b)  In case:

                (i)   of any consolidation or merger to which the Company is a
          party and for which approval of any shareholders of the Company is
          required, or of the conveyance or transfer of the properties and
          assets of the Company substantially as

                                       14

<PAGE>

          an entirety, or of any reclassification or change of Common Stock
          issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (other than a change in par
          value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par
          value, or as a result of a subdivision or combination), or a tender
          offer or exchange offer for shares of Common Stock; or

                (ii)  of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation
          or winding up of the Company; or

                (iii) the Company proposes to take any action which would
          require an adjustment of the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon
          exercise of one Warrant pursuant to Section 10;

then the Company shall cause to be given to each of the registered Holders of
the Warrant Certificates at his or her address appearing on the Warrant
register, at least 20 days (or 10 days in any case specified in clauses (b)(i)
or (b)(iii) above) prior to the applicable record date hereafter specified, or
promptly in the case of events for which there is no record date, by first class
mail, postage prepaid, a written notice stating (A) the date as of which the
holders of record of shares of Common Stock to be entitled to receive any such
rights, options, warrants or distribution are to be determined, (B) the initial
expiration date set forth in any tender offer or exchange offer for shares of
Common Stock, or (C) the date on which any such consolidation, merger,
conveyance, transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding up is expected to
become effective or consummated, and the date as of which it is expected that
holders of record of shares of Common Stock shall be entitled to exchange such
shares for securities or other property, if any, deliverable upon such
reclassification, consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, dissolution,
liquidation or winding up. The failure to give the notice required by this
Section 12 or any defect therein shall not affect the legality or validity of
any distribution, right, option, warrant, consolidation, merger, conveyance,
transfer, dissolution, liquidation or winding up, or the vote upon any action.

           (c) Nothing contained in this Agreement or in any of the Warrant
Certificates shall be construed as conferring upon the Holders thereof the right
to vote or to consent or to receive notice as shareholders in respect of the
meetings of shareholders or the election of Directors of the Company or any
other matter, or any rights whatsoever as shareholders of the Company.

           SECTION 13.  Notices to Company and Warrant Holder. (a) Any notice or
demand authorized by this Agreement to be given or made by the registered Holder
of any Warrant Certificate to or on the Company shall be sufficiently given or
made when and if deposited in the mail, first class, certified or registered,
postage prepaid, addressed to the office of the Company expressly designated by
the Company at its office for purposes of this Agreement (until the Holders are
otherwise notified in accordance with this Section by the Company), as follows:

                LabOne, Inc.
                10101 Renner Boulevard
                Lenexa, KS 66219
                Attention: General Counsel

                                       15

<PAGE>

           (b) Any notice pursuant to this Agreement to be given by the Company
to the registered Holder(s) of any Warrant Certificate shall be sufficiently
given when and if deposited in the mail, first class, certified or registered,
postage prepaid, addressed (until the Company is otherwise notified in
accordance with this Section by such Holder) to such Holder at the address
appearing on the Warrant register of the Company.

           (c) Such notices, requests, instructions and other documents shall be
deemed given or delivered (i) five business days following sending by registered
or certified mail, postage prepaid, (ii) one business day following sending by
national overnight courier service, (iii) when sent, if sent by facsimile (but
only if such facsimile is actually received) or (iv) when delivered, if
delivered by hand.

           SECTION 14.  Supplements and Amendments. Any amendment or supplement
to this Agreement shall require the written consent of the Company and the
registered Holders of a majority of the then outstanding Warrant Shares issued
or issuable upon exercise of the Warrants (excluding Warrant Shares held by the
Company or any of its Affiliates). The consent of each Holder of a Warrant
affected shall be required for any amendment pursuant to which the number of
Warrant Shares purchasable upon exercise of Warrants would be decreased or the
Exercise Price increased (other than in accordance with Section 10 or 11
hereof).

           SECTION 15.  Successors.  All the covenants and provisions of this
Agreement by or for the benefit of the Company shall bind and inure to the
benefit of its respective successors and assigns hereunder.

           SECTION 16.  Termination.  This Agreement shall terminate at
5:00 p.m. (EST) on August 31, 2008.

           SECTION 17.  Governing Law. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH WARRANT
CERTIFICATE ISSUED HEREUNDER SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE
LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF SAID STATE.

           SECTION 18.  Benefits of This Agreement. Nothing in this Agreement
shall be construed to give to any person or corporation other than the Company
and the registered Holders of the Warrant Certificates or Warrant Shares any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Agreement; but this
Agreement shall be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Company and the
registered Holders of the Warrant Certificates and the Warrant Shares.

           SECTION 19.  Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and each of such counterparts shall for all purposes be
deemed to be an original, and all such counterparts shall together constitute
but one and the same instrument.

                                       16

<PAGE>

           IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Agreement to
be duly executed by their respective authorized officers as of the day and year
first above written.

                                LABONE, INC.

                                By:   /s/ W. Thomas Grant II
                                      --------------------------------------
                                Name:  W. Thomas Grant II
                                Title: Chairman of the Board, President and
                                       Chief Executive Officer

                                WELSH, CARSON, ANDERSON &
                                  STOWE IX, L.P.

                                By:  WCAS IX Associates LLC,
                                       Its General Partner

                                By:   /s/ Jonathan M. Rather
                                      --------------------------------------
                                      Jonathan M. Rather
                                      Managing Member

<PAGE>

                                WCAS MANAGEMENT CORPORATION

                                By:   /s/ Jonathan M. Rather
                                      --------------------------------------
                                      Jonathan M. Rather
                                      Treasurer

                                      Patrick J. Welsh
                                      Russel Carson
                                      Bruce K. Anderson
                                      Thomas E. McInerney
                                      Robert A. Minicucci
                                      Lawrence B. Sorrel
                                      Anthony J. De Nicola
                                      Paul B. Queally
                                      IRA FBO Jonathan M. Rather
                                      D. Scott Mackesy
                                      Sanjay Swani
                                      John D. Clark
                                      IRA FBO James R. Mathews
                                      Sean Traynor
                                      John Almeida
                                      Eric J. Lee

                                By:   /s/ Jonathan M. Rather
                                      --------------------------------------
                                      Jonathan M. Rather
                                      as Attorney-in-Fact

<PAGE>

                                                                  EXHIBIT A

                          [Form of Warrant Certificate]
                                     [Face]

     THE SECURITIES REPRESENTED BY THIS CERTIFICATE HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED
     UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED, OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS
     AND MAY NOT BE SOLD OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF EXCEPT IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE
     REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF SUCH ACT AND SUCH OTHER SECURITIES LAWS OR
     UNLESS EXEMPTIONS FROM SUCH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS ARE APPLICABLE WITH
     RESPECT TO SUCH DISPOSITION.

     EXERCISABLE ON OR BEFORE 5:00 P.M. (EST) TIME ON AUGUST 31, 2008.

No.[__]
[____] Warrants

                               Warrant Certificate
                                  LabOne, Inc.

           This Warrant Certificate certifies that [_____________], or
registered assigns, is the registered holder of [______] Warrants expiring
August 31, 2008 (the "Warrants") to purchase Common Stock, par value $.01 per
share, of LabOne, Inc., a Missouri corporation (the "Company"). Each Warrant
entitles the holder upon exercise to receive from the Company on or before 5:00
p.m. (EST) on August 31, 2008, one fully paid and nonassessable share of Common
Stock (a "Warrant Share") at the exercise price (the "Exercise Price") of $.01
for each Warrant Share payable in lawful money of the United States of America
upon surrender of this Warrant Certificate and payment of the Exercise Price at
the office of the Company designated for such purpose, but only subject to the
conditions set forth herein and in the Warrant Agreement referred to on the
reverse hereof. In lieu of exercising this Warrant by paying in full the
Exercise Price, the Warrant holder may, from time to time, convert this Warrant,
in whole or in part, into a number of Warrant Shares determined by dividing (a)
the aggregate current market price of the number of shares of Common Stock
represented by the Warrants converted, minus the aggregate Exercise Price for
such shares of Common Stock by (b) the current market price of one share of
Common Stock. The current market price shall be determined pursuant to Section
10(f) of the Warrant Agreement.

           The number of Warrant Shares and Additional Warrant Shares, if any,
issuable upon exercise of the Warrants is subject to adjustment upon the
occurrence of certain events set

<PAGE>

forth in the Warrant Agreement.

           No Warrant may be exercised after 5:00 p.m. (EST) on August 31, 2008,
and to the extent not exercised by such time such Warrants shall become void.

           Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Warrant
Certificate set forth on the reverse hereof and such further provisions shall
for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.

           IN WITNESS WHEREOF, LabOne, Inc. has caused this Warrant Certificate
to be signed by the appropriate officers, each by a facsimile of his signature,
and has caused a facsimile of its corporate seal to be affixed hereunto or
imprinted hereon.

Dated: August 31, 2001

                                LABONE, INC.

                                By:
                                       -------------------------------
                                Name:  W. Thomas Grant II
                                Title: President

ATTEST:
         -----------------------
         Joseph C. Benage
         Secretary

<PAGE>

                          [Form of Warrant Certificate]
                                    [Reverse]

           The Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate are part of a duly
authorized issue of Warrants expiring August 31, 2008, entitling the holder on
exercise to receive shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the
Company (the "Common Stock"), and are issued or to be issued pursuant to a
Warrant Agreement dated as of August 31, 2001 (the "Warrant Agreement"), duly
executed and delivered by the Company, which Warrant Agreement is hereby
incorporated by reference in and made a part of this instrument and is hereby
referred to for a description of the rights, limitation of rights, obligations,
duties and immunities thereunder of the Company and the holders (the words
"holders" or "holder" meaning the registered holders or registered holder) of
the Warrants. A copy of the Warrant Agreement may be obtained by the holder
hereof upon written request to the Company.

           Subject to the terms of the Warrant Agreement, Warrants may be
exercised from time to time until 5:00 p.m. (EST) on August 31, 2008. The holder
of Warrants evidenced by this Warrant Certificate may exercise them by
surrendering this Warrant Certificate, with the form of election to purchase set
forth hereon properly completed and executed, together with payment of the
Exercise Price in cash at the office of the Company designated for such purpose.
In lieu of exercising this Warrant by paying in full the Exercise Price, the
Warrant holder may, from time to time, convert this Warrant, in whole or in
part, into a number of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing (a) the
aggregate current market price of the number of Warrant Shares represented by
the Warrants converted, minus the aggregate Exercise Price for such shares of
Common Stock by (b) the current market price of one share of Common Stock. The
current market price shall be determined pursuant to Section 10(f) of the
Warrant Agreement. In the event that upon any exercise of Warrants evidenced
hereby the number of Warrants exercised shall be less than the total number of
Warrants evidenced hereby, there shall be issued to the holder hereof or his
assignee a new Warrant Certificate evidencing the number of Warrants not
exercised.

           The Warrant Agreement provides that upon the occurrence of certain
events the number of Warrant Shares issuable upon exercise of one Warrant set
forth on the face hereof and the Exercise Price of a Warrant may, subject to
certain conditions, be adjusted. No fractions of a share of Common Stock will be
issued upon the exercise of any Warrant, but the Company will pay the cash value
thereof determined as provided in the Warrant Agreement.

           Warrant Certificates, when surrendered at the office of the Company
by the registered holder thereof in person or by legal representative or
attorney duly authorized in writing, may be exchanged, in the manner and subject
to the limitations provided in the Warrant Agreement, but without payment of any
service charge, for another Warrant Certificate or Warrant Certificates of like
tenor evidencing in the aggregate a like number of Warrants.

           Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Warrant
Certificate at the office of the Company a new Warrant Certificate or Warrant
Certificates of like tenor and evidencing in the aggregate a like number of
Warrants shall be issued to the transferee(s) in

<PAGE>

exchange for this Warrant Certificate, subject to the limitations provided in
the Warrant Agreement, without charge except for any tax or other governmental
charge imposed in connection therewith.

           The Company may deem and treat the registered holder(s) thereof as
the absolute owner(s) of this Warrant Certificate (notwithstanding any notation
of ownership or other writing hereon made by anyone), for the purpose of any
exercise hereof, of any distribution to the holder(s) hereof, and for all other
purposes, and the Company shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary.
Neither the Warrants nor this Warrant Certificate entities any holder hereof to
any rights of a stockholder of the Company.

<PAGE>

                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM

           If you the Holder want to assign this Warrant, fill in and execute
the form below:

I or we assign and transfer this Warrant to:

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________
         (Print or type name, address and zip code and
         social security or tax ID number of assignee)

and irrevocably appoint _____________________________________________________,
agent to transfer this Warrant on the books of the Company.  The agent may
substitute another to act for him.

Date:________________           Signed:____________________________________
                                (Signed exactly as your name appears on the
                                other side of this Warrant)

<PAGE>

                         [Form of Election to Purchase]

                    (To Be Executed Upon Exercise Of Warrant)

               The undersigned hereby irrevocably elects to exercise the
Warrant, represented by this Warrant Certificate, to receive [ ] shares of
Common Stock and herewith (check item)

               (i)   tenders payment for such shares to the order of LabOne,
          Inc. in the amount of $[_______] in accordance with the terms hereof;
          or

               (ii)  converts this Warrant, in whole or in part, into a number
          of shares of Common Stock determined by dividing (a) the aggregate
          current market price of the number of shares of Common Stock
          represented by this Warrant, minus the aggregate Exercise Price for
          such shares of Common Stock by (b) the current market price of one
          share of Common Stock.

               The undersigned requests that a certificate for such shares be
registered in the name of [______________], whose address is [___________], and
that such shares be delivered to [____________], whose address is [__________].

               If said number of shares is less than all of the shares of Common
Stock purchasable hereunder, the undersigned requests that a new Warrant
Certificate representing the remaining balance of such shares be registered in
the name of [__________],whose address is [_________] and that such Warrant
Certificate be delivered to [_________] whose address is [_________].

                                Signature:________________________________

                                Date:_____________________________________

<PAGE>Exhibit 4.4

                           CERTIFICATE OF DESIGNATION
                                       OF
                              SERIES B-2 CUMULATIVE
                           CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
                                       OF
                                  LABONE, INC.

                       (Pursuant to Section 351.180 of the
                General and Business Corporation Law of Missouri)

                   -------------------------------------------

     LabOne, Inc. (hereinafter called the "Corporation"), a corporation
organized and existing under the General and Business Corporation Law of
Missouri (the "GBCL"), hereby certifies that, pursuant to authority vested in
the Board of Directors of the Corporation by Article III of the Articles of
Incorporation of the Corporation, the following resolution was duly adopted at a
meeting of the Board of Directors of the Corporation duly called and held on
August 24, 2001 and August 29, 2001:

     "RESOLVED, that pursuant to authority vested in the Board of Directors of
the Corporation by Article III of the Articles of Incorporation of the
Corporation, there is hereby created a series of Preferred Stock designated as
"Series B-2 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock" (the "Series B-2 Preferred
Stock"), consisting of Thirty Thousand (30,000) shares of the authorized but
unissued shares of preferred stock, $.01 par value per share, of the
Corporation;

     FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Series B-2 Preferred Stock shall have the
powers, preferences and rights, and qualifications, limitations and restrictions
thereof set forth in Appendix B-2 attached hereto;"

<PAGE>

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, this Certificate of Designation has been executed by
the Corporation by its President and attested by its Secretary this 29 day of
August 2001.

                               LABONE, INC.

                               /s/ W. Thomas Grant II
                               --------------------------------
                               W. Thomas Grant II
                               President

Attest:

/s/ Joseph C. Benage
-------------------------
    Joseph C. Benage
       Secretary

                                       2
<PAGE>

STATE OF MISSOURI  )
                    ss:
COUNTY OF JACKSON  )

     I, Cheryl Duren, a Notary Public, do hereby certify that on the
29th day of August 2001, personally appeared before me W. Thomas Grant II who
being by me first duly sworn, declared that he is the President of LabOne, Inc.,
that he signed the foregoing document of the Corporation, and that the
statements therein contained are true.

                          /s/ Cheryl Duren
                          ----------------------------------------
                          Notary Public

                          My commission expires: August 14, 2002

                                       3
<PAGE>

                                  APPENDIX B-2

                        POWERS, RIGHTS AND PREFERENCES OF
                              SERIES B-2 CUMULATIVE
                           CONVERTIBLE PREFERRED STOCK
                                       OF
                                  LABONE, INC.

     1. Rank. The Series B-2 Preferred Stock shall, with respect to dividend
rights and rights on liquidation, dissolution and winding up, rank (i) pari
passu with the Corporation's (A) Series B-1 Cumulative Convertible Preferred
Stock (the "Series B-1 Preferred Stock"), and (B) to the extent when these
shares are authorized and issued by the Board of Directors of the Corporation
and the related certificates of designation for such series are filed with the
Office of the Secretary of State of the State of Missouri, the Corporation's
Series C-1 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series C-1 Preferred
Stock"), and Series C-2 Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (the "Series C-2
Preferred Stock", and together with the Series B-1 Preferred Stock, the Series
B-2 Preferred Stock, and the Series C-1 Preferred Stock, the "Preferred Stock")
and (ii) senior to all classes of the Corporation's common stock, par value $.01
per share ("Common Stock"), and to each other class of capital stock of the
Corporation now or hereafter established (collectively, the "Junior
Securities"). The definition of Junior Securities shall also include any rights
or options exercisable for or convertible into any of the Junior Securities.

     2. Dividends.

          (a) Each holder of record of Series B-2 Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to receive cumulative dividends in an amount per share equal to the
Dividend Rate per annum on the Accrued Value. Such dividends shall accrue from
and after the date of issue (except that dividends on any amounts added to the
Accrued Value shall accrue only from the date such amounts are added to the
Accrued Value) and shall be added to the Accrued Value semi-annually, whether or
not declared and whether or not there are any funds of the Corporation legally
available for the payment of dividends, on February 28th and August 31st of each
year (each such date being a "Dividend Accrual Date" and each such semi-annual
period being a "Dividend Period"), commencing with the first such date following
the date of issue. Dividends for any period shorter than a Dividend Period shall
be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed over twelve 30-day
months and a 360-day year.

          (b) In case the Corporation shall make any dividend or distribution to
holders of Common Stock, whether payable in cash, securities or other property
(other than dividends or distributions payable solely in Common Stock), the
holder of each share of Series B-2 Preferred Stock on the record date for such
dividend or distribution shall be entitled to receive an equivalent dividend or
distribution based on the number of shares of Common Stock underlying such
Series B-2 Preferred Stock (after conversion of such Series B-2 Preferred Stock
into Series B-1 Preferred Stock and assuming the Approval Date had occurred on
such record date).

                                       4
<PAGE>

          (c) In case the Corporation shall make any dividend or distribution to
holders of Series B-1 Preferred Stock, whether payable in cash, securities or
other property (other than dividends or distributions referred to in subsection
(b), dividends or distributions payable solely in Series B-1 Preferred Stock, or
regular accrued dividends on such Series B-1 Preferred Stock), the holder of
each share of Series B-2 Preferred Stock on the record date for such dividend or
distribution shall be entitled to receive an equivalent dividend or distribution
based on the number of shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock into which such
Series B-2 Preferred Stock would be convertible on such record date if the
Approval Date had occurred on such record date.

          (d) So long as any shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock are
outstanding, no Junior Securities shall be redeemed, purchased or otherwise
acquired for any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a
sinking fund for the redemption of any shares of any such stock) by the
Corporation, directly or indirectly (except by conversion into or exchange for
Junior Securities) or any cash dividend made on any Junior Security other than
(i) a dividend on the Corporation's Common Stock as determined and declared by
the Board of Directors in which the holders of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock
participate in accordance with subparagraph (b) above or (ii) repurchases of
shares from employees of the Corporation and its subsidiaries upon termination
of the holder's employment.

          (e) The date on which the Corporation initially issues any particular
share of Series B-2 Preferred Stock shall be deemed to be its "date of issue"
for purposes hereof regardless of the number of times transfer of such share is
made on the stock records maintained by or for the Corporation and regardless of
the number of certificates that may be issued to evidence such share. The date
on which the Corporation initially issues the first share of Series B-2
Preferred Stock shall be referred to as the "Original Date of Issue".

     3. Liquidation Preference.

          (a) In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Corporation, whether voluntary or involuntary (each a "Liquidation Event"),
before any payment or distribution of the assets of the Corporation (whether
capital or surplus) shall be made to or set apart for the holders of Junior
Securities, the holder of each share of Series B-2 Preferred Stock shall be
entitled to receive an amount per share equal to the Liquidation Value of such
share on the date of distribution, and such holders shall not be entitled to any
further payment. If, upon any Liquidation Event, the assets of the Corporation,
or proceeds thereof, distributable among the holders of the Preferred Stock
shall be insufficient to pay in full the preferential amount due on such shares,
then such assets, or the proceeds thereof, shall be distributed among the
holders of shares of Preferred Stock ratably in accordance with the respective
amounts that would be payable on such shares of Preferred Stock if all amounts
payable thereon were paid in full. Solely for the purposes of this paragraph 3,
a Change of Control shall not be deemed to be a Liquidation Event.

          (b) After payment shall have been made in full to the holders of the
Preferred Stock, as provided in this paragraph 3, any other series or class or
classes of Junior Securities shall, subject to the respective terms and
provisions (if any) applying thereto, be entitled to

                                       5
<PAGE>

receive any and all assets remaining to be paid or distributed to holders of
capital stock of the Corporation, and the holders of the Preferred Stock shall
not be entitled to share therein.

     4. Conversion.

          (a) Subject to the provisions of this paragraph 4, each share of
Series B-2 Preferred Stock shall be automatically converted into one share of
Series B-1 Preferred Stock on the Approval Date without any further action
required by the Corporation or the holder of such share. The Accrued Value of
the share of Series B-1 Preferred Stock into which such share of Series B-2
Preferred Stock shall convert on the Approval Date shall be: (i) if the Approval
Date occurs prior to the date which is six months from the Original Date of
Issue, equal to the Accrued Value which a share of Series B-1 Preferred Stock
issued on the Original Date of Issue would have had on the Approval Date, or
(ii) if the Approval Date occurs on or after the date which is six months from
the Original Date of Issue, equal to the Accrued Value of such share of Series
B-2 Preferred Stock on such date (treating such date as a Dividend Accrual Date
for purposes of calculating the Accrued Value on such date). For the avoidance
of doubt, the "Conversion Price" (as defined in the certificate of designation
for the Series B-1 Preferred Stock) of the share of Series B-1 Preferred Stock
into which such share of Series B-2 Preferred Stock shall convert on the
Approval Date shall be equal to the Conversion Price which a share of Series B-1
Preferred Stock issued on the Original Date of Issue would have on the Approval
Date.

          (b)(i) Unless the shares issuable on conversion pursuant to this
paragraph 4 are to be issued in the same name as the name in which such shares
of Series B-2 Preferred Stock are registered, each share surrendered for
conversion shall be accompanied by instruments of transfer, in form reasonably
satisfactory to the Corporation, duly executed by the holder or the holder's
duly authorized attorney and an amount sufficient to pay any transfer or similar
tax.

             (ii) As promptly as possible, but in any event within 5 business
days after the Approval Date and after surrender by the holder of the
certificates for shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock, the Corporation shall
issue and shall deliver to such holder, or on the holder's written order (upon
compliance by such holder with subparagraph (b)(i) hereof and federal and state
securities laws applicable thereto which require the holder to take any action)
to the holder's transferee, a certificate or certificates for the whole number
of shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock issuable upon the conversion of such
shares in accordance with the provisions of this paragraph 4.

             (iii) All shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock delivered upon
conversion of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock will upon delivery be duly and
validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable, free of all liens and charges
(other than caused by the holder) and not subject to any preemptive rights.

          (c) The Corporation shall at all times reserve and keep available,
free from preemptive rights, such number of its authorized but unissued shares
of Series B-1 Preferred

                                       6
<PAGE>

Stock (and shares of Common Stock into which such shares of Series B-1 Preferred
Stock may be converted) as shall be required for the purpose of effecting
conversion of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock (and the underlying Series B-1
Preferred Stock).

          (d) Prior to the delivery of any securities which the Corporation
shall be obligated to deliver upon conversion of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock,
the Corporation shall comply with all applicable federal and state laws and
regulations which require action to be taken by the Corporation.

          (e) The Corporation will pay any and all documentary stamp or similar
issue or transfer taxes payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of
Series B-1 Preferred Stock on conversion of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock
pursuant hereto; provided, that the Corporation shall not be required to pay any
tax which may be payable in respect of any transfer involved in the issue or
delivery of shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock in a name other than that of
the holder of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock to be converted and no such issue
or delivery shall be made unless and until the person requesting such issue or
delivery has paid to the Corporation the amount of any such tax or has
established, to the satisfaction of the Corporation, that such tax has been
paid.

          (f) In connection with the conversion of any shares of Series B-2
Preferred Stock, no fractional shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock shall be
issued, but in lieu thereof the Corporation shall pay to the holder thereof the
value of such Series B-2 Preferred share in cash as determined by reference to
the Accrued Value of such share on such date (treating such date as a Dividend
Accrual Date for purposes of calculating the Accrued Value on such date).

          (g) Subdivision or Combination of Series B-1 Preferred Stock. If the
Corporation at any time subdivides (by any stock split, stock dividend,
recapitalization or otherwise) its outstanding shares of Series B-1 Preferred
Stock into a greater number of shares or if the Corporation at any time combines
(by reverse stock split or otherwise) its outstanding shares of Series B-1
Preferred Stock into a smaller number of shares, then, in either such case, the
number of shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock into which the Series B-2
Preferred Stock shall be convertible shall be proportionately adjusted.

          (h) Reorganization, Reclassification, Consolidation, Merger or Sale.
Any recapitalization, reorganization, reclassification, consolidation, merger,
sale of all or substantially all of the Corporation's assets or other
transaction, in each case which is effected in such a manner that the holders of
Series B-1 Preferred Stock or Common Stock are entitled to receive (either
directly or upon subsequent liquidation) stock, securities or assets with
respect to or in exchange for Series B-1 Preferred Stock or Common Stock, is
referred to herein as an "Organic Change". Prior to the consummation of any
Organic Change, the Corporation shall make appropriate provisions (in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the holders of a majority of the Series B-2
Preferred Stock then outstanding) to insure that each of the holders of Series
B-2 Preferred Stock shall thereafter have the right to acquire and receive, upon
the obtaining of Shareholder Approval, in lieu of or in addition to (as the case
may be) the shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock immediately theretofore
acquirable and receivable upon the conversion of such holder's Series B-2
Preferred Stock, such shares of stock, securities or assets as such holder

                                       7
<PAGE>

would have received in connection with such Organic Change if the Approval Date
had occurred on such date and such shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock had been
converted into Series B-1 Preferred Stock immediately prior to such Organic
Change. In each such case, the Corporation shall also make appropriate
provisions (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the holders of a
majority of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock then outstanding) to insure that the
provisions of paragraph 4 hereof shall thereafter be applicable to the Series
B-2 Preferred Stock. The Corporation shall not effect any such consolidation,
merger or sale, unless prior to the consummation thereof, the successor entity
(if other than the Corporation) resulting from the consolidation or merger or
the entity purchasing such assets assumes by written instrument (in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the holders of a majority of the Series B-2
Preferred Stock then outstanding), the obligation to deliver to each holder of
Series B-2 Preferred Stock such shares of stock, securities or assets as, in
accordance with the foregoing provisions, such holder may be entitled to
acquire.

          (i) Notices.

               (i) Immediately upon any adjustment to the number of shares of
Series B-1 Preferred Stock into which the Series B-2 Preferred Stock is
convertible, the Corporation shall give written notice thereof to all holders of
Series B-2 Preferred Stock, setting forth in reasonable detail and certifying
the calculation of such adjustment.

               (ii) The Corporation shall give written notice to all holders of
Series B-2 Preferred Stock at least 20 days prior to the date on which the
Corporation closes its books or takes a record (a) with respect to any dividend
or distribution referred to in Section 2(b) or Section 2(c), (b) with respect to
any pro rata subscription offer to holders of Common Stock or Series B-1
Preferred Stock or (c) for determining rights to vote with respect to any
Organic Change, dissolution or liquidation.

               (iii) The Corporation shall also give written notice to the
holders of Series B-2 Preferred Stock at least 20 days prior to the date on
which any Organic Change shall take place.

          (j) Certain Mergers. In connection with any consolidation with or
merger with or into, any person in a transaction where the Common Stock and/or
Series B-1 Preferred Stock is converted into or exchanged for securities of such
person or an affiliate of such person, the Corporation covenants that as a
condition precedent to the consummation of any such consolidation or merger it
shall provide the holders of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock with a certificate,
in form and substance satisfactory to the holders of a majority of the Series
B-2 Preferred Stock signed by a duly authorized officer of the Corporation
indicating that the person issuing such securities will be organized and
existing under the laws of a jurisdiction which allows for the issuance of
preference stock and that the Series B-1 Preferred Stock and the Series B-2
Preferred Stock shall be converted into or exchanged for and shall become shares
of such person having in respect of such person substantially the same powers,
preference and relative participating, optional or other special rights and the
qualifications, limitations or restrictions

                                       8
<PAGE>

thereon that the Series B-1 Preferred Stock and the Series B-2 Preferred Stock
had immediately prior to such transaction.

     5. Change of Control Offer.

          (a) Not less than 20 days prior to the consummation of any Consensual
Change of Control and promptly after the occurrence of any Non-Consensual Change
of Control (the date of any such Change of Control being the "Change of Control
Date"), the Corporation shall commence (or cause to be commenced) an offer to
purchase all outstanding shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock pursuant to the
terms described in subparagraph (d) below (the "Change of Control Offer") at a
purchase price equal to the Change of Control Amount on the Change of Control
Payment Date, and shall purchase (or cause the purchase of) any shares of Series
B-2 Preferred Stock tendered in response to the Change of Control Offer pursuant
to the terms hereof; provided, that with respect to any Consensual Change of
Control, the Corporation may condition its offer to purchase on consummation of
the Consensual Change of Control.

          (b) The Change of Control Amount payable to each holder of Series B-2
Preferred Stock shall be payable in cash.

          (c) Prior to the mailing of the Change of Control Notice referred to
in subparagraph (d), the Corporation shall (A) promptly determine if the
purchase of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock for cash would violate or constitute
a default under the indebtedness of the Corporation and (B) either shall repay
to the extent necessary all such indebtedness that would prohibit the repurchase
of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock pursuant to a Change of Control Offer or
obtain any requisite consents or approvals under instruments governing any
indebtedness to permit the repurchase of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock for
cash. The Corporation shall first comply with this subparagraph (c) before it
shall repurchase for cash any Series B-2 Preferred Stock pursuant to this
paragraph 5.

          (d) Not less than 20 days prior to the consummation of any Consensual
Change of Control or within 20 days following the date on which any
Non-Consensual Change of Control has occurred, the Corporation shall send, by
first-class mail, postage prepaid, a notice (a "Change of Control Notice") to
each holder of Series B-2 Preferred Stock. Such notice shall contain all
instructions and materials necessary to enable such holders to tender Series B-2
Preferred Stock pursuant to the Change of Control Offer. Such notice shall
state:

               (i) that a Change of Control has occurred or will occur, as
applicable, that a Change of Control Offer is being made pursuant to this
paragraph 5 and that, subject in the case of a Consensual Change of Control to
the consummation of the Consensual Change of Control (if the Corporation has so
conditioned its Change of Control Offer), all Series B-2 Preferred Stock validly
tendered and not withdrawn will be accepted for payment;

               (ii) the Change of Control Amount to be paid for shares tendered
in such offer (estimated as closely as possible in the case of a Consensual
Change of Control) and the purchase date (which shall be the Change of Control
Date in the case of a Consensual

                                       9
<PAGE>

Change of Control and a date no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from
the date such notice is mailed in the case of a Non-Consensual Change of
Control) (the "Change of Control Payment Date");

               (iii) that any shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock not tendered
will continue to accrue dividends;

               (iv) that, unless the Corporation defaults in making payment
therefor, any share of Series B-2 Preferred Stock accepted for payment pursuant
to the Change of Control Offer shall cease to accrue dividends after payment
therefor on the Change of Control Payment Date;

               (v) that holders electing to have any shares of Series B-2
Preferred Stock purchased pursuant to a Change of Control Offer will be required
to surrender stock certificates representing such shares of Series B-2 Preferred
Stock, properly endorsed for transfer, together with such other customary
documents as the Corporation and the Transfer Agent may reasonably request to
the Transfer Agent at the address specified in the notice prior to the close of
business on the Change of Control Payment Date;

               (vi) that holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if
the Corporation receives, not later than five business days prior to the Change
of Control Payment Date, a telegram, facsimile transmission or letter setting
forth the name of the holder, the number of shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock
the holder delivered for purchase and a statement that such holder is
withdrawing its election to have such shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock
purchased;

               (vii) that holders who tender only a portion of the shares of
Series B-2 Preferred Stock represented by a certificate delivered will, upon
purchase of the shares tendered, be issued a new certificate representing the
unpurchased shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock; and

               (viii) the circumstances and relevant facts regarding such Change
of Control (including information with respect to pro forma historical income,
cash flow and capitalization after giving effect to such Change of Control).

          (e) The Corporation will comply with any tender offer rules under the
Exchange Act which may then be applicable in connection with any offer made by
the Corporation to repurchase the shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock as a
result of a Change of Control. To the extent that the provisions of any
securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions hereof, the Corporation
shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not
be deemed to have breached its obligation hereunder by virtue thereof.

                                       10
<PAGE>

          (f) On the Change of Control Payment Date, subject in the case of a
Consensual Change of Control to the consummation of the Consensual Change of
Control (if the Corporation has so conditioned its Change of Control Offer), the
Corporation shall (A) accept for payment the shares of Series B-2 Preferred
Stock validly tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (B) pay to the
holders of shares so accepted the Change of Control Amount in cash and (C)
cancel each surrendered certificate and retire the shares represented thereby.
Unless the Corporation defaults in the payment for the shares of Series B-2
Preferred Stock tendered pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, dividends will
cease to accrue with respect to the shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock
tendered and all rights of holders of such tendered shares will terminate,
except for the right to receive payment therefor on the Change of Control
Payment Date.

          (g) To accept the Change of Control Offer, the holder of a share of
Series B-2 Preferred Stock shall deliver, prior to the close of business on the
Change of Control Payment Date, written notice to the Corporation (or an agent
designated by the Corporation for such purpose) of such holder's acceptance,
together with certificates evidencing the shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock
with respect to which the Change of Control Offer is being accepted, duly
endorsed for transfer.

     6. Redemption.

          (a) (i) If the Approval Date has not occurred prior to the third
anniversary of the Original Date of Issue, the holders of a majority of the
shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock then outstanding may require the
Corporation to redeem all of the outstanding shares of Series B-2 Preferred
Stock at a redemption price, payable in cash, equal to the Accrued Value of such
shares on the Redemption Payment Date for such shares (treating the Redemption
Payment Date for such shares as a Dividend Accrual Date for purposes of
calculating the Accrued Value on such date). In order to require such
redemption, the stockholders requesting such redemption (the "Requesting
Stockholders") shall deliver a notice of redemption (the "Redemption Notice") to
the Corporation no later than 30 days following the third anniversary of the
Original Date of Issue. If the Redemption Notice is delivered to the Corporation
in a timely manner, the shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock shall be redeemed
in two installments, with 50% of the shares then outstanding to be redeemed (and
the redemption price for such shares paid) on the third business day following
delivery of the Redemption Notice and with all of the shares outstanding one
year following delivery of the Redemption Notice to be redeemed (and the
redemption price for such shares paid) on such one-year anniversary (each such
date of payment, as applicable, a "Redemption Payment Date"), subject, in each
case, to any limitations on such redemption that may be contained in the terms
of the senior credit arrangements of the Corporation in effect on the Original
Date of Issue (the "Senior Credit Arrangements"). If the Corporation is of the
opinion that any such redemption would be in violation of the terms of the
Senior Credit Arrangements, the Requesting Stockholders may require the
Corporation to use its best efforts to consummate the sale and issuance of
subordinated debt securities as soon as practicable after the third anniversary
of the Original Date of Issue and to use the proceeds from such sale and
issuance to redeem all of the shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock. The first
installment of the redemption shall be made on a pro rata basis among all the
holder of Series B-2 Preferred Stock based on the number of shares of Series B-2
Preferred Stock then held of record by such holders.

                                       11
<PAGE>

For the avoidance of doubt, it is understood that if a redemption occurs, the
shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock to be redeemed in the second installment on
the date that is one year from the delivery of the Redemption Notice shall
continue to accrue dividends in accordance with Section 2 hereof until the
Redemption Payment Date for such shares.

               (ii) At any time (a) following the third anniversary (but before
the fifth anniversary) of the Original Date of Issue, the Corporation may, at
its option, redeem all, but not less than all, of the outstanding shares of
Series B-2 Preferred Stock at a redemption price per share, payable in cash,
equal to 105% of the Accrued Value of such share on the date of payment therefor
(treating such date as a Dividend Accrual Date for purposes of calculating the
Accrued Value on such date), and (b) following the fifth anniversary (but before
the seventh anniversary) of the Original Date of Issue, the Corporation may, at
its option, redeem all, but not less than all, of the outstanding shares of
Series B-2 Preferred Stock at a redemption price per share, payable in cash,
equal to the Accrued Value of such share on the date of payment therefor
(treating such date as a Dividend Accrual Date for purposes of calculating the
Accrued Value on such date).

               (iii) On the seventh anniversary of the Original Date of Issue,
the Corporation will be required to redeem, and the holders of the Series B-2
Preferred Stock shall be required to deliver for redemption, all of the
outstanding shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock at a redemption price per
share, payable in cash, equal to the Accrued Value of such share on such date
(treating such date as a Dividend Accrual Date for purposes of calculating the
Accrued Value on such date).

          (b) In the case of subparagraphs (ii) and (iii) above, notice of any
redemption shall be given by the Corporation not less than 30 days nor more than
60 days prior to the redemption date, to each holder of record of the shares to
be redeemed; provided, that neither the failure to give such notice nor any
defect therein shall affect the validity of the giving of notice for the
redemption of any share of Series B-2 Preferred Stock to be redeemed except as
to the holder to whom the Corporation has failed to give said notice or except
as to the holder whose notice was defective. Each such notice shall state: (i)
the redemption date (which, in the case of a redemption pursuant to clause (iii)
shall be such seventh anniversary); (ii) the redemption price; (iii) the place
or places where certificates for such shares are to be surrendered for payment
of the redemption price; and (iv) that dividends on the shares to be redeemed
will cease to accrue from and after such redemption date (unless default shall
be made by the Corporation in providing for the payment of the redemption price
for the shares called for redemption on such redemption date).

          (c) Notice having been given as aforesaid, from and after the
redemption date (unless default shall be made by the Corporation in providing
for the payment of the redemption price of the shares called for redemption),
dividends on the shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock so called for redemption
shall cease to accrue, and all rights of the holders thereof as stockholders of
the Corporation (except the right to receive from the Corporation the redemption
price) shall cease. Upon surrender in accordance with said notice of the
certificates for any shares so redeemed (properly endorsed or assigned for
transfer, if the Board of Directors of the

                                       12
<PAGE>

Corporation shall so require and the notice shall so state), such share shall be
redeemed by the Corporation at the redemption price.

     7. Voting Rights.

          (a) Except as required by law, each holder of Series B-2 Preferred
Stock shall not be entitled to vote on any matter subject to the vote of the
holders of the Corporation's Voting Securities.

          (b) So long as any of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock is outstanding,
the affirmative vote of the holders of (x) 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of
Series B-2 Preferred Stock, voting together as a single class, shall be
necessary to alter or change the preferences, rights or powers of the Series B-1
Preferred Stock or the Series B-2 Preferred Stock, and (y) a majority of the
outstanding shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock, voting together as a single
class, shall be necessary to: (i) increase or decrease the authorized number of
shares of the Series B-1 Preferred Stock or the Series B-2 Preferred Stock, (ii)
amend, alter, repeal or waive any provision of the Corporation's articles of
incorporation (including any certificate of designation or articles of amendment
and whether by amendment, merger or otherwise) or by-laws so as to adversely
affect the preferences, rights or powers of the Series B-1 Preferred Stock or
the Series B-2 Preferred Stock, including, without limitation, the voting
powers, dividend rights and liquidation preference of the Series B-1 Preferred
Stock or the Series B-2 Preferred Stock, or change the Series B-1 Preferred
Stock or the Series B-2 Preferred Stock into any other securities, cash or other
property (other than the conversion of Series B-2 Preferred Stock into Series
B-1 Preferred Stock upon Shareholder Approval), or (iii) issue (other than,
prior to the Approval Date, in lieu of accrued dividends on the Series B-1
Preferred Stock) any additional Series B-2 Preferred Stock or create, authorize
or issue any capital stock that ranks prior to or pari passu with (whether with
respect to dividends or upon liquidation, dissolution, winding up or otherwise)
the Series B-1 Preferred Stock or the Series B-2 Preferred Stock (other than
Series C-1 Preferred Stock or Series C-2 Preferred Stock).

          (c) So long as any of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock or Series C-2
Preferred Stock is outstanding, unless such compliance is waived in writing by
the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of
Series B-2 Preferred Stock and Series C-2 Preferred Stock, voting together as a
single class, the Corporation will comply with all provisions of Section 6.09 of
the Purchase Agreement, which provisions are incorporated by reference herein
with the same effect as if set forth in full herein. Any amendments to the
Purchase Agreement shall be ineffective with respect to the Series B-2 Preferred
Stock unless consented to by the holders of 66 2/3% of the outstanding shares of
Series B-2 Preferred Stock. Copies of the Purchase Agreement are available upon
request from the Secretary of the Corporation.

          (d) If the Corporation shall fail to comply with any one or more of
the provisions in paragraphs 7(b) or 7(c), then upon and during the continuance
of any such default, the Dividend Rate shall be increased to 23%.

                                       13
<PAGE>

     8. Miscellaneous

          (a) Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein contained, if in
connection with any conversion of shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock pursuant
to Section 4 hereof, the amount of Series B-1 Preferred Stock to be received by
one or more holders of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock would result in such
conversion being subject to the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act of
1976, as amended, and the rules promulgated thereunder, or any successor thereto
(the "HSR Act"), then compliance with the HSR Act shall be a condition precedent
to the consummation of such conversion. The provisions of this paragraph 8(a)
shall in no way limit the obligation of the Corporation to comply with the
provisions of Sections 5 and 6 hereof.

          (b) Each holder of Series B-2 Preferred Stock hereby agrees, by
acceptance of its shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock, to use its commercially
reasonable efforts to make all filings required by the HSR Act and comply with
all other provisions of the HSR Act as promptly as practicable to the extent
necessary in connection with any conversion of Series B-2 Preferred Stock.

          (c) Reacquired Shares. Any shares of Series B-2 Preferred Stock
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Corporation in any manner whatsoever
shall be retired and canceled promptly after the acquisition thereof. All such
shares shall upon their cancellation become authorized but unissued shares of
preferred stock and may be reissued as part of a new series of preferred stock
to be created by an amendment or amendments of the Corporation's articles of
incorporation adopted by the Board of Directors, subject to the conditions and
restrictions on issuance set forth herein.

          (d) Notices. (i) All notices, requests, demands and other
communications to the Corporation hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
delivered personally, sent by facsimile or sent by certified mail (return
receipt requested) or by express mail or overnight courier, addressed to the
President of the Corporation at the Corporation's principal executive offices.

               (ii) All notices, requests, demands and other communications to
the holders of Series B-2 Preferred Stock hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be delivered personally, sent by facsimile or sent by certified mail
(return receipt requested) or by express mail or overnight courier, addressed to
each holder of record at such holder's address appearing on the stock transfer
register of the Corporation.

               (iii) Such notices, requests, demands and other communications
shall be deemed given or delivered (A) three business days following sending by
registered or certified mail, postage prepaid, (B) upon delivery by express mail
or overnight courier, (C) when sent, if sent by facsimile (but only if such
facsimile is actually received) or (D) when delivered, if delivered by hand.

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     9. Definitions. The following terms, as used herein, shall have the
following meanings:

     "Accrued Value" equals, with respect to one share of Series B-2 Preferred
Stock on any date, $1,000 plus the amount of all dividends added to the Accrued
Value in accordance with paragraph 2(a) (which aggregate amount shall be subject
to adjustment whenever there shall occur a stock split, combination,
re-classification or other similar event involving the Series B-2 Preferred
Stock).

     "Approval Date" means the date on which Shareholder Approval is obtained.

     "Change of Control" means a Consensual Change of Control or a
Non-Consensual Change of Control.

     "Consensual Change of Control" means: (i) the sale, lease, transfer,
conveyance or other disposition (other than by way of merger or consolidation),
in one or a series of related transactions, of all or substantially all the
assets of the Corporation and its subsidiaries taken as a whole to any "person"
(as such term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), other than to a
wholly-owned subsidiary of the Corporation or (ii) the consummation of any
transaction approved by the Board of Directors of the Corporation (including any
merger or consolidation) the result of which is that any "person" (as defined
above), becomes the beneficial owner (as determined in accordance with Rules
13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act except that a person will be deemed to
have beneficial ownership of all shares that such person has the right to
acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage
of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 50% of the Voting Securities of
the Corporation; provided, however, that "person" as used in clauses (i) and
(ii) shall not include any Purchaser (as defined in the Purchase Agreement).

     "Change of Control Amount" means, with respect to one share of Series B-2
Preferred Stock, 101% of the Accrued Value on the Change of Control Payment Date
(treating such date as a Dividend Accrual Date for purposes of calculating the
Accrued Value on such date); provided, that if the Change of Control Payment
Date falls on a date prior to the third anniversary of the Original Date of
Issue, the Change of Control Amount shall be calculated assuming the Change of
Control Payment Date was on the third anniversary of the Original Date of Issue
(and assuming that no dividends had been paid in cash with respect to such share
from the actual date of the Change of Control Payment Date through the third
anniversary of the Original Date of Issue).

     "Continuing Directors" means individuals who constituted the Board of
Directors of the Corporation on the Original Date of Issue, after giving effect
to the issuance of the Series B-1 Preferred Stock (the "Incumbent Directors");
provided, that any individual becoming a director during any year shall be
considered to be an Incumbent Director if such individual's election,
appointment or nomination was recommended or approved by at least two-thirds of
the other Incumbent Directors continuing in office following such election,
appointment or nomination present, in person or by telephone, at any meeting of
the Board of Directors of the Corporation, after the giving of a sufficient
notice to each Incumbent Director so as to provide a reasonable opportunity for
such Incumbent Directors to be present at such meeting or (ii) such individual

                                       15
<PAGE>

was nominated, appointed or selected by the holders of Series B-1 Preferred
Stock or nominated, appointed or selected in accordance with Section 6.02 of the
Purchase Agreement.

     "Dividend Rate" means eighteen percent (18%), or if adjusted pursuant to
Section 7(d), twenty-three (23%) percent.

     "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

     "Liquidation Value" on any date means, with respect to one share of Series
B-2 Preferred Stock, the greater of (i) the Accrued Value on such date (treating
such date as a Dividend Accrual Date for purposes of calculating the Accrued
Value on such date) and (ii) the amount that would have been payable in
connection with such Liquidation Event on the number of shares of Common Stock
into which the number of shares of Series B-1 Preferred Stock resulting from the
conversion of the Series B-2 Preferred Stock was convertible on such date (as if
the Approval Date had occurred on such date).

     "Non-Consensual Change of Control" means: (i) the consummation of any
transaction the result of which is that any "person" (as such term is used in
Section 13(d)(3) of the Exchange Act), becomes the beneficial owner (as
determined in accordance with Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act
except that a person will be deemed to have beneficial ownership of all shares
that such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable
immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more
than 50% of the Voting Securities of the Corporation without the approval of the
Board of Directors of the Corporation or (ii) the first day on which a majority
of the members of the Board of Directors are not Continuing Directors; provided,
however, that "person" as used in clause (i) shall not include any Purchaser (as
defined in the Purchase Agreement).

     "Person" as used herein means any corporation, limited liability company,
partnership, trust, organization, association, other entity or individual.

     "Purchase Agreement" means the Securities Purchase Agreement dated as of
the Original Date of Issue among the Corporation, Welsh, Carson, Anderson &
Stowe IX, L.P. and the other purchasers named therein.

     "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

     "Shareholder Approval" means the approval of requisite holders of the
Common Stock with respect to each of the following: (1) the removal of the
Conversion Cap contemplated in paragraph 4(a)(iii) of the certificate of
designations for the Series B-1 Preferred Stock, (2) the automatic conversion of
the Series B-2 Preferred Stock into Series B-1 Preferred Stock pursuant to the
terms hereof, (3) the automatic conversion of the Series C-2 Preferred Stock, if
any, into Series C-1 Preferred Stock pursuant to the certificate of designation
for the Series C-2 Preferred Stock, and (4) the rights of the holders of the
Series B-1 Preferred Stock to elect directors to the Board of Directors of the
Corporation as described in paragraphs 7(c)(ii) and 7(c)(iii) of the certificate
of designations for the Series B-1 Preferred Stock.

     "Transfer Agent" means the transfer agent for the Series B-2 Preferred
Stock appointed by the Corporation, and if none is appointed, the Corporation.

                                       16
<PAGE>

     "Voting Securities" means securities of the Corporation ordinarily having
the power to vote for the election of directors of the Corporation; provided,
that when the term "Voting Securities" is used with respect to any other Person
it means the capital stock or other equity interests of any class or kind
ordinarily having the power to vote for the election of directors or other
members of the governing body of such Person.

                                       17

<PAGE>

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