On the point of potential returns DDD, you have hit the nail on...

On the point of potential returns DDD, you have hit the nail on the head when you talk about "high volume" testing. That is the sweet spot for LBT. That is the point of pain too for the big labs. There is a limited market for these things but that market tends to follow a formula (in the developed world). There are approximately 1.3 major hospitals for every 1,000,000 people (give or take, that is across the developed world). That means 1,300 opportunities in major hospitals alone (where fast, high volume stuff is almost a necessity). That stat doesn't include major pathology outfits (who are traditionally much more fickle about purchasing equipment - they tend to be driven by personal preferences). So, if you know what the GP on sales of the machine might be you can work the numbers out. What it tells you is that GP needs to be pretty high to get a good net profit (as the op ex for LBT won't be "on the smell of an oily rag"). Start-ups and new labs are very unlikely to be an attractive market for LBT. As an example of the places I think look like the best bet, hospitals that need results quickly to tackle an infection or places where there is a high vol of standard testing are the places to hone in on. GLTA