<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE THIRD QUARTER 1999 REPORT ON FORM 10-Q FOR LABONE, INC. AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <CIK> 0000830158 <NAME> LABONE, INC. <PERIOD-TYPE> 9-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1999 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1999 <CASH> 1,558,600 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 23,298,098 <ALLOWANCES> 2,248,798 <INVENTORY> 1,089,586 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 31,062,358 <PP&E> 79,063,255 <DEPRECIATION> 36,788,684 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 109,421,015 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 11,599,508 <BONDS> 25,241,954 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 130,500 <OTHER-SE> 72,434,412 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 109,421,015 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 84,714,563 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 49,757,514 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 1,984,329 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 947,528 <INCOME-PRETAX> 5,707,111 <INCOME-TAX> 2,624,933 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 2,315,803 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 2,315,803 <EPS-BASIC> 0.23 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.23