EXHIBIT 16.1 Office of the Chief Accountant Securities and Exchange Commission 450 Fifth Street, N.W. Washington, D.C. 20549 May 23, 2002 Dear Sir/Madam: We have read Paragraphs one, two, three and five of item 4 of the current report on Form 8-K of DIANON, Systems, Inc. for the event which occurred on May 23, 2002 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and are in agreement with the statements contained therein. Very truly yours, /s/ ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP ARTHUR ANDERSEN LLP