SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                              Washington, DC 20549
                                 ---------------

   
                                FORM 10-Q/A No. 1
    


   [X] QUARTERLY REPORT UNDER SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE
                                   ACT OF 1934

                For the Quarterly Period Ended September 30, 1996

                                       OR

    [ ] TRANSITION REPORT PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15 (d) OF THE SECURITIES
                              EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934
                        For the transition period from to

                         Commission file number 33-41226


                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
             (exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              Delaware                                    06-1128081
      (State of incorporation)                (IRS Employer Identification No.)

    200 Watson Blvd, Stratford, CT                           06497
(Address of principal executive offices)                   (zip code)

       Registrant's telephone number, including area code: (203) 381-4000


                                 NOT APPLICABLE
              (Former name, former address and former fiscal year,
                          if changed since last report)


Indicate by check mark whether the registrant (1) has filed all reports required
to be filed  by  Section  13 or 15 (d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934
during the preceding 12 months (or for such shorter  period that the  registrant
was  required  to file such  reports ) and (2) has been  subject to such  filing
requirements for the past 90 days.

                                                           Yes  X        No
                                                                

The number of shares of registrant's  Common Stock, $.01 par value,  outstanding
on November 8, 1996 was 6,707,680 shares.



                    Exhibit Index is on page 15 of 69 pages.




                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                                AND SUBSIDIARIES


   
The registrant  hereby amends and restates in its entirety its Quarterly  Report
on Form 10-Q for the quarterly  period ended  September  30, 1996.  Other than a
change in the dollar amount set forth in the third  paragraph of "Liquidity  and
Capital  Resources" under Item 2, the information  contained in the registrant's
Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarterly period ended September 30, 1996
as  originally  filed  with  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Commission  remains
unchanged.
    


                                      INDEX




Part I FINANCIAL INFORMATION                                          PAGE NO.
- ----------------------------                                          --------

                                                                    
Item 1.   FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

          Consolidated  Balance  Sheets as of September  30,              3
          1996 and December 31, 1995.

          Consolidated Income Statements for the three month              4
          and nine month  periods  ended  September 30, 1996
          and 1995.

          Consolidated  Statements of  Stockholders'  Equity              5
          for the twelve month  periods  ended  December 31,
          1995 and the nine month  periods  ended  September
          30, 1996.

          Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows for the nine              6
          month periods ended September 30, 1996 and 1995.

          Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements                      7


Item 2.   MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
          FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS.                  8-12


Part II OTHER INFORMATION
- -------------------------

Item 5.   OTHER INFORMATION                                               13

Item 6.   EXHIBITS AND REPORTS ON  FORM 8-K                               13

Signatures                                                                14

Exhibit Index                                                             15





                    DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                 CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS




                                                                         SEPTEMBER 30,       DECEMBER 31,
                                                                              1996               1995
    ASSETS                                                               -------------       ------------ 
CURRENT ASSETS:                                                           (UNAUDITED)
                                                                                       
    Cash and cash equivalents                                             $  5,961,279       $ 10,990,231
    Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $786,920
          for each of the periods                                           12,490,911          9,653,971
    Prepaid expenses and employee advances                                   1,128,987          1,071,963
    Prepaid and refundable income taxes                                        434,064            168,420
    Inventory                                                                  633,694            554,398
    Deferred income tax asset                                                  652,328            652,328
    Investment in common stock                                                      --            135,508
                                                                          ------------       ------------
          Total current assets                                              21,301,263         23,226,819
                                                                          ------------       ------------
 PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, at cost
    Leasehold improvements                                                   3,631,986          1,717,606
    Laboratory and office equipment                                         12,105,424         11,068,949
          Less - accumulated depreciation                                   (8,026,792)        (6,879,799)
                                                                          ------------       ------------
                                                                             7,710,618          5,906,756
                                                                          ------------       ------------
INTANGIBLE ASSET - CUSTOMER LISTS, net of
    accumulated amortization of $2,731,009 and $2,606,291, respectively        614,595            739,308
INTANGIBLE ASSET - NON COMPETE AGREEMENT, net of
    accumulated amortization of $162,500 and $125,000, respectively             87,500            125,000
DEFERRED INCOME TAX ASSET                                                      178,575            178,575
OTHER ASSETS                                                                   239,419            278,948
                                                                          ------------       ------------
          TOTAL ASSETS                                                    $ 30,131,970       $ 30,455,406
                                                                          ============       ============
    LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
    Accounts payable and accrued liabilities                              $  5,925,583       $  4,922,514
    Current portion of capitalized lease obligations                            36,760             38,466
    Current portion of note payable                                            884,514            916,150
    Severance costs                                                            101,683            209,121
    Restructuring reserves                                                     155,584            166,598
                                                                          ------------       ------------
          Total current liabilities                                          7,104,124          6,252,849
                                                                          ------------       ------------
LONG-TERM PORTION OF CAPITALIZED LEASE
    OBLIGATIONS                                                                 75,525             34,413
LONG-TERM NOTE PAYABLE                                                              --            650,154
DEFERRED INCOME TAX LIABILITY                                                   65,651             65,651
                                                                          ------------       ------------
          Total Liabilities                                                  7,245,300          7,003,067
                                                                          ------------       ------------
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
    Commonstock, par value $.01 per share, 20,000,000 shares 
          authorized, 6,324,298 and 6,311,451 shares issued
          and outstanding at September 30, 1996 and 
          December 31, 1995, respectively                                       63,243             63,115
    Additional paid-in capital                                              26,668,111         26,609,657
    Accumulated deficit                                                     (1,265,606)        (2,724,433)
    Common stock held in treasury, at cost - 421,000 shares
          at September 30, 1996 and 50,000 shares at December 31, 1995      (2,283,078)          (200,000)
    Shareholder note receivable                                               (296,000)          (296,000)
                                                                          ------------       ------------
          Total stockholders' equity                                        22,886,670         23,452,339
                                                                          ------------       ------------
          TOTAL LIABILITIES AND STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY                      $ 30,131,970       $ 30,455,406
                                                                          ============       ============


           The accompanying notes to consolidated
            financial statements are an integral
                part of these balance sheets.






                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                         CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS
                FOR THE THREE MONTH AND NINE MONTH PERIODS ENDED
                           SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1995
                                   (UNAUDITED)



                                          THREE MONTHS                     NINE MONTHS
                                      ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,             ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
                                      1996            1995            1996              1995
                                  -----------     -----------      -----------      -----------
                                                                        
NET REVENUES                      $13,863,408     $11,328,790      $39,956,557      $33,195,191

COST OF SALES                       6,799,712       4,949,934       19,419,522       14,587,558
                                  -----------     -----------      -----------      -----------

    Gross Profit                    7,063,696       6,378,856       20,537,035       18,607,633

SELLING, GENERAL AND
    ADMINISTRATIVE EXPENSES         5,222,176       4,598,822       15,891,036       15,014,253

RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
    EXPENSES                          722,157       1,399,874        2,304,239        3,585,935
                                  -----------     -----------      -----------      -----------

    Income from Operations          1,119,363         380,160        2,341,760            7,445

INTEREST INCOME                        50,573          81,734          280,365          181,074

INTEREST EXPENSE                       18,038          32,750           62,779          107,396
                                  -----------     -----------      -----------      -----------
Income Before Provision for
    Income Taxes                    1,151,898         429,144        2,559,346           81,123

PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES            495,316         185,819        1,100,519           35,126
                                  -----------     -----------      -----------      -----------
    Net Income                    $   656,582     $   243,325      $ 1,458,827      $    45,997
                                  ===========     ===========      ===========      ===========
Weighted Average Shares 
    Outstanding                     6,295,106       5,335,878        6,228,925        5,312,865

Primary and Fully Diluted 
    Earnings Per Share            $      0.10     $      0.05      $      0.23      $      0.01
                                  ===========     ===========      ===========      ===========


                     The accompanying notes to consolidated
                  financial statements are an integral part of
                                these statements.





                                               DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.

                                 CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
                FOR THE TWELVE MONTHS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1995 AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
                                                   (UNAUDITED)

                                                                                                   Common
                                                                            Unrealized Foreign     Stock
                                                   Additional               Holdings   Currency    Held in    Shareholder
                                   Common Stock     Paid-in    Accumulated  Gains/     Translation Treasury,     Note
                               Shares     Amount    Capital     Deficit     (Losses)   Adjustment  at Cost    Receivable    Total
                               ------     ------    -------     -------     --------   ----------  -------    ----------    -----

                                                                                             
BALANCE, December 31, 1994     5,296,879  $52,969  $21,591,942 $(2,831,529) $(90,383) $(58,938)    $  --    $     --    $18,664,061
  Stock options exercised         14,572      146       59,286          --        --        --        --          --         59,432
  Issuance of common stock
    and warrants net of
    issuance costs             1,000,000   10,000    4,976,443          --        --        --        --          --      4,986,443
  Common stock held in treasury       --       --           --          --        --        --    (200,000)       --       (200,000)
  Shareholder note receivable         --       --           --          --        --        --        --       (296,000)   (296,000)
  Stock compensation expense -
    stock options                     --       --      (18,014)         --        --        --        --          --        (18,014)
  Write-off of unrealized
    holding losses                    --       --           --          --    90,383        --         --         --         90,383
  Write-off of foreign currency
    translation adjustment            --       --           --          --        --     58,938        --         --         58,938
  Net Income                          --       --           --     107,096        --        --         --         --        107,096
                               ---------   ------   ----------  ----------   ---------   ------  ----------    --------  ----------
BALANCE, December 31, 1995     6,311,451   63,115   26,609,657  (2,724,433)       --        --     (200,000)   (296,000) 23,452,339

  Stock options exercised         12,847      128       58,454          --        --        --         --         --         58,582
  Common stock held in treasury       --       --           --          --        --        --   (2,083,078)      --     (2,083,078)
  Net Income                          --       --           --   1,458,827        --        --         --         --      1,458,827
                               ---------   ------   ----------  ----------   ---------   ------  ----------    --------  ----------
BALANCE, September 30, 1996    6,324,298   $63,243 $26,668,111  $(1,265,606) $    --     $  --  $(2,283,078) $(296,000) $22,886,670
                               =========   ======= ===========  ===========  =========   ======= =========== ========== ===========



                     The accompanying notes to consolidated
                  financial statements are an integral part of
                                these statements.




                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.
                      CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
          FOR THE NINE MONTH PERIODS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1995
                                   (UNAUDITED)




                                                                    SEPTEMBER 30,     SEPTEMBER 30,
                                                                         1996              1995
                                                                    -------------     -------------

                                                                                         
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES: 
    Net income                                                       $ 1,458,827       $    45,997
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net
    cash provided by (used in) operations -
    Non-cash charges
      Depreciation and amortization                                    1,690,047         2,244,086
      Stock compensation expense                                              --             2,364
      Loss on the sale of fixed assets                                    19,337            17,919
      Investment write-down                                               61,846           365,698
Changes in other current assets
    and liabilities
    (Increase) decrease in accounts receivable                        (2,836,940)        2,375,405
    (Increase) in prepaid expenses
      and employee advances                                             (322,668)         (624,312)
    (Increase) in inventory                                              (79,296)          (26,509)
    (Increase) in other assets                                            (3,788)          (77,703)
    Increase in accounts payable and accrued liabilities                 895,631           589,588
    (Decrease) increase in restructuring reserves                        (11,014)           66,025
                                                                    ------------      ------------
      Net cash provided by operating activities                          871,982         4,978,558
                                                                    ------------      ------------
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
    Capital expenditures                                              (3,315,215)       (1,943,477)
    Proceeds from the sale of stock held for investment                   73,661                --
    Proceeds from the sale of fixed assets                                 7,500             1,500
                                                                    ------------      ------------
      Net cash (used in) investing activities                         (3,234,054)       (1,941,977)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
    Repayments of note payable                                          (681,790)         (641,841)
    Repayments of capitalized lease obligations                           39,406           (32,990)
    Purchase of common stock held in treasury                         (2,083,078)               --
    Exercise of stock options                                             58,582            59,426
                                                                    ------------      ------------
      Net cash (used in) financing activities                         (2,666,880)         (615,405)
                                                                    ------------      ------------
      Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents            (5,028,952)        2,421,176
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS,
    beginning of year                                                 10,990,231         3,534,093
                                                                    ------------      ------------
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period                            $  5,961,279      $  5,955,269
                                                                    ============      ============

Supplemental cash flow disclosures:
    Cash paid during the period:
      Interest                                                      $     63,174      $    107,250
      Income Taxes                                                     1,299,005           581,800



                     The accompanying notes to consolidated
                  financial statements are an integral part of
                                these statements.





                              DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.

                   NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

1.  The Company - The  consolidated  balance sheet as of September 30, 1996, the
    related  consolidated  income  statements for the three month and nine month
    periods  ended  September  30,  1996  and  1995,  the  related  consolidated
    statements  of  stockholders'  equity  for the  twelve  month  period  ended
    December  31, 1995 and nine month period  ended  September  30, 1996 and the
    consolidated  statements  of cash  flows for the nine  month  periods  ended
    September 30, 1996 and 1995, have been prepared by DIANON Systems, Inc. (the
    "Company")  without  audit.  In the opinion of management,  all  adjustments
    necessary to present  fairly the financial  position,  results of operations
    and cash flows for such periods have been made.  During the interim  periods
    reported  on,  the  accounting  policies  followed  are in  conformity  with
    generally  accepted  accounting  principles  and are  consistent  with those
    applied for annual  periods and  described in the  Company's  Annual  Report
    filed on Form 10-K with the Securities and Exchange  Commission on March 29,
    1996 (the "Annual Report").

    Certain information and footnote  disclosures normally included in financial
    statements   prepared  in  accordance  with  generally  accepted  accounting
    principles  have been  omitted.  It is  suggested  that  these  consolidated
    financial  statements be read in conjunction  with the financial  statements
    included in the  Company's  Annual  Report for the year ended  December  31,
    1995.  The results of operations  for the three month and nine month periods
    ended  September  30, 1996 and 1995 are not  necessarily  indicative  of the
    operating results for the full year.

2.  Definitions  -  The  descriptive  analysis  contained  herein  compares  the
    financial  results  of the first  nine  months  ended  September  30 and the
    current  three  months ended  September  30 for the years 1996 and 1995.  To
    accommodate the comparison of pertinent financial  information the following
    terms will be used to describe certain aspects of the Company's business:

    "First Nine Months of 1996" - nine months ended September 30, 1996
    "First Nine Months of 1995" - nine months ended September 30, 1995

    "Third Quarter of 1996" - three months ended September 30, 1996
    "Third Quarter of 1995" - three months ended September 30, 1995

    "Clinical  chemistry"  or  "clinical  laboratory"  services  - the  Oncosite
    cancer-related blood test service and the Neocyte  birth-risk-related  blood
    test service.  In general,  these test services are performed by DIANON, and
    the test result is interpreted by the physician who ordered the test.

    "Anatomic  pathology" or "pathology"  services - all other testing  services
    performed by the Company including,  but not limited to, genetic,  molecular
    and  immunohistochemistry  testing services as well as traditional histology
    and morphology evaluations.  In general, these tests are performed by DIANON
    and are interpreted by a physician or other licensed laboratory professional
    employed by DIANON. Some clinical chemistry services associated with certain
    anatomic  pathology  services  are  classified  by the Company as  pathology
    services although they may be regulated and reimbursed as clinical chemistry
    services.

3.  Reclassifications -  Certain  reclassifications  have  been made to the 1995
    amounts to conform to the classifications used in 1996.




                MANAGEMENT'S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF FINANCIAL
                       CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
         THREE MONTHS AND NINE MONTHS ENDED SEPTEMBER 30, 1996 AND 1995
                                   (UNAUDITED)

Results of Operations
- ---------------------

     o   Net Revenues

Net  revenues  were  $40.0  million  during the First  Nine  Months of 1996,  an
increase of $6.8  million or 20% from the First Nine  Months of 1995.  Increased
revenues  in the First Nine  Months of 1996 over the  comparable  period of 1995
were  attributable  to increased  market  penetration by the Company's  anatomic
pathology  testing  services  and were  offset to some  extent by a decrease  in
clinical chemistry and hospital-originated pathology services.

Net revenues were $13.9 million during the Third Quarter of 1996, an increase of
$2.5  million or 22% from the Third  Quarter of 1995.  Increased  revenues  were
attributable to increased market penetration by the Company's anatomic pathology
testing services.

     o   Cost of Sales

Cost of sales,  which  consists  primarily  of  salaries  and wages,  laboratory
supplies,  outside services,  logistics  (primarily shipping and handling),  and
depreciation expense, was $19.4 million during the First Nine Months of 1996, an
increase of $4.8 million or 33% from the First Nine Months of 1995. Salaries and
wages were  approximately  $6.2 million during the First Nine Months of 1996, an
increase  of $2.0  million  or 48% from the  First  Nine  Months  of 1995.  This
increase was  principally due to increased  laboratory and physician  employment
incurred to support new anatomic pathology testing services. Laboratory supplies
were  approximately  $4.1  million  during  the First  Nine  Months of 1996,  an
increase of $499,000  or 14% from the First Nine Months of 1995.  This  increase
was the result of increased  sales volume and increased  costs for reagents used
for some of the Company's testing  services.  Logistics were $3.0 million in the
First Nine  Months of 1996,  an  increase  of $167,000 or 6% from the First Nine
Months of 1995. As a percentage of net revenues,  cost of sales increased to 49%
during  the First Nine  Months of 1996 from 44% during the First Nine  Months of
1995.

Cost of sales was $6.8 million  during the Third Quarter of 1996, an increase of
$1.8  million or 37% from the Third  Quarter  of 1995.  As a  percentage  of net
revenues,  cost of sales  increased to 49% during the Third Quarter of 1996 from
44% during the Third Quarter of 1995.

     o   Gross Profit

Gross  profits  were $20.5  million  during the First  Nine  Months of 1996,  an
increase  of $1.9  million  or 10% from  the  First  Nine  Months  of 1995.  The
Company's gross profit margin decreased to 51% for the First Nine Months of 1996
from 56% for the First Nine Months of 1995.  The decrease in gross profit margin
was due to the  continued  reduction  of the average unit price  reimbursed  for
certain clinical chemistry services and the increased costs necessary to provide
an increased range of anatomic pathology testing services.

Gross profits were $7.1 million during the Third Quarter of 1996, an increase of
$685,000  or 11% from the Third  Quarter of 1995.  The  Company's  gross  profit
margin  decreased  to 51% for the Third  Quarter  of 1996 from 56% for the Third
Quarter of 1995.

The clinical  laboratory  industry has seen steady  downward  pressure on prices
exerted by both government and private  third-party  payers.  Also,  payment for
services such as those provided by the Company is and likely will continue to be
affected by periodic  reevaluations  made by payers concerning which services to
reimburse and which to cease reimbursing.  The reduction in reimbursement rates,
particularly by Medicare,  has generally  decreased the average unit price,  and
thus the average gross profit,  for many of the  Company's  clinical  laboratory
services  each year. In keeping with this trend,  as part of the Omnibus  Budget
Reconciliation Act of 1993 ("OBRA '93"), Congress reduced over time the national
cap  on  Medicare  clinical  laboratory  fee  schedules.   OBRA  '93  was  fully


implemented in 1996 and has reduced the cap on Medicare clinical  laboratory fee
schedules to 76% of the national  median.  It also eliminated the annual updates
of such fee schedules for the years 1994 and 1995.

With respect to the Company's tissue testing services,  which are not reimbursed
under the Medicare  clinical  laboratory  fee  schedules,  the Medicare fees for
these services also generally  declined with the  implementation of the resource
based relative value scale ("RBRVS") system which went into effect on January 1,
1992. This program was also fully  implemented in 1996 and has had the effect of
reducing  reimbursement  for pathology testing services although not to the same
extent as the Medicare reimbursement reduction for clinical laboratory services.

Any future changes in government and other third-party payer reimbursement which
may come about as a consequence of an enactment of health care reform or deficit
reduction  legislation will also be likely to continue the downward  pressure on
prices and make the markets for all of the Company's  services more competitive.
H.R. 2491, the Balanced Budget Act of 1995, would have made substantial  changes
to the  Medicare  program;  however,  it was  vetoed  by  President  Clinton  in
December, 1995. Nevertheless,  this bill as well as President Clinton's Medicare
counterproposal contained in his fiscal year 1997 budget offer some insight into
future  Medicare  reform  legislation.  H.R. 2491 would have further reduced the
national  cap  on  Medicare  clinical  laboratory  fee  schedules  to 65% of the
national  median in 1997. It also would have  eliminated  annual  updates in the
Medicare clinical laboratory fee schedules until fiscal year 2002. However, H.R.
2491 would have  implemented a new  "conversion  factor" that may have favorably
affected the Company's physician  pathology service  reimbursements by less than
five percent.

Both H.R.  2491 and the  President's  Medicare  proposal  would have revised the
Medicare  program  substantially  to  permit  beneficiaries  to  choose  between
traditional   fee-for-service  Medicare  and  several  non-traditional  Medicare
options, including managed care plans and provider-sponsored organization plans.
These  non-traditional  Medicare  plans would have  considerable  discretion  in
determining whether and how to cover and reimburse all of the Company's services
and to limit the number of laboratories  with which they deal.  Although neither
proposal would have required  Medicare  beneficiaries  to pay 20% of the fee for
each clinical laboratory service, nothing in the proposals would have prohibited
non-traditional Medicare plans from implementing such a requirement.

In addition,  H.R. 2491 proposed  that a fail-safe  budget  mechanism be used if
projected savings were not realized in Medicare laboratory service expenditures.
This fail-safe  mechanism might have further reduced  reimbursement for Medicare
clinical  laboratory  services and physician  services  (including the Company's
pathology  services).  The President's original Medicare  counterproposal  would
have established  competitive  bidding for clinical laboratory services instead.
Although these competitive  bidding provisions were not included in the Medicare
section of  President  Clinton's  fiscal year 1997 budget  proposal,  they could
resurface  in future  Medicare  proposals  if there is a need to  generate  more
savings from the Medicare  program.  Furthermore,  the  President's  support for
competitive  bidding has  rekindled  efforts  within the Health  Care  Financing
Administration ("HCFA") to initiate a Medicare demonstration project to test the
savings  potential  of  competitive  bidding  for  Part  B  clinical  laboratory
services.  If ultimately adopted,  either through federal legislation or through
HCFA  policy,  these  changes  would  have an  adverse  impact on the  Company's
revenues.

Medicare  reform is a major  unpredictable  factor for the  Company's  business.
During  any  budget  reconciliation  process  and if and  when  Medicare  reform
legislation is considered by Congress, the reforms mentioned above or others are
likely to be considered again.  Because of the  uncertainties  about the nature,
content and timing of legislative initiatives and the market's response to them,
the Company currently is unable to predict their ultimate impact on the clinical
laboratory  or  anatomic  pathology  markets  generally  or on  the  Company  in
particular. Even without definitive federal legislative action, however, reforms
are likely to occur at the state level  and/or in response to market  pressures.
In the past the Company has offset a substantial  portion of the impact of price
decreases and coverage changes through the achievement of economies of scale and
other strategies such as more favorable  purchase contracts and the introduction
of alternative technologies.  However,  depending upon whether and how the price
decreases  and other  changes  which could occur as a result of federal or state
legislation are implemented,  they could have an adverse impact on gross profits
from the Company's  testing  services until  management is able to mitigate such
impact; provided,  however, that there can be no assurance that management would
be able to mitigate such impact.  Furthermore,  as a general trend, it should be
expected that gross profit margins will continue to decline over the long term.



     o   Selling, General and Administrative Expenses

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $15.9 million during the First
Nine Months of 1996,  an increase of $877,000 or 5.8% from the First Nine Months
of 1995. As a percentage of net revenues,  selling,  general and  administrative
expenses  decreased  to 40% for the First  Nine  Months of 1996 from 45% for the
First Nine Months of 1995. Levels of these  expenditures in 1995 were abnormally
elevated as a result of one-time charges for  amortization,  severance costs and
investment write-downs incurred in the First Nine Months of 1995.

Selling,  general and administrative expenses were $5.2 million during the Third
Quarter of 1996,  an increase of $623,000 or 14% from the Third Quarter of 1995.
As a percentage of net revenues,  selling,  general and administrative  expenses
decreased to 38% for the Third Quarter of 1996 from 41% for the Third Quarter of
1995. Levels of these expenditures in 1995 were abnormally  elevated as a result
of one-time charges for amortization and investment  write-downs incurred in the
Third Quarter of 1995.

Amortization  expense,  severance costs,  international  restructuring costs and
investment   write-downs  of  approximately  $2.1  million  previously  reported
separately  in 1995 were  combined  with the  appropriate  selling,  general and
administrative and research and development expenses beginning in 1996.

Amortization  expense was  $206,000 in the First Nine Months of 1996, a decrease
of  $954,000  or 82% from the  First  Nine  Months  of 1995.  This  decrease  is
primarily a result of the Company recording a one-time accelerated  amortization
charge of  approximately  $765,000  during the  second  quarter of 1995 based on
management's  revised  estimate of future benefits  anticipated  from a customer
list.  Amortization  expense was  $69,000  during the Third  Quarter of 1996,  a
decrease of $38,000 or 35% from the Third Quarter of 1995.

Severance  costs were  $148,000 in the First Nine Months of 1996,  a decrease of
$259,000 or 64% from the First Nine Months of 1995. The severance costs were due
primarily to the resignation of officers in 1995 and 1996.  Severance costs were
$102,000  during the Third Quarter of 1996. No similar  charges were recorded in
the Third Quarter of 1995.

Investment write-downs were $62,000 in the First Nine Months of 1996, a decrease
of $304,000 or 83% from the First Nine Months of 1995. This decrease is a result
of the Company  recording  in the First Nine Months of 1995 (and,  other than as
described in the last sentence of this  paragraph,  not in the First Nine Months
of 1996) a  write-down  to market value of the  investment  in common stock of a
publicly  traded company as the loss in value was deemed other than temporary in
accordance with the Statement of Financial  Accounting Standard 115, "Accounting
for Certain Investments on Debt and Equity Securities".  Investment  write-downs
were $50,000 in the Third Quarter of 1996.  The  write-down in the Third Quarter
of 1996 represented the remaining investment in that common stock.

International restructuring costs of approximately $118,000 were recorded in the
First  Nine  Months of 1995  relating  to  anticipated  severance  expenses  and
associated  costs to close-down the Company's  remaining  foreign  branches.  No
similar charges were recorded in the First Nine Months of 1996.

     o   Research and Development

Research and development  expenses were $2.3 million in the First Nine Months of
1996, a decrease of approximately $1.3 million or 36% from the First Nine Months
of 1995.  Research and development  expenses during 1995 were higher than normal
because  they  included  the costs of  developing  the  Company's  new  anatomic
pathology services, building the Company's database and reviewing, analyzing and
clinically evaluating existing as well as new technologies. The decrease in such
expenses  in the  First  Nine  Months  of 1996  was  principally  caused  by the
completion in 1995 of the major portion of such expenditures for the development
of the new anatomic pathology services. It should be expected that such research
and  development  expenses  will  decline  as a  percentage  of sales in 1996 as
compared to 1995.

Research and development  expenses were $722,000 in the Third Quarter of 1996, a
decrease of approximately $678,000 or 48% from the Third Quarter of 1995.



     o   Interest Income

During the First Nine Months of 1996 interest income was earned on an average of
$5.5 million of cash and cash  equivalents  for the period.  Interest income was
approximately  $280,000  for the First  Nine  Months  of 1996,  an  increase  of
$100,000  or 56% from the First Nine  Months of 1995  which was  caused  both by
higher  interest  rates and by investing  over $4.6 million in net cash proceeds
from a private placement of the Company's  securities completed in October 1995.
Interest  income was  approximately  $51,000  for the Third  Quarter of 1996,  a
decrease of $31,000 or 38% from the Third Quarter of 1995.

     o   Interest Expense

Interest expense was approximately  $63,000 for the First Nine Months of 1996, a
decrease of $45,000 or 42% from the First Nine Months of 1995.  The  decrease in
interest expense was due to the periodic monthly repayments required on the $3.5
million term loan obtained in July of 1993 which bears  interest at 6% per year.
Interest  expense was  approximately  $18,000 for the Third  Quarter of 1996,  a
decrease of $15,000 or 45% from the Third Quarter of 1995.

     o   Provision for Income Taxes

Provision  for income tax expense was $1.1  million for the First Nine Months of
1996, representing an increase of approximately $1.1 million from the First Nine
Months of 1995.  The  effective tax rate was  approximately  43% during both the
First Nine Months of 1996 and 1995.

     o   Net Income

As a result of the  foregoing,  for the First Nine Months of 1996 net income was
$1.5  million,  an increase of  approximately  $1.4  million from the First Nine
Months of 1995.  For the Third  Quarter of 1996,  net income  was  $657,000,  an
increase of approximately $413,000 from the Third Quarter of 1995.

Liquidity and Capital Resources
- -------------------------------

As of September  30, 1996,  the Company had total cash and cash  equivalents  of
approximately  $6 million  which were  invested in U.S.  Treasury  money  market
mutual
funds.

The  Company had working  capital of $14 million at  September  30, 1996 and $17
million  at  December  31,  1995.  The  working  capital  ratio  was 3.0 to 1 at
September  30, 1996  compared to 3.7 to 1 at December 31, 1995.  The decrease in
working  capital is primarily  attributable  to treasury  shares acquired and to
increased capital expenditures in 1996 over 1995.

   
As of September 30, 1996, the Company has purchased 421,000 shares of its common
stock,  for an  aggregate  consideration  of  approximately  $2.3  million.  The
Company's  Board of  Directors  has  authorized  open market  purchases  for the
Employee Stock Purchase Plan  requirements  totaling  300,000 shares and further
additional open market purchases of up to 379,000 shares.
    

Capital  expenditures  during the First Nine  Months of 1996 were  approximately
$3.3  million  compared  to $1.9  million  during the First Nine Months of 1995,
mainly  for  expansion  of  the  Company's  laboratory  facilities  as  well  as
replacements  in the  normal  course of  operations  and  automation  of certain
existing laboratories.

Domestic trade receivables, net, were $12.3 million as of September 30, 1996, an
increase of $2.8 million or 30% from  December  31, 1995.  The increase in trade
receivables  was due to the increase in revenues during the First Nine Months of
1996 over the comparable  period of 1995.  During the Third Quarter of 1996, the
average number of days sales in domestic trade  receivables was approximately 77
days as compared to 72 days for the comparable period of 1995.



In July 1993,  the Company  obtained a $3.5  million  term loan from a bank that
bears interest at 6% per year. This term loan and accrued  interest is repayable
in 47 monthly installments of approximately $82,000 which commenced in September
1993 plus one  final  payment  in  August  1997  equal to the  remaining  unpaid
principal and  interest.  During 1995,  the term loan  agreement was modified to
revise certain financial covenants, including those with respect to tangible net
worth  and  debt  service  coverage  requirements  and  limitations  on  certain
expenditures.  During the Third  Quarter  of 1996,  there were no changes in the
Company's  existing  debt  agreements.  Under such term loan,  the  Company  has
outstanding  principal in the amount of  approximately  $885,000 as of September
30, 1996.

On October 5, 1995, the Company completed a $5,612,000 private placement with an
investor  for 1 million  shares of common  stock and 800,000  two-year  warrants
exercisable  at $6.00  per  share of  common  stock of the  Company  (except  as
otherwise  described  below).  The Company  received  cash of  $5,316,000  and a
two-year  promissory note for $296,000  bearing 7% interest.  As a result of the
amendment to the warrants  discussed  below,  some or all of the warrants can be
exercised at a price of $5.00 at any time on or before  October 31,  1996.  Upon
such  election the Company  shall  extinguish  as an  adjustment to the purchase
price paid for such warrants,  for each such warrant for which such election has
been  made,  $0.37 of the  principal  amount  of the note  upon  payment  of the
interest due on such  extinguished  amount for the  outstanding  period.  If the
800,000  warrants are all exercised on or before  October 31, 1996, the two year
promissory note for $296,000 will be fully extinguished. On August 20, 1996, the
Company's Board of Directors  approved an amendment to the terms of the warrants
to extend from October 4, 1996 to October 31, 1996,  the date through  which the
warrants  can be  exercised at $5.00 per share.  The  amendment  was approved in
connection  with the scheduling of the Company's  Annual Meeting for October 24,
1996 to enable  voting at such  meeting on a proposal to enable the  investor to
vote shares of the  Company's  common  stock owned by such  investor and certain
affiliates  representing  up to 20% of the total voting  power of the  Company's
voting  securities  outstanding  from time to time to be completed  prior to the
expiration of the $5.00 per share exercise price.  Such proposal was approved at
the  Company's  Annual  Meeting on October 24, 1996.  On October 29,  1996,  the
investor  exercised  all 800,000  warrants  and in  exchange  for the payment of
approximately  $4.0 million in cash representing the aggregate exercise price of
such  warrants and interest on the principal  amount of the two-year  promissory
note for the  outstanding  period,  the Company  issued to the investor  800,000
shares of its common stock and fully  extinguished  and cancelled the promissory
note.

The Company believes that cash flows from operations and available cash and cash
equivalents  are adequate to fund the Company's  operations for the  foreseeable
future.

Risk Factors; Forward Looking Statements
- ----------------------------------------

The  Management's  Discussion and Analysis  contain  forward-looking  statements
regarding the  Company's  future plans,  objectives,  and expected  performance.
These  statements  are  based on  assumptions  that  the  Company  believes  are
reasonable,  but are subject to a wide range of risks and  uncertainties,  and a
number of factors could cause the Company's actual results to differ  materially
from those expressed in the forward-looking  statements referred to above. These
factors include,  among others,  the  uncertainties  in reimbursement  rates and
reimbursement  coverage of various tests sold by the Company to beneficiaries of
the Medicare program;  the uncertainties  relating to the ability of the Company
to convince physicians and/or managed care organizations to use the Company as a
provider of anatomic  pathology testing services;  the ability of the Company to
maintain  superior  quality  relative  to its  competitors;  the  ability of the
Company to maintain  its  hospital-based  business  in light of the  competitive
pressures  and  changes   occurring  in  hospital  health  care  delivery;   the
uncertainties  relating  to  states  erecting  barriers  to the  performance  of
anatomic  pathology  testing by  out-of-state  laboratories;  the ability of the
Company to find,  attract  and retain  above  average  medical,  management  and
technical  personnel;  the uncertainties  associated with competitive  pressures
from the large national  laboratories,  small specialized  laboratories and well
established  local  pathologists;  and the  uncertainties  which  would arise if
integrated  delivery systems closed to outside providers emerged as the dominant
form of health care delivery.



PART II  OTHER INFORMATION


Item 5   Other Information
         -----------------

         In April 1996, the Company  adopted the 1996 Stock  Incentive Plan (the
         "Plan").  The Plan authorizes  700,000 shares,  of which 630,000 may be
         issued to employees and 70,000 may be issued to outside Directors.  The
         Plan was approved at the Company's Annual Meeting on October 24, 1996.

         The Company entered into executive  employment  agreements with Richard
         A.  Sandberg  and  with Dr.  James B.  Amberson  (the  "Employees")  on
         September 1, 1996. Each such agreement  provides that in the event of a
         "Change in Control of the Company",  as defined in the  agreements,  if
         the  Employee's  employment  is terminated  other than for "Cause",  as
         defined in the agreements,  he is entitled to receive one year's salary
         and  bonus  and  all  his  stock  options  will  vest  completely.  The
         agreements  expire in  September  2001 and are  subject  to  successive
         automatic  one-year  renewals  thereafter  (unless  certain  notice  is
         given). The employment  agreements are filed herewith as exhibits 10.38
         and 10.39.

         The Company has also entered into a employment agreement with Dr. James
         B.  Amberson  on  September  1, 1996.  Pursuant to the  agreement,  Dr.
         Amberson is entitled to a salary as determined by the Company and other
         benefits of the Company. This agreement provides that in the event of a
         termination of Dr. Amberson's  employment for other than "Stated Cause"
         (as  defined in the  agreement),  he is  entitled to receive six months
         salary and other benefits.  Subject to the foregoing, this agreement is
         subject  to  termination  at  will  by  either  party.  The  employment
         agreement is filed herewith as exhibit 10.40.

         The  Company  entered  into  an  employment  agreement  with  David  R.
         Schreiber  on  September  30, 1996 as the Chief  Financial  Officer and
         Senior  Vice  President,  Finance  of the  Company.  Salary  and  other
         compensation  are disclosed in the employment  agreement filed herewith
         as exhibit 10.42.

Item 6   Exhibits and Reports on Form 8-K
         --------------------------------

     a   Exhibits

         10.38    Employment   Agreement,   dated  September  1,  1996,  by  the
                  registrant and Richard A. Sandberg.

         10.39    Employment   Agreement,   dated  September  1,  1996,  by  the
                  registrant and Dr. James B. Amberson.

         10.40    Employment   Agreement,   dated  September  1,  1996,  by  the
                  registrant and Dr. James B. Amberson.

         10.41    Severance   Agreement,   dated  September  27,  1996,  by  the
                  registrant and Carl R. Iberger.

         10.42    Employment  Agreement,   dated  September  30,  1996,  by  the
                  registrant and David R. Schreiber.

         11.1     Statement  regarding computation  of per share earnings is not
                  required  because the relevant  computation  can be determined
                  from  the  material  contained  in  the  Financial  Statements
                  included herein.

         27.1     Financial Data Schedule.

     b   Reports on Form 8-K

         No reports on Form 8-K were filed  during the quarter  ended  September
         30, 1996.



Pursuant  to the  requirements  of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of  1934,  the
registrant  has duly  caused  this  report  to be  signed  on its  behalf by the
undersigned thereunto duly authorized.


                                            DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.




   
                    November 15, 1996       /s/ Kevin C. Johnson
                                            -------------------------------  
                                            By: Kevin C. Johnson
                                            President and
                                            Principal Executive Officer



                    November 15, 1996       /s/ Richard A. Sandberg
                                            -------------------------------
                                            By: Richard A. Sandberg
                                                Chairman,
                                                Principal Financial Officer and
                                                Principal Accounting Officer
    




                                  EXHIBIT INDEX


                                                                          Page
                                                                          ----
                                                                     
10.38   Employment Agreement, dated September 1, 1996,                     16
        by the registrant and Richard A. Sandberg                          
        (filed herewith).                                                  

10.39   Employment Agreement, dated September 1, 1996,                     23
        by the registrant and Dr. James B. Amberson           
        (filed herewith).                                                  

10.40   Employment Agreement, dated September 1, 1996,
        by the registrant and Dr. James B. Amberson           
        (filed herewith).                                                  38

10.41   Severance Agreement, dated September 27, 1996,
        by the registrant and Carl R. Iberger 
        (filed herewith).                                                  45

10.42   Employment Agreement, dated September 30, 1996,
        by the registrant and David R. Schreiber
        (filed herewith).                                                  50

27.1    Financial Data Schedule (filed herewith).                          69