SEPARATION AGREEMENT


         WHEREAS,  CARL IBERGER and DIANON SYSTEMS, INC. ("Company") wish to end
the employment relationship between them and wish to resolve any and all claims,
disputes or causes of action that do or may exist between them;

         NOW  THEREFORE,  in  consideration  of the mutual  covenants  and other
valuable considerations  contained herein, the Company and CARL IBERGER agree as
follows:

         1. CARL  IBERGER  resigns  his  full-time  employment  and his  officer
positions with the Company effective as of September 27, 1996.

         2. The  Company  shall pay CARL  IBERGER  separation  pay,  subject  to
applicable  deductions,  in the  amount  of  twenty-six  thousand,  six  hundred
eighty-three  dollars ($26,683)  representing the difference  between pay at his
last rate of base salary for the period of nine months  after  termination  (the
"Separation  Period") and the gross amount of a  performance  bonus  awarded him
during the course of his employment.  This separation pay shall be paid in equal
installments on regular  payroll dates of the Company  throughout the Separation
Period.

         3. The Company  shall pay CARL IBERGER the bonus he would have received
under  the  Company's  1996  Management  Incentive  Program  had his  employment
continued  through the date on which payments under said program are made.  This
payment  will be made at the same time  payments to other  Management  Incentive
Program participants are made.

         4. CARL IBERGER  agrees to comply with the  provisions  of the Employee
Proprietary  Information  Agreement  appended  to this  Agreement  as Exhibit A,
subject to Paragraph 9 of this Agreement.


         5.  CARL  IBERGER   agrees  to  cooperate  with  the  Company  and  its
representatives  regarding  any claims or potential  claims or  litigation by or
against  the  Company  involving  matters  about  which CARL  IBERGER  possesses
knowledge.  It is the intent of the parties to require CARL  IBERGER's  physical
presence at a site remote from his home or business  only when  necessary to the
effective delivery of such cooperation.

         6. CARL IBERGER, agrees to make himself reasonably available to consult
with the Company on financial and  administrative  matters during the Separation
Period.

         7. CARL IBERGER,  on behalf of himself,  his executors,  administrators
and assigns,  hereby releases the Company, its affiliates,  and their respective
directors,   officers,   agents,  employees,   benefit  plans,  fiduciaries  and
administrators   of  such  benefit  plans  and  their   successors  and  assigns
(hereinafter  "Released  Company  Parties") from any and all claims or causes of
action of any kind arising on or before the date he signs this Agreement,  other
than vested rights under benefit plans,  which CARL IBERGER has, had or may have
against  any of them,  whether  or not now known  arising  from  CARL  IBERGER's
recruitment for employment with the Company, his employment or officer positions
with the Company,  or the  termination of his  employment and officer  positions
with  the  Company,  including  without  limitation  any  claims  under  the Age
Discrimination in Employment.

         8.  CARL   IBERGER  on  behalf  of  himself,   his  heirs,   executors,
administrators  and assigns,  further  agrees never  directly or  indirectly  to
commence or prosecute, or to permit or advise to be commenced or prosecuted, any
action,  proceeding,  or charge against any Released Company Party, in any state
or federal  court,  administrative  agency or arbitral forum with respect to any
matter  whether or not  known,  for any claim  based upon any act,  transaction,


practice,  conduct,  or omission that  occurred  prior to the date he signs this
Agreement,  including but not limited to, rights under the Age Discrimination in
Employment Act or any other federal, state, or local laws prohibiting age, race,
sex, national origin,  religion,  or other forms of  discrimination,  claims for
breach of contract or promissory estoppel or tort, and claims growing out of any
legal restrictions on the Company's right to terminate its employees or officers
which he now has,  or claims to have,  or which at any time  heretofore  had, or
which at any time hereafter may have.

         9.  Notwithstanding  the  provisions  of  the  Employment   Proprietary
Information  Agreement  attached hereto as Exhibit A, the Company  releases CARL
IBERGER from the obligation not to engage in any similar or competitive business
entity or research as of the  expiration of the Separation  Period.  The parties
further agree that should CARL IBERGER  engage in such activity or research with
any entity  principally  engaged in urology  testing  and/or  pathology  testing
during the Separation Period, the Company's obligation to make payments pursuant
to Paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Agreement  shall terminate  without  affecting the
remaining provisions of this Agreement.

         10. The Company hereby releases CARL IBERGER from any and all claims or
causes of action of any kind  arising  on or before  the date it  executes  this
Agreement, which the Company has had or may have against him, whether or not now
known,  except any claims  involving  improper  actions by CARL IBERGER with the
intent or effect of personal gain to CARL IBERGER.

         11. The parties  recognize and agree that this  Agreement  does not and
shall not  constitute  an admission of liability or  wrongdoing  by any Released
Company Party.


         12. The parties agree that, except as necessary to comply and to obtain
compliance with this Agreement,  or to comply with any federal,  state, or local
law, they will not disclose the terms of this Agreement.

         13. In the event  CARL  IBERGER  files a claim,  lawsuit  or  complaint
against any  Released  Company  Party in any court or  governmental  agency with
respect to the claims he has released under this  Agreement,  CARL IBERGER shall
be liable for all costs and  expenses  including  legal  fees,  incurred  by any
Released Company Party in defense of that action. In the event the Company files
a claim,  lawsuit or complaint against CARL IBERGER in any court or governmental
agency with  respect to the claims it has  released  under this  Agreement,  the
Company  shall be liable  for all  costs and  expenses,  including  legal  fees,
incurred by CARL IBERGER in defense of that action.

         14. CARL IBERGER  represents  that he has carefully read and completely
understands  this  Agreement  and  that  he  has  entered  into  this  Agreement
voluntarily  after having had an opportunity to consult with his legal advisors,
which he has been encouraged to do in writing by the Company (Exhibit B).

         15.  CARL  IBERGER  acknowledges  that  the  commitments,  waivers  and
releases he gives in this  agreement are in exchange for valuable  consideration
to which he is not otherwise  entitled,  and which constitutes a full accord and
satisfaction of any claims he may have against any Released Party.

         16. CARL IBERGER  acknowledges  that he has been given  twenty-one (21)
days to review the waivers and  releases  contained in this  Agreement  prior to
signing it.


         17. CARL IBERGER  shall have seven (7) days after the execution of this
Agreement to revoke the waivers and releases  contained  in this  Agreement  and
this Agreement shall not be effective unless and until those seven (7) days have
elapsed without CARL IBERGER so revoking.

         18. This Agreement  constitutes the entire  Agreement of the parties on
the  subject  matter  hereof  and  supersedes  any  and  all  prior  agreements,
understandings or commitments, oral or written.

         19. This Agreement shall be governed by applicable  Federal law and the
laws of the State of Connecticut.


                                            CARL IBERGER


Dated:  9/19/96                             Signature:  /s/ Carl Iberger
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                                            DIANON SYSTEMS, INC.


Dated:  9/19/96                             Signature:  /s/ Kevin C. Johnson
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