POWER OF ATTORNEY
                 DIANON SYSTEMS, INC. 1996 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                 ----------------------------------------------


         KNOW ALL MEN BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that  each of the  undersigned  does
hereby  constitute and appoint each of Richard A. Sandberg and Kevin C. Johnson,
with full power of substitution,  his true and lawful attorney to execute in his
name (whether on behalf of DIANON Systems, Inc. (the "Company") or as an officer
or director of the Company) any  Registration  Statement on Form S-8 to be filed
with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  under the Securities Act of 1933
relating to the Company's  1996 Stock  Incentive  Plan (the  "Plan"),  including
without limitation  additional  Registration  Statements on Form S-8 relating to
the Plan, and any and all amendments  (including  post-effective  amendments) to
any such Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto
and any  other  documents  in  connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission.  Each such attorney and his substitutes shall have and may
exercise all powers to act hereunder. Each of the undersigned does hereby ratify
and  confirm  all that said  attorney  and agent shall do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  each of the undersigned has signed his name hereto
as of this 29th day of October, 1996.




 /s/  Kevin C. Johnson                      /s/  Richard A. Sandberg        
- ----------------------------               ---------------------------------
Kevin C. Johnson                           Richard A. Sandberg



 /s/  James B. Amberson, M.D.               /s/  G.S. Beckwith Gilbert      
- ----------------------------               ---------------------------------
James B. Amberson, M.D.                    G.S. Beckwith Gilbert



 /s/  John P. Davis                         /s/  Jeffrey L. Sklar, M.D., Ph.D. 
- ----------------------------               ---------------------------------
John P. Davis                              Jeffrey L. Sklar, M.D., Ph.D.



 /s/  Walter O. Fredericks       
- ----------------------------   
Walter O. Fredericks






                                POWER OF ATTORNEY
                 DIANON SYSTEMS, INC. 1996 STOCK INCENTIVE PLAN
                 ----------------------------------------------



         KNOW ALL MEN BY  THESE  PRESENTS,  that  each of the  undersigned  does
hereby  constitute and appoint each of Richard A. Sandberg and Kevin C. Johnson,
with full power of substitution,  his true and lawful attorney to execute in his
name (whether on behalf of DIANON Systems, Inc. (the "Company") or as an officer
or director of the Company) any  Registration  Statement on Form S-8 to be filed
with the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  under the Securities Act of 1933
relating to the Company's  1996 Stock  Incentive  Plan (the  "Plan"),  including
without limitation  additional  Registration  Statements on Form S-8 relating to
the Plan, and any and all amendments  (including  post-effective  amendments) to
any such Registration Statement, and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto
and any  other  documents  in  connection  therewith,  with the  Securities  and
Exchange  Commission.  Each such attorney and his substitutes shall have and may
exercise all powers to act hereunder. Each of the undersigned does hereby ratify
and  confirm  all that said  attorney  and agent shall do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF,  each of the undersigned has signed his name hereto
as of this 5th day of December, 1996.




 /s/  David R. Schreiber         
- -----------------------------
David R. Schreiber