In an HLA laboratory, which of the following represents the order of total annual costs from greatest to least?

When considering the total annual costs within an HLA laboratory, it is important to understand how each category typically impacts the overall budget.

Salaries usually represent one of the largest expenses in any laboratory setting, as personnel costs are often substantial due to the need for trained professionals and technicians. This is particularly true in a specialized field like histocompatibility, where expertise is critical for quality results and donor matching.

Reagents are the next significant cost, as these are essential chemicals and materials needed for testing and analysis. While they can be expensive, the costs associated with reagents tend to fluctuate and may not reach the total annual expense of salaries.

Amortized equipment costs are generally lower on the scale of annual expenditure relative to the ongoing costs of personnel and reagents. Although equipment can represent a large capital expense, once it is amortized over its useful life, the annual expense becomes a smaller fraction compared to salaries and reagent costs.

Thus, in a typical HLA laboratory context, the correct order of total annual costs from greatest to least is indeed salaries, then reagents, followed by amortized equipment. This understanding helps laboratory managers prioritize budget allocations and resource planning.