Item 2. Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations

The following discussion of our financial condition and results of operations should be read in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and other information included elsewhere in this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q.

Forward-Looking Statements

Our disclosure and analysis in this report, including but not limited to the information discussed in this Item 2, contain forward-looking information about our Company’s financial results and estimates, business prospects and products in research and development that involve substantial risks and uncertainties. From time to time, we also may provide oral or written forward-looking statements in other materials we release to the public. Forward-looking statements give our current expectations or forecasts of future events. You can identify these statements by the fact that they do not relate strictly to historic or current facts. They use words such as “anticipate”, “estimate”, “expect”, “project”, “intend”, “plan”, “believe”, “will”, and other words and terms of similar meaning in connection with any discussion of future operations or financial performance.

In particular, these include statements relating to future actions, prospective products or product approvals, future performance or results of current and anticipated products, sales efforts, expenses, interest rates, foreign currency rates, intellectual property matters, the outcome of contingencies, such as legal proceedings, impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and measures we have taken in response, and financial results. We cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will be realized, although we believe we have been prudent in our plans and assumptions. Achievement of future results is subject to risks, uncertainties and inaccurate assumptions. Should known or unknown risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove inaccurate, actual results could vary materially from past results and those anticipated, estimated or projected. As a result, investors are cautioned not to place undue reliance on any of our forward-looking statements. Investors should bear this in mind as they consider forward-looking statements. We do not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statement that we make, even if new information becomes available or other events occur in the future. We are also affected by other factors that may be identified from time to time in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, some of which are set forth in Item 1A - Risk Factors in our Form 10-K filing for the July 31, 2022 fiscal year. You are advised to consult any further disclosures we make on related subjects in our Forms 10-Q, 8-K and 10-K reports to the Securities and Exchange Commission. Although we have attempted to provide a list of important factors which may affect our business, investors are cautioned that other factors may prove to be important in the future and could affect our operating results.

You should understand that it is not possible to predict or identify all such factors or to assess the impact of each factor or combination of factors on our business. Consequently, you should not consider any such list to be a complete set of all potential risks or uncertainties.

Impact of COVID-19

We made substantial investments to expand and maintain the amount of COVID-19 testing available in the communities we serve since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Enzo applied its technical expertise in molecular diagnostics to develop next generation COVID-19 diagnostic and antibody testing options which were approved under the FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2022, the Company generated substantial COVID-19 related services revenues, representing 44% of all services revenues. This testing had a significantly positive impact on the profitability and cash flow of our Clinical services segment for most of fiscal 2022. Revenues from COVID-19 testing represented 7% of all services revenues during the three months ended October 31, 2022.

In March 2022, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (“HRSA”) informed providers that, after March 22, 2022, it would stop accepting claims for testing and treatment for uninsured individuals under the HRSA COVID-19 Uninsured Program and that claims submitted prior to that date would be subject to eligibility and availability of funds. Although we believe that our estimates for contractual allowances and patient price concessions are appropriate, actual results could differ from those estimates. If the HRSA receives additional funding, it might again accept claims under the Uninsured Program.

The rate of transmission of COVID-19 and the severity of its variants have dramatically declined in the US. However, federal, state and local governmental policies and initiatives designed to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 resulted in, among other things, a significant reduction in physician office visits, the cancellation of elective medical procedures, and the continuation of work-from-home policies. The COVID-19 impact on the Company’s operations is consistent with the overall industry and our competitors, partners, and vendors. While we anticipate that COVID-19 will continue to impact our business into the future, increases in vaccination rates and booster shots, the development of new therapeutics and greater availability of rapid COVID-19 tests has resulted in a continued, significant decline in demand for our COVID-19 testing. As a result, volume, revenues, profitability, and cash flow from COVID-19 testing during the current period were all substantially and materially lower than the prior year period levels. At this time, COVID-19 testing is no longer a material part of our Services business.

We expect volume and revenues from COVID-19 testing will remain less significant in the periods ahead as the percentage of Americans who are vaccinated increases, the severity of its variants declines, and the general increase in the use of “at home” testing. However, the emergence and spread of potentially more serious variants may cause our COVID-19 testing volume to increase again. With respect to our non-COVID-19 operations, even after the COVID-19 pandemic impact has greatly moderated, we may continue to experience similar adverse effects to our businesses, consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows resulting from a recessionary economic environment, including inflation and actions by the Federal Reserve to increase interest rates.

The Company assessed certain accounting matters that generally require consideration of forecasted financial information in context with the information reasonably available to the Company and the unknown future impacts of COVID-19 and the recessionary economic environment, including inflation and actions by the Federal Reserve to increase interest rates as of October 31, 2022 and through the date of this Quarterly Report. The accounting matters assessed included, but were not limited to, the Company’s patient self-pay revenue concessions and credit losses in the Clinical Services segment, accounts receivable, inventories and the carrying value of goodwill and other long-lived assets. The Company’s future assessment of the magnitude and duration of COVID-19, as well as other economic factors, could result in additional material adverse impacts to the Company’s consolidated financial statements in future reporting periods.

Overview

Enzo Biochem, Inc. (the “Company”, “we”, “our”, or “Enzo”) is an integrated diagnostics, clinical lab, and life sciences company focused on delivering and applying advanced technology capabilities to produce affordable reliable products and services that enable our customers to meet their clinical needs. Through a connection with the market, we provide advanced biotechnology solutions to the global community as affordable and flexible quality products and services. We develop, manufacture and sell our proprietary technology solutions and platforms to clinical laboratories, specialty clinics, researchers and physicians globally. Enzo’s structure and business strategy represent the culmination of years of extensive planning and work.  The Company has the ability to offer low cost, high performance products and services for diagnostic testing, which ideally positions us to capitalize on the reimbursement pressures facing diagnostic labs. Our pioneering work in genomic analysis coupled with our extensive patent estate and enabling platforms have positioned the Company to continue to play an important role in the rapidly growing molecular medicine marketplaces.

Enzo develops low cost diagnostic platform products and related services. Our platform development includes automation-compatible reagent systems and associated products for sample collection and processing through analysis. We develop affordable products and services to improve healthcare, one of the greatest challenges today. Enzo combines over 40 years of expertise in technology development with assay development capabilities and diagnostic testing services to create high performance, cost-effective, and open assay solutions. The ability to combine these assets in one company is unique. With our strong intellectual property portfolio integrated with assay development know-how, production, distribution, validation and services capabilities, we have enabled sustainable products and services for a market that is facing increasing pressure in costs and reimbursement.

Enzo technology solutions and platforms and unique operational structure are designed to reduce overall healthcare costs for both government and private insurers. Our proprietary technology platforms reduces our customers’ need for multiple, specialized instruments, and offer a variety of high throughput capabilities together with a demonstrated high level of accuracy and reproducibility. Our genetic test panels are focused on large and growing markets primarily in the areas of personalized medicine, women’s health, infectious diseases and genetic disorders.

In the course of our research and development activities, we have built a substantial portfolio of intellectual property assets, comprised of approximately 472 issued patents worldwide and over 64 pending patent applications, along with extensive enabling technologies and platforms.

Below are brief descriptions of each of our two operating segments (See Note 11 in the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements):

Enzo Clinical Services is a clinical reference laboratory providing a wide range of clinical services to physicians, medical centers, other clinical labs and pharmaceutical companies. The Company believes having a Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments of 1988 (“CLIA”) certified and College of American Pathologists (“CAP”) accredited medical laboratory located in New York provides us the opportunity to more rapidly introduce cutting edge products and services to the clinical marketplace. Enzo Clinical Labs offers an extensive menu of molecular and other clinical laboratory tests and procedures used in patient care by physicians to establish or support a diagnosis, monitor treatment or medication, and search for an otherwise undiagnosed condition. Our laboratory is equipped with state-of-the-art communication and connectivity solutions enabling the rapid transmission, analysis and interpretation of generated data. We operate a full service clinical laboratory in Farmingdale, New York, a network of over 30 patient service centers throughout New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, two free standing “STAT” or rapid response laboratories in New York City and Connecticut, an in-house logistics department, and an information technology department. Under our license in New York State, we are able to offer testing services to clinical laboratories and physicians nationwide.

The Clinical Laboratory Services reporting unit is impacted by various risk factors, including among others, reduced reimbursements from third party payers for testing performed and from recent health care legislation. Despite the growth we have experienced in previous years, there can be no assurance future growth can be achieved. The introduction of new molecular and esoteric tests is expected to increase our revenue per test and could offset impacts from the above factors. The Company anticipates improved profitability with increased service volume.

Enzo Products manufactures, develops and markets products and tools for clinical research, drug development and bioscience research customers worldwide. Underpinned by broad technological capabilities, Enzo Life Sciences has developed proprietary products used in the identification of genomic information by laboratories around the world. Information regarding our technologies can be found in the “Core Technologies” section of our most recently filed Form 10-K. We are internationally recognized and acknowledged as a leader in the development, manufacturing validation and commercialization of numerous products serving not only the clinical research market, but also the life sciences markets in the fields of cellular analysis and drug discovery, among others. Our operations are supported by global operations allowing for the efficient marketing and delivery of our products around the world.

Results of Operations

Three months ended October 31, 2022 compared to October 31, 2021
(in 000s)

Comparative Financial Data for the Three Months Ended October 31,

Consolidated Results:

The “2023 period” and the “2022 period” refer to the three months ended October 31, 2022 of fiscal year 2023 and October 31, 2021 of the fiscal year 2022, respectively.

Impacts of COVID-19

We made substantial investments to expand and maintain the amount of COVID-19 testing available in the communities we serve since the start of the pandemic in March 2020. Enzo applied its technical expertise in molecular diagnostics to develop next generation COVID-19 diagnostic and antibody testing options which were approved under the FDA Emergency Use Authorization (EUA). During the fiscal year ended July 31, 2022, the Company generated substantial COVID-19 related services revenues, representing 44% of all services revenues. This testing had a significantly positive impact on the profitability and cash flow of our Clinical services segment for most of fiscal 2022.

In March 2022, the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration (“HRSA”) informed providers that, after March 22, 2022, it would stop accepting claims for testing and treatment for uninsured individuals under the HRSA COVID-19 Uninsured Program and that claims submitted prior to that date would be subject to eligibility and availability of funds. Although we believe that our estimates for contractual allowances and patient price concessions are appropriate, actual results could differ from those estimates. If the HRSA receives additional funding, it might again accept claims under the Uninsured Program.

The rate of transmission of COVID-19 and the severity of its variants has dramatically declined in the US. However, federal, state and local governmental policies and initiatives designed to reduce the transmission of COVID-19 resulted in, among other things, a significant reduction in physician office visits, the cancellation of elective medical procedures, and the continuation of work-from-home policies. The COVID-19 impact on the Company’s operations is consistent with the overall industry and our competitors, partners, and vendors. While we anticipate that COVID-19 will continue to impact our business into the future, increases in vaccination rates and booster shots, the development of new therapeutics and greater availability of rapid COVID-19 tests has resulted in a continued, significant decline in demand for our COVID-19 testing. As a result, volume, revenues, profitability, and cash flow from COVID-19 testing during the 2023 period were all substantially and materially lower than the 2022 period levels. At this time, COVID-19 testing is no longer a material part of our Services business.

We expect volume and revenues from COVID-19 testing will remain less significant in the periods ahead as the percentage of Americans who are vaccinated increases, the severity of its variants declines, and the general increase in the use of “at home” testing. However, the emergence and spread of potentially more serious variants may cause our COVID-19 testing volume to increase again. With respect to our non-COVID-19 operations, even after the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic greatly moderated and the business and social distancing restrictions have eased, we may continue to experience similar adverse effects to our businesses, consolidated results of operations, financial position and cash flows resulting from a recessionary economic environment.

Clinical services revenues for the 2023 period were $11.2 million compared to $19.7 million in the 2022 period, a decrease of $8.5 million or 43%. Revenues from COVID-19 testing represented 7% and 47% of Clinical revenues in the 2023 and 2022 periods, respectively as COVID-19 accessions declined 92% in the 2023 period versus the 2022 period. Accessions from all other testing was down 2%.

Estimated collection amounts are subject to the complexities and ambiguities of third party payer billing, reimbursement regulations and claims processing, as well as issues unique to Medicare and Medicaid programs, and require us to consider the potential for adjustments when estimating variable consideration in the recognition of revenue in the period that the related services are rendered. Furthermore, the current recessionary environment, including inflation and actions by the Federal Reserve to increase interest rates, have, in part, resulted in longer lag periods between the time when we perform and report on our clinical services and when we are ultimately paid. While we believe this to be a timing issue, any changes in our estimates of collections could have a material adverse impact on our consolidated financial statements.

In 2014, Congress passed the U.S. Protecting Access to Medicare Act of 2014 (PAMA), which included substantial changes to the way in which clinical laboratory services are paid under Medicare. Beginning in 2018, Medicare payments for clinical laboratory services are paid based upon the volume-weighted median of private payer rates as reported by certain clinical laboratories across the US, replacing the previous system which was based upon fee schedules derived from historical charges for clinical laboratory tests. We estimate that the effect of PAMA directly negatively impacted reimbursements from Medicare and Medicaid in the 2023 and 2022 periods by $0.2 million and $0.3 million, respectively.

Product revenues were $7.1 million in the 2023 period and $6.8 million in the 2022 period, an increase of $0.3 million or 5%. Increased revenues in the United States and Asia Pacific regions were partially offset by a decrease of revenues in Europe. During the 2022 period, we closed our manufacturing and distribution center in Ann Arbor, MI and moved the operations to our Farmingdale, NY campus. As a result we experienced some disruption in the manufacture and distribution of our products during the period, and experienced delays in product availability and fulfillment. This primarily impacted customers in Europe and to a lesser extent the Asia Pacific region. Revenues in the United States were unchanged.

The cost of Clinical Services was $10.1 million in the 2023 period and $11.2 million in the 2022 period, a decrease of $1.1 million or 10%. Due to the decline in revenues in the 2023 period versus 2022, we decreased our reagent costs by $0.7 million, our outside reference testing by $0.3 million, and salaries by $0.1 million. During the 2022 period, we significantly reduced our outside reference testing costs for COVID-19 by utilizing our internal manufacturing capabilities, thereby reducing some of our reliance on testing and reagents sourced from third parties. The gross profit margin on Clinical Services revenues in the 2023 period was approximately 10% versus 43% in the 2022 period, due to the magnitude of the decline in high margin COVID-19 testing.

The cost of Product revenues was $4.6 million in the 2023 period and $4.1 million in the 2022 period, an increase of $0.5 million or 13%, driven by higher revenues, the impact of inflation on materials, and market adjustment salary increases at our Farmingdale, NY manufacturing facility as compared to the 2022 period. As a result of those increases, the gross profit margin on Products was 35% in the 2023 period and 40% in the 2022 period . During the 2022 period, we closed our manufacturing and distribution center in Ann Arbor, MI and moved the operations to our Farmingdale, NY campus. As a result there was a temporary increase and overlap in manufacturing headcount and overhead costs during the transition in the 2022 period.

Research and development expenses were $1.0 million in the 2023 period and $0.7 million in the 2022 period, an increase of $0.3 million or 34%. Research activities include but are not limited to lab developed tests (LDTs) for sexually transmitted infection (STI) panels and the detection of COVID-19 and its variants.

Selling, general and administrative expenses were $11.5 million during the 2023 period versus $11.1 million during the 2022 period, an increase of $0.4 million or 4%. The Clinical Services expense increased $0.5 million primarily due to increased facility costs and market adjustment salary increases in billing, information technology and administrative operations departments, partially offset by lower sales commissions. The Other segment expense increased $0.5 million during the 2023 period compared to 2022 primarily due to consulting fees of $0.9 million related to advisory services including the evaluation of strategic alternatives for the Company. Additionally share based compensation increased $0.2 million. These increases were partially offset by a decrease in executive salaries and bonus accruals of $0.5 million. The Life Sciences Products expense decreased $0.6 million during the 2023 period, of which $0.4 million was due to the 2022 period expense for employee severance expenses associated with the closure of the facility in Ann Arbor, MI and the cost of moving its operations to our Farmingdale, NY campus. The segment also experienced a decrease in sales & marketing headcount and other marketing expenses such as website ads, promotions and campaigns and trade shows totaling $0.2 million.

Legal and related expenses were $1.1 million on a net basis during the 2023 period compared to $1.3 million on a net basis in the 2022 period, a decrease of $0.2 million or 16%. During the 2022 period, we incurred higher legal activities associated with strategic initiatives and other corporate matters but recognized a credit of $1.0 million associated with a fee settlement and release agreement with a former legal services provider.

Interest income, net was less than $0.1 million in the 2023 and 2022 periods. The 2023 period’s income was higher due to higher interest earned on cash in a money market fund. In the 2022 period, we also earned some interest on marketable securities in bond funds. In both periods we had interest expense primarily on a mortgage.

Other income (expense) in the 2023 and 2022 period was nil and ($0.1) million respectively, a favorable variance of approximately $0.1 million. During the 2022 period, the primary component of the expense was unrealized losses on marketable securities in bond funds held at that time as trading securities.

The foreign currency revaluation loss recognized by the Life Sciences Products segment during the 2023 period was $0.8 million compared to $0.4 million in the 2022 period, an unfavorable variance of $0.4 million. The 2023 period revaluation loss was due to depreciation of the British pound and Swiss franc versus the U.S. dollar as of the end of the period compared to its start. The revaluation loss in the 2022 period was smaller due to less significant depreciation of the British pound and Swiss franc versus the U.S. dollar as of the end of that period compared to its start.

Liquidity and Capital Resources

At October 31, 2022, the Company had cash and cash equivalents totaling $12.1 million of which $0.6 million was in foreign accounts, as compared to cash and cash equivalents of $21.6 million, of which $0.6 million was in foreign accounts at July 31, 2022. It is the Company’s current intent to permanently reinvest these foreign funds outside of the United States, and its current plans do not demonstrate a need to repatriate them to fund its United States operations.

The Company had working capital of $20.3 million at October 31, 2022, compared to $29.8 million at July 31, 2022, a decrease of $9.5 million. The decrease in working capital was due to the use of cash and cash equivalents to fund operations and capital expenditures.

Net cash used in operating activities during the 2023 period was $8.7 million, compared to $6.0 million during the 2022 period, an unfavorable variance of $2.6 million. The net cash used in the 2023 period was due to the net loss of $10.6 million and a net decrease of $0.5 million in operating liabilities, primarily accounts payable. These uses were partially offset by non-cash expense adjustments of $2.2 million and a net decrease of $0.2 million in operating assets, primarily prepaid assets. The net cash used in the 2022 period was due to the net loss of $2.3 million, a net increase of $2.2 million in operating assets, (primarily accounts receivable and inventories), and a net decrease of $3.1 million in operating liabilities, primarily accounts payable and accrued expenses. These uses were partially offset by net non-cash adjustments of $1.6 million.

Net cash used in investing activities during the 2023 period was approximately $0.7 million as compared to $1.1 million in the 2022 period. Capital expenditures in the 2023 and 2022 periods were $0.7 million and $1.0 million, respectively and represent expenditures to support and grow our existing operations, including investments in laboratory equipment, information technology, and the buildout of our Farmingdale campus. During the 2022 period, we also purchased marketable securities in bond funds, representing reinvestment of income, of less than $0.1 million.

Cash used in financing activities in both the 2023 and 2022 periods approximated $0.1 million for payments related to a long term debt including a mortgage and finance leases.

As of October 31, 2022 we had a mortgage principal balance of $3.9 million entered into for the purchase of a building facility at our Farmingdale campus, which bears a fixed interest rate of 5.09% per annum. It requires monthly mortgage payments totaling $0.4 million annually. Our obligations under the mortgage agreement are secured by the facility and by a $1.0 million cash collateral deposit with the mortgagee as additional security, which is included in other assets as of October 31, 2022.

Effective October 19, 2020, the Company and the mortgagee agreed to a covenant restructure whereby the mortgagee waived the Company’s financial ratio covenant for the fiscal period ended July 31, 2020 and modified the mortgage to replace a financial ratio covenant with a liquidity covenant. The liquidity covenant required that we own and maintain at all times, and throughout the remaining term of the loan, at least $25 million of liquid assets, defined as time deposits, money market accounts and commercial paper, and obligations issued by the U.S. government or any of its agencies. The cash collateral agreement was also modified to require compliance with the liquidity covenant for two consecutive fiscal years before the collateral is released back to us. As of July 31, 2021, the Company was in compliance with the financial and liquidity covenants in effect at that time related to this mortgage. Effective September 29, 2021, the Company and the mortgagee agreed to further covenant restructuring whereby (a) the liquidity covenant was reduced to 150% of the loan principal (or approximately $5.8 million at October 31, 2022) from $25 million previously, and (b) the collateral requirement would be increased from $0.75 million to $1.0 million. The Company increased the collateral deposit to $1.0 million in November 2021 and was in compliance with the liquidity covenant as of October 31, 2022 and July 31, 2022.

The Company believes based on its fiscal 2023 forecast that its current cash and cash equivalents level are sufficient for its foreseeable liquidity and capital resource needs over at least the next twelve (12) months. However, should the net loss and use of cash trends continue through fiscal 2023, the Company may need to raise additional capital during the current fiscal year. Although there can be no assurances, in the event additional capital is required, the Company believes it has the ability to raise additional funds, either through securing debt or the reactivation and utilization of the Controlled Equity Offering Program, or other sources. That program’s Form S-3 expired in October 2020 but may be refiled at any time at the discretion of the Company, as disclosed in Note 10 in the Notes to the Consolidated Financial Statements. Our liquidity plans are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including those described in the Item 1A. “Risk Factors” section of this Form 10-K for the year ended July 31, 2022, some of which are outside our control. Macroeconomic conditions could limit our ability to successfully execute our business plans and therefore adversely affect our liquidity plans.

Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements

The Company does not have any “off-balance sheet arrangements” as such term is defined in Item 303(a)(4) of Regulation S-K.

General and estimates

The Company’s discussion and analysis of its financial condition and results of operations are based upon Enzo Biochem, Inc.’s consolidated financial statements, which have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States. The preparation of these financial statements requires the Company to make estimates and judgments that affect the reported amounts of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses. These estimates and judgments also affect related disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities.

On an on-going basis, we evaluate our estimates, including those related to contractual expense, allowance for uncollectible accounts, inventory, intangible assets, goodwill and income taxes. The Company bases its estimates on experience and on various other assumptions that are believed to be reasonable under the circumstances, the results of which form the basis for making judgments about the carrying values of assets and liabilities that are not readily apparent from other sources. Actual results may differ from these estimates under different assumptions or conditions.

Revenues – Clinical Services

Contractual Adjustment

The Company’s estimate of contractual adjustment is based on significant assumptions and judgments, such as its interpretation of payer reimbursement policies, and bears the risk of change. The estimation process is based on the experience of amounts approved as reimbursable and ultimately settled by payers, versus the corresponding gross amount billed to the respective payers. The contractual adjustment is an estimate that reduces gross revenue, based on gross billing rates, to amounts expected to be approved and reimbursed.

Gross billings are based on a standard fee schedule we set for all third party payers, including Medicare, HMO’s and managed care. The Company adjusts the contractual adjustment estimate quarterly, based on its evaluation of current and historical settlement experience with payers, industry reimbursement trends, and other relevant factors. The other relevant factors that affect our contractual adjustment include the monthly and quarterly review of: 1) current gross billings and receivables and reimbursement by payer, 2) current changes in third party arrangements and 3) the growth of in-network provider arrangements and managed care plans specific to our Company.

Our clinical business is primarily dependent upon reimbursement from third-party payers, such as Medicare (which principally serves patients 65 and older) and insurers. We are subject to variances in reimbursement rates among different third-party payers, as well as constant changes of reimbursement rates. Changes that decrease reimbursement rates or coverage would negatively impact our revenues. The number of individuals covered under managed care contracts or other similar arrangements has grown over the past several years and may continue to grow in the future. In addition, Medicare and other government healthcare programs continue to shift to managed care. These trends will continue to reduce our revenues from these programs.

For the three months ended October 31, 2022 and 2021, the contractual adjustment percentages, determined using current and historical reimbursement statistics, was 87.6% and 83.7% respectively, of gross billings. The Company estimates (by using a sensitivity analysis) that each 1% point change in the contractual adjustment percentage could result in a change in clinical services revenues of approximately $0.9 million and $1.2 million for the three months periods ended October 31, 2022 and 2021 respectively, and a change in the net accounts receivable of approximately $0.4 million as of October 31, 2022.

Our clinical services financial billing system records gross billings using a standard fee schedule for all payers and does not record contractual adjustment by payer at the time of billing. Therefore, we are unable to quantify the effect contractual adjustments recorded during the current period have on revenue recorded in a previous period. However, we can reasonably estimate our monthly contractual adjustment to revenue on a timely basis based on our quarterly review process, which includes:

Accounts Receivable

Accounts receivable are reported at realizable value, net of allowances for doubtful accounts, which is estimated and recorded in the period of the related revenue.

The following is a table of the Company’s net accounts receivable by segment. The Clinical Laboratory Services segment’s net receivables are detailed by billing category and as a percent to its total net receivables. As of October 31, 2022 and July 31, 2022, approximately 62% and 59%, respectively of the Company’s net accounts receivable relates to its Clinical Laboratory Services business, which operates in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut medical communities. The Life Sciences products segment’s accounts receivable includes approximately $1.0 million or 22% and $1.1 million or 24% of foreign receivables as of October 31, 2022 and July 31, 2022, respectively.

Net accounts receivable (in thousands)

The Company’s ability to collect outstanding receivables from third party payers is critical to its operating performance and cash flows. The primary collection risk lies with uninsured patients or patients for whom primary insurance has paid but a patient portion remains outstanding. The Company assesses the current state of its billing functions in order to identify any known collection or reimbursement issues. The Company assesses the impact, if any, on the allowance estimates, which involves Company’s management judgment. It is important to note that the collection of these receivables is not guaranteed from Third Party Payers. The Company believes that the collectability of its receivables is directly linked to the quality of its billing processes, most notably, those related to obtaining the accurate patient information to effectively bill for the services provided. Should circumstances change (e.g. shift in payer mix, decline in economic conditions or deterioration in aging of receivables), our estimates of net realizable value of receivables could be reduced by a material amount. As of October 31, 2022, approximately 16% of Clinical Labs receivables are from one payer other than Medicare and as of July 31, 2022, approximately 23%, of Clinical Labs receivables are from two payers other than Medicare.

Billing for laboratory services is complicated due to several factors, including, but not limited to, the differences between our standard gross fee schedule for all payers and the reimbursement rates of the various payers we deal with, disparity of coverage and information requirements among the various payers, and disputes with payers as to which party is responsible for reimbursement.

Income Taxes

The Company accounts for income taxes under the liability method of accounting for income taxes. Under the liability method, deferred tax assets and liabilities are recognized for the future tax consequences attributable to differences between the financial statement carrying amounts of existing assets and liabilities and their respective tax bases. The liability method requires that any tax benefits recognized for net operating loss carry forwards and other items be reduced by a valuation allowance where it is not more likely than not the benefits will be realized in the foreseeable future. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are measured using enacted tax rates expected to apply to taxable income in the years in which those temporary differences are expected to be recovered or settled. Under the liability method, the effect on deferred tax assets and liabilities of a change in tax rates is recognized in income in the period that includes the enactment date. It is the Company’s policy to provide for uncertain tax positions, if any, and the related interest and penalties based upon management’s assessment of whether a tax benefit is more likely than not to be sustained upon examination by tax authorities. To the extent the Company prevails in matters for which a liability for an unrecognized tax benefit is established or is required to pay amounts in excess of the liability, the Company’s effective tax rate in a given financial statement period may be affected.

Inventory

The Company values inventory at the lower of cost (first-in, first-out) or net realizable value. Work-in-process and finished goods inventories consist of material, labor, and manufacturing overhead. Write downs of inventories to net realizable value are based on a review of inventory quantities on hand and estimated sales forecasts based on sales history and anticipated future demand. Unanticipated changes in demand could have a significant impact on the value of our inventory and require additional write downs of inventory which would impact our results of operations.

Goodwill

Goodwill represents the excess of the cost of an acquisition over the fair value of the net assets acquired.

The Company tests goodwill annually as of the first day of the fourth quarter, or more frequently if indicators of potential impairment exist. In assessing goodwill for impairment, the Company has the option to first perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether the existence of events or circumstances leads to a determination that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount. If the Company determines that it is not more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the Company is not required to perform any additional tests in assessing goodwill for impairment. However, if the Company concludes otherwise or elects not to perform the qualitative assessment, then it identifies the reporting units and compares the fair value of each of these reporting units to their respective carrying amount. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit is less than its fair value, no impairment exists. If the carrying amount of the reporting unit is higher than its fair value, the impairment charge is the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds its fair value, not to exceed the total amount of goodwill allocated to the reporting unit.

The Company reviews the recoverability of the carrying value of long-lived assets of an asset or asset group for impairment annually as of the end of the fiscal year, or more frequently if indicators of potential impairment exist. Should indicators of impairment exist, the carrying values of the assets are evaluated in relation to the operating performance and future undiscounted cash flows of an asset or asset group. The net book value of the long lived asset is adjusted to fair value if its expected future undiscounted cash flow is less than its book value.