Dellana Lab operates four blood testing labs in Boston. The four labs are identical. They employ the same production technology, process the same types of blood tests, and buy raw materials from the same companies at the same prices. Wage rates are also the same at the four labs. In reviewing operating results for November, the newly hired assistant controller, Matt Paige, became quite confused over the numbers:

Upon further study, Matt learned that each plant had a fixed overhead of $300,000. Matt remembered from his management accounting class that as volume increases, average fixed cost per unit falls. Lab D had much lower average fixed costs per blood test than labs A and B. Matt, therefore, expected lab D to be more profitable than A and B. But the numbers show just the opposite.
Write a concise but clear memo to Matt that will resolve his confusion.

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Lab A Lab B Lab C Lab D Number of blood tests 50,000 55,000 60,000 65,000 Revenue ($000s) $500 $550 $600 $650 Less: Variable costs (195) (242) (298) (352) Fixed costs (300) (300) (300) (300) Profit (Loss) $ 5 $ 8 $ 2 $ (2)