Abstract: A system and method for tracking usage of reagent products by clinical and disgnostic laboratories. A reagent control system receives test information from one or more test instruments while the instruments are performing tests using reagents or upon the completeion of those tests. Test definitions have been constricted which define the types of tests run and the reagents used by each of those tests. The reagent control system then calculates the amounts of reagents used based upon the tests that were run and the difinitions of those tests. The reagent control system maintains databases that define inventory status of reagents, the status of purchase orders for additional reagents, and the shipping status of those reagents. The reagent control system may be deployed as a standalone application allowing access to local users only or it may be deployed as a web-based application allowing access to the system to autorized users via Internet connections.