Canterbury District Health Board says it could save more than $3 million a year from a plan to reorganise medical testing at laboratories.
The DHB shares the work between its hospital laboratory and two laboratory companies.
It wants to have only one private lab involved in the future.
The premises of Medlab South and Southern Community Laboratories in Christchurch were destroyed in the February earthquake.
Planning manager Carolyn Gullery says that offered the chance to reorganise services.
Three firms have submitted proposals and she says all have agreed to work together to ensure a smooth transition and minimal job losses.
