UNION CITY, California—Abaxis, Inc. (NasdaqGS: ABAX), a medical products company manufacturing point of care instrumentation and consumables to the medical, research, and veterinary markets, has announced the addition of a feline heartworm rapid test to their growing rapid diagnostics product line. The USDA has now approved the use of the Abaxis VetScan Canine Heartworm Antigen Test for feline applications. Abaxis anticipates shipping the product with its new application in January of 2012.
The addition of the feline heartworm claim represents the latest addition to a product line that already includes the VetScan Canine Heartworm Test, VetScan Canine Parvovirus Rapid Test, and the VetScan Giardia Rapid Test.
Michael Solomon, Director of Business Development for North America Animal Health, commented, “Adding the feline claim to the already well accepted VetScan Canine Heartworm Test allows the veterinarian the flexibility to use the same product they already purchase and trust for both their canine and feline patients.”
Gary Norsworthy, DVM and owner of the Alamo Feline Health Center in San Antonio, Texas, adds: “The ability to confidently indentify adult heartworm infection in the cat with an antigen test provides the practitioner with an invaluable tool to positively diagnose the cause of respiratory presentations. While a negative test does not rule out the presence of adult heartworms and heartworm disease, a positive antigen test allows the veterinarian to provide a definitive diagnosis and prognosis, develop an appropriate treatment protocol and communicate this with the client with a high level of confidence.”
“Abaxis continues to add important diagnostic tests to our overall product portfolio. The addition of these tests, along with Abaxis Veterinary Reference Laboratory now fully operational, allows the veterinary community to continue to deliver high-quality, cost-effective testing options to pet owners during these tough economic times,” added Martin Mulroy, Corporate Vice President of Sales and Marketing for North America Animal Health.
Source: Abaxis, Inc
