IDEXX launches first dual-species point-of-care cardiac test for cats and dogs

IDEXX Laboratories expands its Catalyst platform with a new in-clinic cardiac test for cats and dogs, aiming to improve early detection of heart disease and streamline veterinary workflows globally.

IDEXX Laboratories has launched a point-of-care cardiac test for cats and dogs, extending its Catalyst platform into a new diagnostic category.

The company said the Catalyst proBNP Test measures NT-proBNP, a biomarker used to assess heart disease, and is designed to deliver quantitative results during a routine visit. IDEXX said the assay is the first dual-species in-clinic test of its kind on the platform and will sit alongside its wider cardiac portfolio, which already includes reference laboratory testing and other in-clinic products.

The move comes as veterinary heart disease is often detected late, particularly in animals with subtle or absent symptoms. IDEXX cited industry estimates suggesting the condition affects about one in six cats and one in 10 dogs, while the company also pointed to a global cardiac testing opportunity it values at about $4bn.

Veterinary cardiologists have long used NT-proBNP to help distinguish cardiac from non-cardiac causes of respiratory distress and to support screening and monitoring, but the appeal of point-of-care testing is speed and workflow efficiency. IDEXX says the new assay will be available in North America from October, with international markets to follow.

The launch also underscores how diagnostics companies are trying to push more testing into clinics, rather than specialist or reference-lab settings, as practices seek quicker triage and fewer referrals.

Source: Noah Wire Services