Abaxis Heartworm Test (NASDAQ:ABAX)

On early Thursday morning, Abaxis Inc announces the launch of the first fully automated canine wellness program that includes a Canine Heartworm Antigen Test. Abaxis is a medical products company manufacturing point-of-care blood analysis instruments for the medical research and veterinary markets. Abaxis Inc clearly stated that they have received an USDA approval for their Canine Heartworm Antigen Test to be performed on the company’s VetScan VS2, a fully automated machine. The company’s VetScan VS2 instrument is small machine that would perform 25 different tests configured in different panels within minutes. Almost every veterinary practice in North America, incorporate Abaxis instruments into routine wellness testing and annual check-ups.

Chief Technology Officer for Abaxis commented that they have been working on the development and that they have conducted extensive clinical testing of this Panel. Also they have gone to an extent where they have tested hundreds of clinical samples, negative samples, known low worm burden samples and samples from sick patients. The Heartworm assay can now be performed along with eleven other important Canine health determinations that would provide reliable results in minutes from only two drops of blood. Additionally, Abaxis has significantly reduced the costs associated with routine Wellness Testing.