Press release
IDEXX Makes Pet Test for COVID-19 Virus Available to Veterinarians
Response to growing clinical evidence, rare but real cases, and requests from veterinarians worldwide WESTBROOK, Maine, April 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- IDEXX
About this update from Idexx Laboratories, Inc.
[{"type":"text","content":"Response to growing clinical evidence, rare but real cases, and requests from veterinarians worldwide\n WESTBROOK, Maine, April 20, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDXX), a global leader in veterinary diagnostics and software, today announced the availability of the IDEXX SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) RealPCR™ Test for pets. IDEXX is launching the test in response to customer demand and growing evidence that in rare cases pets living with COVID-19 positive humans can be at risk for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The test will be available to veterinarians in North America this week and will continue to roll out across most of the world in the coming weeks, enabled by IDEXX Reference Laboratories, the company's worldwide network of more than 80 laboratories.\n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n\n \n\"We have continued to monitor the rapidly evolving public health crisis worldwide, paying special attention to the effects on pets,\" said Jay Mazelsky, President and Chief Executive Officer of IDEXX Laboratories. \"While there is currently no evidence that dogs or cats play a role in transmitting the disease to humans, it became clear offering the test was the right thing to do when we saw clinical evidence that pets—especially cats and ferrets—can in rare cases be at risk for infection. And, we heard from our customers around the globe that veterinarians needed a testing option.\"\nIDEXX's guidance, aligned with that of medical experts, is that veterinarians order the IDEXX SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) RealPCR™ Test after consultation with a public health authority (for example, a state public health veterinarian in the United States) and three specific criteria are met:\nPet is living in a household with a human who has COVID-19 or has tested positive for the virus Pet has already been tested for more common infections, that a veterinarian has ruled out Pet (especially cats and ferrets) is showing clinical signs consistent with COVID-19 IDEXX does not expect this veterinary test to have an impact on human COVID-19 testing or test availability.\nUnderstanding of COVID-19 and its effects on animal and human health is evolving rapidly. Leading health authorities and IDEXX veterinarians agree transmission of the SARS-CoV-2 virus is primarily person-to-person and advise against testing asymptomatic pets. Since mid-February, IDEXX Reference Laboratories...