Spotlight On: Point-of-Care Diagnostics and Veterinary Equipment
Just as we benefit from advancements made in the medical sector, so too do our animal counterparts. Innovative technology has significantly increased the level of patient care veterinarians are able to provide to animals of all shapes and sizes.
One of these innovations is point-of-care diagnostic equipment. Being able to provide an efficient and accurate diagnosis whilst in the presence of the patient enables veterinarians to quickly turn their attention to treatment options.
Paragon Care’s veterinary equipment portfolio includes state of the art point-of-care diagnostic equipment, alongside a range of crucial capital and consumable devices to provide comprehensive, well-rounded patient care.
What is point-of-care diagnostics?
Whether a vet is treating a domestic puppy or a wild possum, getting test results as quickly as possible is a priority. Clinicians have two choices when it comes to performing diagnostic investigations; to send samples off to a laboratory or to use point-of-care equipment to provide a prognosis on the spot.
Point-of-care refers to any type of equipment that enables clinicians to receive diagnostic information near or at the site of the patient. An example of a point-of-care device is a blood glucose meter, commonly used by diabetics to check blood sugar levels.
When treating animals, vets rely on a variety of point-of-care devices that have the ability to perform the following tests:
- Hormone assays
- Inflammatory markers
- Hepatic assays
- GI assays
- Specialised markers.
What benefits do point-of-care diagnostics provide?
Vets rely on an array of point-of-care diagnostic devices to provide fast, easy, and accurate test results. Using a point-of-care device can be cheaper than sending a sample to a commercial laboratory; it is certainly quicker, and it allows a clinician to immediately move to the treatment phase of animal care.
Other benefits of point-of-care diagnostics include:
- Increased client satisfaction, particularly in the case of domestic pet owners
- Precise sample analysis
- Potential reduction in antibiotic resistance.
The last point is particularly important. Antibiotic resistance in humans has long been a point of concern for clinicians and healthcare professionals. It is now believed that antimicrobial resistance in animals could be transferred to humans via the food chain, further contributing to reduced effectiveness of antibiotics. Point-of-care devices that provide instantaneous, accurate results have the potential to reduce the over-prescription of drugs and the likelihood of developing antimicrobial resistance.
Point-of-care diagnostic devices assist patients in rural locations, where clinicians can be hours away from a laboratory. The livestock industry, for example, benefits greatly from on-the-spot examinations and treatment options.
Turn to Paragon Care for all your veterinary needs
As a leading provider of healthcare equipment and services, Paragon Care remains at the forefront of innovative technologies — including point-of-care diagnostic equipment.
Our combined businesses provide access to a wide array of medical and scientific experts. Within the veterinary sector, REM SYSTEMS leads the way with a range of products and services designed to meet the demands of veterinarians, universities, research facilities, and zoos.
REM SYSTEMS’ extensive portfolio of point-of-care diagnostic equipment includes the EUROLyser Cube-Vet, a revolutionary point-of-care analyser that offers advanced testing capabilities.
Developed in Austria, the Cube-Vet is a fully automated analysis instrument with the ability to provide liver diagnostics, diabetes analysis, inflammatory status, and acute phase protein diagnostics. The Cube-Vet’s test portfolio is constantly increasing, and its tablet PC interface is well-designed and highly functional.
Beyond point-of-care diagnostic equipment, Paragon Care boasts a comprehensive veterinary equipment portfolio. In partnership with REM SYSTEMS, we are passionate about providing high quality veterinary care through equipment including therapeutic lasers and centrifuges, as well as consumables used for oncology delivery and IV therapy.
Coupled with outstanding customer service, Paragon Care’s experience and knowledge enables us to support our clients across all their veterinary needs.