UPDATE: Abaxis Reports USDA Approval of VetScan FeLV/FIV Feline Rapid Test

Abaxis, Inc.

, a medical products company manufacturing point-of-care instruments and consumables for the medical, research, and veterinary markets worldwide and providing reference lab services to the veterinary and research markets in the United States, today announced that the Center for Veterinary Biologicals of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) has approved its VetScan FeLV-FIV Rapid Test Kit for the detection of FeLV antigen and FIV antibodies from feline blood samples. Clint Severson, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Abaxis, said, "The USDA approval of the VetScan FeLV-FIV Rapid Test kit is a significant step towards completing the Abaxis rapid test portfolio. Feline Leukemia virus (FeLV) and the feline immunodefiency virus (FIV) are retroviruses found in cats, and are among the most common infectious diseases in this species. FeLV-FIV testing is one of the most common tests performed by veterinarians treating feline patients, and Abaxis is proud to offer another high quality, cost-effective test to the veterinary market." Dr. Craig Tockman, vice president of sales and marketing for North American Animal Health of Abaxis, added, "Veterinarians now have a choice as to what FeLV-FIV test to use when they screen and test their feline patients for these devastating illnesses. As part of the Abaxis rapid test portfolio offering single tests for vector-born and fecal diseases, veterinarians now have the ability to test for the diseases that are relevant to their practice and geographic location."