IDEXX Laboratories, a global leader in pet healthcare innovation, announced the launch of the Catalyst proBNP Test, the first and only dual-species, in-clinic test for NT-proBNP, expanding cardiac capabilities across its connected point-of-care and reference laboratory portfolio. The test measures a well-established biomarker used to evaluate heart disease in companion animals, a condition that affects approximately 1 in 6 cats and 1 in 10 dogs, yet remains underassessed in general practice. Available on the Catalyst platform with a global installed base of nearly 80,000 analyzers, Catalyst proBNP brings laboratory-level accuracy and real-time cardiac assessment into routine workflows, whether run on its own or alongside other chemistry tests.
By delivering results during the patient visit, Catalyst proBNP provides an affordable option that reduces reliance on multistep referrals and expands what can be done at the point of care, particularly where access to echocardiography or cardiology specialists is limited. At the same time, Catalyst proBNP expands access to a global cardiac testing opportunity estimated at approximately $4 billion while giving veterinarians a practical new tool to assess cardiac health.
“For many veterinarians, cardiac evaluation has often involved delays, added costs, or immediate referrals,” said Mike Erickson, President and Chief Executive Officer of IDEXX. “With Catalyst proBNP, veterinarians get clear, quantitative results in minutes, not days, so they can make informed decisions earlier. That changes how care is delivered and expands what’s possible in everyday practice.”
NT-proBNP testing supports screening, diagnosis, and disease monitoring in cats and dogs. The Catalyst proBNP Test helps identify subclinical heart disease in cats, support preoperative evaluations, and evaluate the likelihood of clinically relevant cardiac changes in healthy small- and medium-breed dogs presenting with a heart murmur. In both species, the test helps differentiate cardiac from noncardiac causes of respiratory distress and identify patients who may benefit from closer monitoring, treatment, or specialist referral.
“Cardiac disease can be difficult to detect early, particularly when clinical signs are subtle or absent,” said Sonya Gordon, BSc, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM Cardiology, Professor of Cardiology, College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science, Texas A&M University. “NT-proBNP testing provides valuable, cost-effective insight to help veterinarians identify patients with clinical or subclinical heart disease, support preanesthetic screening, and determine when additional cardiac evaluation is warranted. A quantitative NT-proBNP assay at the point of care is an important advancement, bringing objective cardiac biomarker information closer to the patient and enabling immediate integration with the physical examination, history, and other diagnostic findings.”
