DMS Laboratories, Inc. was formed to develop and acquire niche products to meet completely unaddressed needs in veterinary medicine. These include the field of hematology – and specifically transfusion medicine – where rapid and simple means for blood typing dogs and cats and performing crossmatch did not exist. Also included were areas of dermatology, such as differential testing for dermatophytosis, which required fresh thinking because the rationale for the standard methodologies had not been critically reexamined for decades. The products developed with these needs in mind include the blood typing products RapidVet-H Canine DEA 1.1, RapidVet-H Feline, and RapidVet-H CM for crossmatch. Our test for dermatophytosis is RapidVet-D. These products are, in fact, rapid – thus the trademark ‘RapidVet’ – and are, in fact, ‘in-office’ tests.

Once we addressed these needs, opportunities were identified in related areas. In dermatology these include allergy testing, where the pet owners want to see rapid turnaround time and where fresh thinking was and still is also needed. In hematology these include Von Willebrand Factor testing, where the veterinarian needs rapid turnaround time. This testing is provided by BioProducts DVM, a business conducted under the umbrella company ‘RapidVet Holdings, Inc.’ Products in these areas have not yet become in-office tests, but such developments take time.

We are still a relatively small company with production in Tempe, Arizona, and administrative offices in Flemington, New Jersey and Schaffhausen, Switzerland. The products intended for ‘in-office’ use are available from DMS and/or its distributors in numerous countries. The products for blood typing are available from our technology and trademark licensee, Agrolabo SpA, in additional countries.

Blood Typing- DMS Laboratories, Inc. introduces the first commercially available in-office blood typing kits. As the practice of veterinary transfusion medicine has undergone tremendous growth in recent years, the importance of identifying blood types has increased. DMS Laboratories offers RapidVet-H kits for both canine DEA 1.1 and feline A, B, and AB.

Dermatophyte Testing - RapidVet-D is for use as part of the differential diagnosis of dermatological conditions in companion animals: dogs, cats, rabbits and horses. It is especially designed to provide a statistically significant indication of the involvement, or absence, of dermatophytes as a causal factor of the underlying condition. Since RapidVet-D employs a proprietary formulation designed for the detection of only those fungi that cause clinical complications in the noted animal species, the product should not be used for other animal species or for humans. Likewise, RapidVet-D is not designed for testing for the presence of viable but relatively dormant dermatophytes superficially present on the fur of asymptomatic animals which, while frequently present, are not a causal factor in any underlying condition.

Major Crossmatch Testing - A simple to use, quick to run, and easy to interpret major crossmatch kit for use in companion animal transfusion medicine is now available from dmslaboratories, inc. A major crossmatch examines patient serum for the possible presence of antibodies to the donor red blood cell antigens.

"Every dog in need of a transfusion should be blood typed."

- Urs Giger, PD, Dr.med.vet.,MS, FVH; Diplomate, ACVIM and ECVIM

"Every cat used for breeding or receiving a transfusion should be blood typed."

- Urs Giger, PD, Dr.med.vet.,MS, FVH; Diplomate, ACVIM and ECVIM

"The major crossmatch tests for alloantibodies in the recipient's plasma against donor cells. A major crossmatch incompatibility is of greatest importance because it predicts that the transfused donor cells will be attacked by the patient's plasma, thereby causing a potentially life-threatening acute hemolytic transfusion reaction."

- Urs Giger, PD, Dr.med.vet.,MS, FVH; Diplomate, ACVIM and ECVIM