IDEXX Reference Laboratories Significantly Expands Rapid Overnight Service for Thousands of U.S. Veterinary Practices

News provided by

Aug 15, 2018, 07:30 ET

WESTBROOK, Maine, Aug. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. (NASDAQ: IDXX), a global leader in veterinary diagnostics and software, today announced that its U.S. reference laboratory division will significantly expand its rapid overnight service, known as IDEXX-Direct® service, for thousands of rural U.S. veterinary practices. Through a new, state-of-the-art reference laboratory in Louisville, Kentucky, IDEXX will provide thousands of veterinary hospitals across the country with additional flexibility by offering the latest possible patient sample pick-up time with next morning results.

Veterinarians often see patients right until a practice closes for the day. By offering a later pick-up time for samples going to IDEXX Reference Laboratories, the IDEXX-Direct service helps to ensure that all patient samples from the day can be sent to the laboratory that evening. This flexible and fast service option enables veterinarians to get patients' diagnostic results early the following morning so they can identify any next steps or begin treatment sooner.

"Before IDEXX made this major expansion with a new national carrier, we'd need to wait an additional 24 hours or more if we missed our pick-up window—but we don't always have time to wait for a result," said Dr. Ken Greene, Owner of Philema Animal Clinic in Leesburg, Georgia. "There are important tests we can only get with IDEXX, and this later pick-up option will help us to get results faster and ultimately provide better care. This expanded IDEXX-Direct service level offering in our area will enable us to get the benefits of rapid overnight service as well as the essential diagnostic information that IDEXX provides."

The new state-of-the-art laboratory in Louisville and significantly expanded IDEXX-Direct service are part of a national network of laboratories and logistics that serves more than 20,000 customers in the U.S. The laboratory is slated to open in September and is a complement to the company's Memphis, Tennessee, reference laboratory, which supports IDEXX-Direct service and is also located near a national carrier hub. IDEXX operates more than 70 laboratories worldwide.

"IDEXX is constantly working to support veterinary practices to provide the best possible care, and when we expand, we do so to provide an even higher level of service to IDEXX customers," said Jonathan Ayers, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of IDEXX Laboratories. "We are pleased that with this new Louisville laboratory, we will be able to bring a more competitive service level—along with the benefits of IDEXX proprietary preventive care testing that helps uncover underlying disease— to thousands of additional veterinary practices and millions of additional pets nationwide."

For more information on IDEXX Reference Laboratories, visit www.idexx.com.

About IDEXX Laboratories

IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. is a member of the S&P 500® Index and is a leader in pet healthcare innovation, serving practicing veterinarians around the world with a broad range of diagnostic and information technology-based products and services. IDEXX products enhance the ability of veterinarians to provide advanced medical care, improve staff efficiency and build more economically successful practices. IDEXX is also a worldwide leader in providing diagnostic tests and information for livestock and poultry and tests for the quality and safety of water and milk. Headquartered in Maine, IDEXX employs more than 8,000 people and offers products to customers in over 175 countries. For more information about IDEXX, visit: www.idexx.com.

CONTACT: Robin Woodcock, [email protected]

SOURCE IDEXX Laboratories, Inc.