IDEXX launches first dual-species point-of-care NT-proBNP test for cardiac disease in cats and dogs

IDEXX Laboratories has launched the Catalyst proBNP Test, which the company describes as the first and only dual-species, in-clinic test for NT-proBNP, a biomarker used to assess heart disease in cats and dogs.¹ The test runs on the company's Catalyst platform, which is designed to deliver laboratory-level accuracy with immediate results.

Closing a diagnostic gap in general practice

Heart disease affects an estimated 1 in 6 cats and 1 in 10 dogs, but the condition is frequently under-assessed in general practice, according to IDEXX.¹ Much of that gap comes down to access and workflow: definitive cardiac workups often depend on echocardiography or referral to a cardiologist, resources that aren't available in every practice.

Sonya Gordon, BSc, DVM, DVSc, DACVIM (Cardiology), professor of cardiology at Texas A&M University's College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Science, said cardiac disease can be difficult to catch early because clinical signs are often subtle or absent entirely.

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"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," Gordon said in an IDEXX announcement. "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."

Where the test fits in clinical workflow

According to IDEXX, the test is intended to support several common in-clinic scenarios, such as identifying subclinical heart disease in cats, informing preoperative risk assessment, and evaluating the likelihood of clinically relevant cardiac changes in healthy small- and medium-breed dogs presenting with a heart murmur.¹ In both species, the company says NT-proBNP results can help differentiate cardiac from noncardiac causes of respiratory distress—a distinction that shapes whether a patient needs cardiac workup, treatment, or referral versus management for a primary respiratory problem.¹

Results integrate into VetConnect PLUS alongside a patient's existing diagnostic history, with built-in interpretive guidance meant to help clinicians read the NT-proBNP value in context rather than in isolation. IDEXX is positioning the test as an extension of an existing cardiac portfolio that already includes reference laboratory testing, electrocardiography, advanced imaging, and AI-assisted diagnostic tools.

Disclosure: Gordon has received compensation for consulting services provided to IDEXX, according to the press release.

Reference

1. IDEXX expands Catalyst platform into cardiac disease with first and only dual-species point-of-care NT-proBNP test. News release. IDEXX Laboratories, Inc. August 11, 2026. Accessed August 20, 2026. https://ir.idexx.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/415/idexx-expands-catalyst-platform-into-cardiac-disease-with-first-and-only-dual-species-point-of-care-nt-probnp-test