TL;DR
Get pet supplies delivered free — and shop member deals
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Access to Prime Big Deal Days deals on October 6–7
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
IDEXX Laboratories announced North American availability of mast cell tumor detection in its Cancer Dx Panel, which already screens for canine lymphoma. The company says the test can be run with routine wellness bloodwork without another blood draw; a positive result calls for veterinary assessment and further diagnostics, not a diagnosis on its own.
IDEXX Laboratories has made mast cell tumor detection available in North America as part of its Cancer Dx Panel for dogs, adding a second cancer type to a test that already screens for lymphoma. The company says the panel can be run using blood collected for routine wellness testing, so no additional blood draw is required.
IDEXX says the expanded panel is intended for apparently healthy dogs at increased cancer risk, including all dogs aged 7 and older and younger dogs aged 4 and older from predisposed breeds. The company lists Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Boxers and German Shepherds among the examples. Individual screening decisions should be discussed with a veterinarian, who can consider a dog’s age, breed and health history.
The company describes the test as identifying cancer-specific signals: a positive result indicates a particular cancer rather than a general cancer-risk signal. It is a screening result, not a stand-alone diagnosis. IDEXX says a positive result should be followed by a clinical assessment and further diagnostic investigation to determine what is happening and what care, if any, is appropriate.
IDEXX offers the panel with lymphoma and mast cell tumor detection to veterinary practices for approximately US$15, or C$21, when run alongside the company’s most commonly used wellness screening panels. The price charged to pet owners is set by individual veterinary practices. The announcement does not provide test-performance figures, such as sensitivity or specificity, or detail how a positive finding is confirmed.
Adding Cancer Screening to Wellness Visits
The addition brings screening for another canine cancer into a routine veterinary blood-testing workflow, rather than requiring a separate blood collection. That may make the test easier to include in wellness appointments for eligible dogs, while giving veterinarians another result to weigh alongside an exam and the animal’s history.
Mast cell tumors are among the most common canine skin tumors, according to IDEXX. The company says its test is designed to prioritize aggressive, high-grade tumors, where identifying a concerning signal earlier may have clinical value. The announcement does not establish that screening improves survival or other outcomes; those questions depend on test performance, follow-up diagnosis and treatment, and are not answered by the release.
The expansion also reflects a broader effort to screen for multiple canine cancers through a single panel. For owners, the practical point is that a positive result requires a conversation with a veterinarian and additional assessment, while a screening test cannot substitute for evaluation of a lump, symptoms or other concerning changes.
canine cancer screening blood test
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
From Lymphoma to Two Cancer Types
The Cancer Dx Panel launched with canine lymphoma screening; the mast cell tumor addition expands its scope to two cancer types. IDEXX presents the panel as an addition to wellness testing, using the same blood collection, rather than as a replacement for a physical examination or diagnostic tests prompted by symptoms.
The release says one in four dogs will face cancer during their lifetime, but does not identify the underlying study or time period for that estimate. It also notes that cancers may not cause obvious signs early. The company’s stated rationale for screening is to seek cancer-associated signals in dogs that appear healthy, particularly those it considers at increased risk.
IDEXX has also announced a planned further expansion: detection for hemangiosarcoma is expected to become available to clinics across North America in December 2026. The announcement characterizes that cancer as life-threatening and says it is often discovered after an internal tumor ruptures. That planned addition has not yet become available, according to the source.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Test Accuracy and Follow-Up Still Matter
The announcement does not report sensitivity, specificity, false-positive rates or other performance data for mast cell tumor detection. It also does not explain the precise follow-up pathway, the time required for results, or how often a positive screen leads to a confirmed diagnosis. Those details matter when weighing a screening result in a dog with no visible signs.
IDEXX says a positive result identifies a specific cancer and should prompt clinical assessment and further diagnostics. The release does not say that every positive result confirms cancer, nor does it describe what a negative result can rule out. The test should not be taken as a substitute for a veterinarian’s examination or further testing when a dog has a lump or other concerning finding.
The source gives an approximate practice price but not the amount an individual owner will pay, since clinics set their own charges. It also does not specify the date the North American availability announcement was made. The hemangiosarcoma addition is described as a future plan for December 2026, not as a currently available feature.
mast cell tumor detection kit for dogs
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Veterinary Rollout and Planned Expansion
Veterinary practices can order the expanded Cancer Dx Panel with lymphoma and mast cell tumor detection through IDEXX Reference Laboratories, according to the company. Owners interested in screening can ask their veterinarian whether the panel fits their dog’s age, breed and circumstances, and what additional testing would be recommended if the result is positive.
IDEXX says hemangiosarcoma detection is planned for December 2026 for clinics across North America. The announcement does not provide further rollout milestones or technical details for that feature. Until those are released, the panel’s stated current coverage is lymphoma and mast cell tumor detection.
veterinary cancer diagnostic panel
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Which cancers are included in the expanded IDEXX Cancer Dx Panel?
IDEXX says the North American panel now includes detection for lymphoma and mast cell tumors. Hemangiosarcoma detection is planned for December 2026 and is not described as currently available.
Which dogs does IDEXX recommend for screening?
The company says screening is intended for apparently healthy dogs at increased risk, including all dogs aged 7 and older and dogs aged 4 and older from predisposed breeds. IDEXX names Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Boxers and German Shepherds as examples; owners should discuss suitability with a veterinarian.
Does the test require a separate blood draw?
No. IDEXX says the panel can be run on blood collected alongside routine wellness testing, without an additional blood draw.
Does a positive result mean a dog definitely has cancer?
The release does not present the result as a stand-alone diagnosis. IDEXX says a positive result identifies a cancer-specific signal and should be followed by veterinary assessment and further diagnostic investigation.
How much does the panel cost?
IDEXX lists an approximate practice price of US$15, or C$21, when the test is run with the company’s most commonly used wellness screening panels. The amount charged to pet owners is determined by each veterinary practice.
Source: rss
Fall Picks
fall essentials
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
