Quantitative PCR (qPCR) is no longer confined to specialist laboratories. Recent technological advances have made in-clinic testing a realistic option, allowing rapid and reliable results to support clinical decision-making within the timeframe of a single consultation or day-care admission. For dogs and cats presenting with common conditions such as diarrhoea, this shift has important implications for patient welfare, antimicrobial stewardship, and the efficiency of general practice.
This article outlines how in-clinic qPCR has developed, what it can realistically offer in practice, and how accurate identification of pathogens in diarrhoeic animals can help support more targeted, responsible use of antimicrobial therapy.
From central laboratories to point-of-care devices
Traditionally, PCR and qPCR have relied on centralised laboratories, trained molecular technologists, batch processing, and multi-day turnaround times. Advances in technology, including microfluidics, integrated cartridges, and compact instrument design, have transformed that landscape.
Several veterinary-focused systems now use:
- Pre-loaded cartridges or cassettes, reducing pipetting steps and handling error.
- Guided on-screen workflows or tablet-based apps that can be run by clinicians or nurses after minimal training.
- Result turnaround times of around 30 to 60 minutes from sample to diagnosis.
Validation studies on compact veterinary PCR and RT-qPCR platforms, including those used for infectious disease pathogens in dogs and cats, indicate that when appropriately designed these point-of-care systems can approach the analytical sensitivity and specificity of traditional laboratory assays. What changes is not the underlying molecular principle, but the speed and proximity of testing to the patient.
What point of care changes in practice
Bringing qPCR into the clinic affects much more than turnaround time. It changes the whole diagnostic workflow and creates a more immediate link between testing and treatment decisions.
The main advantages include:
- Same-day decision-making, with results available during the initial consultation rather than after a return visit.
- Reduced pre-analytical risk, because fresh samples are processed quickly and are less likely to degrade or change during transport.
- Improved owner engagement, as results are available while the owner is still actively involved in decision-making.
- Better use of in-house resources, with the potential to retain diagnostic revenue in practice while building staff confidence and laboratory skills.
An important practical benefit is that in-clinic qPCR can support more rational antimicrobial use. In infectious diarrhoea, that may mean the difference between empirical “just in case” treatment and a pathogen-directed plan, or even a confident decision not to prescribe antibiotics at all.
Infectious diarrhoea in dogs and cats
Faecal PCR panels have reshaped our understanding of canine and feline diarrhoea. Studies using syndromic PCR-based approaches show that many diarrhoeic dogs and cats carry at least one detectable pathogen, and some carry multiple organisms at once.
Common targets include:
- Campylobacter spp.
- Clostridium perfringens toxin genes.
- Salmonella spp.
- Giardia.
- Cryptosporidium.
- Canine parvovirus.
- Canine and feline coronaviruses.
- Other viral and bacterial agents relevant to enteric disease.
Co-infections are not uncommon and may influence disease severity, clinical progression, and the need for isolation or supportive care. When these panels are run through external laboratories, they still provide value, but the results often arrive after the key treatment decisions have already been made. In-clinic qPCR brings that broader pathogen perspective into the initial assessment.
A positive result can usually be interpreted with confidence. If a negative result is returned but clinical suspicion remains high, the sample should still be submitted to a reference laboratory for confirmatory testing. Used in this way, in-clinic screening can help identify genuinely contagious cases, highlight zoonotic organisms in time for meaningful hygiene advice, and support decisions about whether antimicrobial therapy is actually warranted.
Clinical example
A typical example is the young, systemically unwell dog with haemorrhagic diarrhoea. A same-day qPCR panel identifying parvovirus, with or without additional pathogens, can justify immediate isolation, targeted supportive care, and appropriate public health messaging. Just as importantly, it can reduce the temptation to use broad-spectrum antimicrobials “while we wait to see.”
That is where in-clinic qPCR becomes especially valuable: it supports evidence-based medicine that is both practical and immediate.
UlfaQ at BVA Live 2026
If you are attending BVA Live 2026, you will be able to see a demonstration of the UlfaQ analyser and discuss how it could alter your laboratory diagnostics offering in general practice. This is a practical opportunity to see how in-clinic qPCR can fit into everyday workflow, particularly for common cases such as diarrhoea. Here you can book a demo at BVA Live 2026.
Dr Marvin Firth, Director of Pathology at Partnerships, will also be giving a talk on Thursday 11th June at 10am, where he will discuss the role of advanced diagnostics in modern practice and the value of bringing molecular testing closer to the patient.
Conclusion
In-clinic qPCR is helping to close the gap between sample collection and clinical action. For diarrhoeic dogs and cats, that means faster answers, more targeted treatment, improved antimicrobial stewardship, and a more efficient diagnostic workflow for general practice.
As point-of-care molecular testing continues to evolve, platforms such as UlfaQ are showing how advanced diagnostics can become part of everyday veterinary care rather than remaining the preserve of specialist laboratories.
