QSM Diagnostics Leads the Future of Pet Care Diagnostics, Providing Convenience, Speed, and Accuracy

A dog welcomes you home every time you walk in the door (even if you just went to grab the mail). But with a cat, you’re lucky if they look in your direction. Despite that, the joy they bring is immense, and the love, well, it’s priceless. Unfortunately, the costs of caring for furry family members and the challenges of maintaining their physical wellness are vast. Add to that the shortage of veterinarians and technicians, along with the rising costs associated with diagnosing and treating our dogs and cats, and you have a market in dire need of disruption.

Fortunately, disruption is what QSM Diagnostics is all about. Founder and CEO Edgar Goluch saw the urgent problem in veterinary care and was inspired to create a win-win solution for pet owners and veterinarians.

”We chose to enter the veterinary market due to its high demand,” Goluch says. “Our mission at QSM Diagnostics is to modernize and enhance diagnostic testing for pets. We are addressing the issue of undiagnosed or inaccurately diagnosed conditions by introducing advanced technologies that accelerate test results and reduce costs. Our goal is to make diagnostic testing more accessible and affordable for pet owners, helping veterinarians provide better care without the delays and high costs associated with traditional testing methods.”

The Pet Care Market

Pet care has become a massive industry, with over 200 million dogs and cats in the U.S. alone and 900 million globally. Based on the latest reporting from veterinary clinics, this industry generates $108 billion annually, and diagnostic testing accounts for almost a third of each visit’s cost.

“We first saw the challenges veterinarians had during COVID with staffing shortages and social distancing. Half of the veterinary clinics in the country had openings they couldn’t fill and still often haven’t. Pet owners drove long distances, waited for hours, days, or even weeks to get their pets seen,” Goluch recalls. “We realized there was an opportunity to make the process more efficient by enabling pet owners to collect samples remotely, send them in, and get results to their veterinarian without delay.”

QSM’s Solutions

To alleviate industry challenges, QSM Diagnostics offers trustworthy, accurate, and reliable diagnostic testing solutions that are a win for veterinarians and pet owners alike. The FetchDx mail-in kits allow pet owners to gather samples such as ear and skin swabs, urine, or fecal samples and mail them in for rapid analysis. After collecting and mailing the sample, results are delivered in approximately 24-48 hours. This allows pet owners to get insights into their pet’s condition and helps the veterinarian determine next steps.

The FetchDx is extremely helpful in identifying the causes of urinary tract, stomach, and ear infections. These kits empower owners, reduce stress on pets, and offer a cost-effective and convenient option that, in some cases, eliminates the need for an in-clinic visit.

“We want diagnostic tests to be accessible to pet owners and run whenever they are recommended by a veterinarian, ensuring that their pets are treated with the best insights as quickly as possible,” Goluch notes.

In addition, QSM’s Otter eQ platform allows veterinarians to obtain results in the clinic quickly and easily that previously could only be provided by specialized laboratories. This in-clinic diagnostic tool enables the rapid detection of bacterial infections, and the patented platform detects and identifies bacteria in minutes and allows vets to make quick, data-driven decisions about treatment. Pet owners can then use the FetchDx kits to follow up and ensure effective treatment for any bacterial infections.

“Veterinarians are an integral part of pet healthcare. We ensure they get the results first, interpret them, and interact with pet owners to offer the best care,” Goluch explains. This ensures a closed-loop system where pets receive timely and appropriate treatment, minimizing the risk of incorrect or delayed diagnoses.

Market Potential and Traction

The U.S. pet telehealth market has been growing rapidly. Valued at $500 million in 2022 and expected to grow by 24% each year, Goluch has positioned QSM’s solutions to capitalize on this meteoric growth in the United States. Meanwhile, the global diagnostic analyzer market is valued to be over $4 billion and expanding at 8% annually.

“Veterinarians in Mexico, Australia, and Latin America have recognized the potential of our solutions,” remarks Goluch.

Not only has QSM captured the attention of key industry players, but it has also been validated by numerous achievements and strategic partnerships. In 2021, QSM won the Companion Animal Innovation Award and was selected for the VMX Startup Circle. They also earned the Purina Pet Care Innovation Prize in 2022, and in 2023, QSM’s momentum continued with distribution agreements from top suppliers and partnerships with industry leaders like Whistle, MWI Animal Health, Vetsource, and most recently, Covetrus, a global leader in animal health technology and services.  

While QSM Diagnostics is currently focused on the animal health market, Goluch envisions using their technology in human health in the future. “Our solutions could be very useful for the human health sector as well. It would really be beneficial in addressing the vastly impactful challenges caused by antibiotic resistance,” explains Goluch. “We also plan to expand our pet product pipeline as well with new tests. And by 2027, we plan to enter the livestock and aquafarming markets by offering OEM solutions for agricultural applications.”

The love and desire for pets continues to grow, and therefore, the need for veterinary services and pet care are not diminishing; in fact, it continues to grow exponentially. As it grows, QSM Diagnostics and Goluch foresee their solutions becoming indispensable for veterinarians and a trusted resource for pet owners worldwide. “We’re helping veterinarians see more patients, focus on treatment, and improve outcomes while offering pet owners the flexibility they need and the peace of mind they desire.”