Prairie Diagnostic Services

What Prairie Diagnostic Services does

Prairie Diagnostic Services Inc. (PDS) is a member-type non-profit veterinary diagnostic laboratory incorporated in 1998 and headquartered within the Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM) at 52 Campus Drive, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, with members the Province of Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan. Operating from a single Saskatoon facility supported by approximately 68 staff (14 professional diagnosticians plus roughly 54 laboratory technologists and administrative staff, with WCVM faculty participating under contract), PDS provides full-service diagnostic testing organized across 15 specialty laboratory sections: bacteriology, clinical pathology, molecular diagnostics, necropsy, toxicology, immunology/serology/virology, genomics, endocrinology, histopathological stains, parasitology submissions, surgical and dermatohistopathology, feed and forage testing, the Prairie Ocular Pathology Service (POPS), bovine and porcine extension services, and STAT (expedited) testing. The laboratory serves veterinary practitioners, livestock producers (cattle, sheep, goats, swine), poultry producers, equine operations, companion animal veterinarians, and government agencies across Canada.

Revenue is generated primarily through fee-for-service diagnostic testing charged to veterinary clinics, livestock producers, animal owners, and organizations, supplemented by ongoing grants from the Province of Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan and by a $18 million, five-year ($3.6 million annually) commitment from the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership beginning June 2023. Pricing follows a unit/fee-for-service structure with periodic published adjustments (6% effective June 2025, approximately 5% effective June 2026), with provincial disease testing contracts (Q Fever, Small Holder Swine Health, Small Flock Poultry) channeling certain Saskatchewan samples at no charge. Distribution is direct to clinics and producers through the web client portal (pdsserver.usask.ca), paper submissions, and courier services (Purolator, Canada Post, Loomis Express); GTM is professional and relationship-led via veterinary networks, industry events, and the quarterly Prairie Diagnostic Perspective newsletter.

The technical platform includes proprietary and specialized capabilities such as the BovReproSeq genomic method detecting 17 bovine reproductive pathogens in a single test, in-house Cache Valley Virus PCR, UHPLC-MS/MS mycotoxin (11 analytes) and ergot alkaloid (6 alkaloids plus epimers) panels, influenza A HA and NA sequencing for subtyping, anthrax PCR (replacing culture), and regionally validated Western Canadian equine ACTH reference intervals. Operations are anchored by Level 2+ bio-security capability under the Canadian Animal Health Surveillance Network (CAHSN), AAVLD Full Accreditation/All Species status, SCC (ISO/IEC 17025) accreditation, CFIA approval for Equine Infectious Anemia testing, and CFIA Tier I Laboratory designation for Foreign Animal Disease response.

Name

Prairie Diagnostic Services

Legal name

Prairie Diagnostic Services Inc

Website

https://pdsinc.ca

Company type

Private

Founded year

1998

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

PDS is a non-profit, full-service veterinary diagnostic laboratory embedded in the Western College of Veterinary Medicine in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, providing comprehensive diagnostic testing to veterinary practitioners, livestock producers, and government agencies across Canada under CAAVLD, SCC, and CFIA Tier I accreditation.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Diagnostic Services

NAICS

Medical Laboratories (621511), Medical and Diagnostic Laboratories (62151), Support Activities for Animal Production (1152)

SIC

Services-Medical Laboratories (8071), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734)

akta.pro primary industry

Diagnostics & Laboratory Services (Sampling, Necropsy, Disease Investigation) (AFACADAF)

akta.pro secondary industries

Veterinary Public Health Laboratories (Reference & Confirmatory) (HLAMAJAH), Toxicology & Therapeutic Drug Monitoring (HLAMADAG), Reference Laboratory Testing (Clinical Pathology & Chemistry) (HLAMADAA), Molecular & Genetic Testing (Breed, Hereditary Disease, Oncology) (HLAMADAE), Necropsy & Post-Mortem Diagnostic Services (HLAMADAK)

Keywords

• Veterinary diagnostic services
• Animal disease testing
• Livestock pathology
• Molecular diagnostic PCR
• Veterinary toxicology

Headquarters

HQ city

Saskatoon

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Fee for Service: PDS generates revenue through fee-for-service diagnostic testing charged to veterinary clinics, livestock producers, animal owners, and organizations. Test pricing is adjusted periodically (e.g., 6% increase June 2025, ~5% increase June 2026).
2. Government Grants: Grant and in-kind support from the Province of Saskatchewan supports diagnostic testing services to the livestock industry and core disease surveillance work. Grant from the University of Saskatchewan supports teaching, research diagnostics, and test development.
3. Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership Funding: $18 million investment over five years ($3.6 million annually) from the Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan under the Sustainable Canadian Agricultural Partnership, supporting animal health, disease diagnosis, surveillance, and research.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Prairie Diagnostic Services (PDS) is a full-service veterinary diagnostic laboratory based in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, providing comprehensive diagnostic testing across 15 specialty sections including bacteriology, clinical pathology, molecular diagnostics, necropsy, toxicology, immunology/serology/virology, genomics, endocrinology, histopathology, parasitology, surgical pathology, feed & forage testing, ocular pathology, extension services, and STAT testing. The lab serves veterinary practitioners, livestock producers, animal owners, and government agencies across Canada with proprietary genomic panels (BovReproSeq), UHPLC-MS/MS mycotoxin analysis, and CFIA Tier I foreign animal disease capability.

Product overview

Prairie Diagnostic Services (PDS) operates as a full-service veterinary diagnostic laboratory offering a comprehensive portfolio of diagnostic services organized as a unified laboratory platform with multiple specialty sections. The core service portfolio spans 15 primary laboratory sections including Bacteriology, Clinical Pathology, Molecular Diagnostics, Necropsy, Toxicology, Immunology/Serology/Virology, Genomics, Endocrinology, Histopathology, Parasitology, Surgical Pathology, Feed & Forage Testing, Ocular Pathology (POPS), Extension Services, and STAT Testing. These laboratory sections are complemented by specialized diagnostic panels such as Bovine Diarrhea Panel, Bovine Respiratory Disease (BRD) Panel, Porcine Diarrhea Panels, BovReproSeq (17-pathogen bovine reproductive panel), Mycotoxin/Ergot Panels (UHPLC-MS/MS), and targeted PCR tests for specific pathogens including Avian Influenza, Cache Valley Virus, Q Fever, and Anthrax. The laboratory is integrated within the Western College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Saskatchewan and serves clients across Canada through both standard and STAT (expedited) testing pathways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Bacteriology Culturing, isolation, and identification of bacterial pathogens affecting animal health. Service for veterinary clinics and livestock producers.
• Clinical Pathology Hematology, chemistry, urinalysis, and cytology testing to support clinical assessment across all animal species.
• Molecular Diagnostics PCR-based and molecular assays for sensitive detection of pathogens across species, including PCR panels for various diseases.
• Necropsy Post-mortem examinations to determine cause of death and investigate disease outbreaks in all animal species.
• Toxicology Analysis of toxins, chemicals, and poisoning agents impacting animal and herd health, including UHPLC-MS/MS mycotoxin panels.
• Immunology / Serology / Virology Antibody, antigen, and viral detection testing for infectious disease surveillance and diagnosis.
• Genomics

Quantifiable outcome

• BovReproSeq abortion panel achieves 77% success rate in detecting bovine reproductive failure pathogens.
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature9 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Saskatchewan / Western College of Veterinary Medicine (WCVM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPDS is located at WCVM in Saskatoon with laboratories integrated directly into the College. WCVM faculty actively participate in providing diagnostic service through contract arrangements. PDS membership includes the Province of Saskatchewan and the University of Saskatchewan. The University grant supports undergraduate/graduate teaching, research diagnostics, and test development.
• Canadian Animal Health Surveillance Network (CAHSN)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPDS is part of the Canadian Animal Health Surveillance Network along with other University, Provincial, and Federal laboratories across Canada, established to increase surveillance and diagnostic testing capacity for emerging and Foreign Animal Diseases. PDS operates a Level 2+ bio-security testing laboratory through CAHSN.
• Saskatchewan Ministry of AgriculturecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSaskatchewan Ministry of Agriculture has included Q Fever testing in its disease testing contract with PDS, providing no-charge testing for all Saskatchewan bovine/ovine/caprine placentas submitted to PDS. The Ministry also coordinates provincial surveillance programs including Small Holder Swine Health Surveillance Program and Small Flock Poultry Surveillance Program.
• Drs. John Campbell and Nathan Erickson (Beef Extension Services)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPDS established a partnership with Drs. John Campbell and Nathan Erickson to provide Beef Extension Services, extending diagnostic expertise and support to beef industry clients.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Texas A&M Veterinary Medical Diagnostic Laboratory (TVMDL): Statewide AAVLD-accredited veterinary diagnostic laboratory system in Texas offering full-service testing across livestock, companion animal, and wildlife. PDS shares the public, AAVLD-accredited, multi-site (or hub) referral lab model and livestock-disease focus, but TVMDL operates at significantly larger scale and budget.
• Antech Diagnostics (Mars Petcare): U.S.-headquartered veterinary reference laboratory network owned by Mars Petcare, offering clinical pathology, microbiology, and molecular diagnostics at commercial scale. Antech competes for companion animal submissions primarily, but its commercial scale and test menu set the bar PDS's CBC/chemistry and microbiology fees must clear to remain competitive.
• IDEXXX Laboratories (IDEXX): Global commercial veterinary diagnostics company with reference laboratories, in-clinic analyzers, and proprietary test menu. IDEXX is the dominant commercial reference lab competitor and serves as the commercial benchmark against which PDS's non-profit, full-service model competes — particularly in clinical pathology and molecular diagnostics.

Regional players

• Manitoba Veterinary Diagnostic Services (VDS): Provincial veterinary diagnostic laboratory in Manitoba offering necropsy, bacteriology, virology, and serology. Comparable in scope and provincial-government-funded model to PDS, but with a smaller test menu and no formal AAVLD full accreditation.
• University of Calgary - Diagnostic Services Unit (UCVM DS): University-affiliated veterinary diagnostic unit in Alberta offering clinical pathology, necropsy, and molecular testing. Geographically proximate to PDS and serves overlapping Western Canadian livestock and companion animal clients, but with a narrower service menu and less international accreditation scope.
• Atlantic Veterinary College (AVC) Diagnostic Services: Diagnostic laboratory at the University of Prince Edward Island serving Atlantic Canada with necropsy, histopathology, bacteriology, and molecular diagnostics. Peer to PDS in university-embedded veterinary diagnostic model and species coverage (livestock + companion animal + aquaculture).

Direct peers

• Prairie Ocular Pathology Service (POPS) — In-House PDS Service: PDS's own specialized ocular pathology unit, but it functions as a comparable specialty referral service — staffed by ACVO and ACVP-certified specialists — illustrative of the niche, multi-specialist referral model PDS operates within against other specialty-focused diagnostic practices.
• University of Guelph - Animal Health Laboratory (AHL): Ontario's provincial veterinary diagnostic laboratory at the University of Guelph, providing full-service pathology, molecular diagnostics, bacteriology, virology, and toxicology across species. AHL is the most direct Canadian analog to PDS — both operate as university-affiliated, AAVLD-accredited referral labs with similar service portfolios and provincial government funding.

Others

• Canadian Food Inspection Agency (CFIA) Network Laboratories: Federal network of laboratories performing regulatory animal disease diagnostics, including for foreign animal disease. PDS's CFIA Tier I Lab designation makes it a quasi-partner in this network, and CAHSN directly links PDS to CFIA's surveillance mandate — making CFIA a strategic partner/regulator relationship rather than a direct competitor.

Emerging players

• Iowa State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory (ISU VDL): University-based AAVLD-accredited veterinary diagnostic laboratory with strong livestock and production-animal focus, advanced molecular diagnostics, and significant federal/state funding. Shares the university-embedded model and livestock expertise focus with PDS, but operates at larger scale with strong U.S. surveillance infrastructure.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PDSVetDiagnServ
• Facebookfacebook.com/SaskPDS
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/prairie-diagnostic-services-inc

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Prairie Diagnostic Services