Abaxis
Abaxis (Zoetis subsidiary) manufactures the Piccolo Xpress point-of-care blood chemistry analyzer and proprietary single-use reagent discs, serving primary care, urgent care, hospitals, specialty practices, government/military, and research customers globally via authorized distributors including Abbott and Sysmex.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1995
- HeadquartersUnion City, United States
- Headcount5,001–10,000
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Abaxis does
Abaxis develops, manufactures, and distributes point-of-care blood chemistry diagnostic systems, with the Piccolo Xpress analyzer as its flagship product. The platform combines spectrophotometry and centrifugal analysis to deliver multi-chemistry panel results from approximately 100 microliters of whole blood, serum, or plasma in roughly 12 minutes. At its core is a single-use, self-contained reagent disc that holds all reagents and diluent for a complete panel, paired with an integrated intelligent Quality Control (iQC) system that automatically validates each run. The company markets 17 reagent panels covering 31 tests spanning general and critical chemistry (basic metabolic, comprehensive metabolic, lipid, liver, kidney, electrolyte, and specialty panels), eleven of which are CLIA-waived for use outside traditional laboratory settings.
Abaxis serves a broad healthcare customer base across six verticals: primary care practices, urgent care centers, hospitals and integrated delivery networks, specialty care providers, government and military operations, and clinical research organizations. The company has historically operated an asset-light commercial model, selling Piccolo Xpress analyzers and reagent disc consumables exclusively through a global network of authorized distributors — including Abbott Point of Care as primary US distributor, Sysmex across multiple European markets, and country-specific distributors spanning North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa. Revenue mechanics combine upfront analyzer hardware placement with recurring consumables revenue, supported by reimbursement from private insurers and government healthcare programs in multi-payer markets.
Abaxis was acquired by Zoetis in 2018 and now operates as a wholly-owned subsidiary within Zoetis's diagnostics business, with veterinary products redirected to ZoetisUS.com/dx while the human point-of-care franchise continues under the Abaxis brand through its existing distributor network. The firm was founded in 1989 and is headquartered in Union City, California, with a regional office in Garching, Germany. Current ownership is private; the company previously traded on NASDAQ under ABAX prior to the Zoetis acquisition.
Abaxis firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Abaxis
- Legal name
- Abaxis, Inc.
- Website
- https://abaxis.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1995
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 5,001–10,000 employees
- Short description
- Abaxis (Zoetis subsidiary) manufactures the Piccolo Xpress point-of-care blood chemistry analyzer and proprietary single-use reagent discs, serving primary care, urgent care, hospitals, specialty practices, government/military, and research customers globally via authorized distributors including Abbott and Sysmex.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Abaxis industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Point-of-care blood chemistry diagnostics
- NAICS
- Analytical Laboratory Instrument Manufacturing (334516), In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413)
- SIC
- Laboratory Analytical Instruments (3826), In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Laboratory Automation, Sample Prep & Liquid Handling (IVD Lab Diagnostics) (HLAHAAAN)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Liquid Handling & Laboratory Automation (Pipettes, Robots, Workstations) (HLAGAIAD)
Keywords
Where Abaxis is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Union City
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Abaxis business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Piccolo Xpress Analyzer Sales: Sale of the Piccolo Xpress blood chemistry analyzer hardware to healthcare providers. The analyzer is a portable device that healthcare facilities purchase for point-of-care testing capabilities.
- Reagent Disc Consumables: Recurring sales of single-use reagent discs that perform various chemistry panels (Basic Metabolic Panel, Lipid Panel, etc.). Discs must be refrigerated at 2-8°C with shelf life of 9-18 months. Replenishable consumable revenue model.
- Reimbursable Panel Testing: Piccolo panels are reimbursable by most private insurers and government healthcare agencies in the US and other multi-payer markets, contributing to practice profitability.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Direct purchase through authorized distributors |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels8 records
Marketing channels4 records
Abaxis product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Abaxis manufactures and sells the Piccolo Xpress, a compact point-of-care blood chemistry analyzer, along with proprietary single-use reagent discs. The system delivers lab-accurate multi-chemistry panel results from 100 microliters of whole blood, serum, or plasma in approximately 12 minutes, serving medical and veterinary care providers through a global authorized distributor network.
Product overview
Abaxis (now part of Zoetis) offers the Piccolo Xpress point-of-care blood chemistry system, consisting of the Piccolo Xpress chemistry analyzer and 17 compatible single-use reagent panels. The Piccolo Xpress analyzer is a compact spectrophotometer/centrifuge that measures enzymatic chemistry reactions at 9 wavelengths to deliver lab-accurate results in approximately 12 minutes from a 100-microliter whole blood sample. The reagent discs contain all reagents and diluent necessary for complete multi-test chemistry panels. The system is CLIA-waived and supports data export to EMR/LIS systems via USB ports. The platform serves care providers across primary care, urgent care, hospitals, specialty care, government/military, and research settings.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Piccolo Xpress: Point-of-care blood chemistry analyzer that delivers real-time diagnostic results using single-use reagent discs. The Piccolo Xpress enables healthcare providers to perform multi-chemistry panels with 100 microliters of whole blood, serum, or plasma in approximately 12 minutes.
- Piccolo
- iQC (Intelligent Quality Control)
Products and services
- Piccolo Xpress Blood Analyzer A compact point-of-care chemistry analyzer that delivers real-time blood chemistry diagnostic results using single-use reagent discs containing up to 17 chemistry tests per disc, with sample-to-panel results in approximately 12 minutes using only 100 microliters of whole blood. Uses patented spectrophotometry and centrifugation technology with built-in iQC quality control, and is CLIA-waived for many panels. Sold to healthcare providers and veterinarians through authorized distributors.
- Piccolo Reagent Panels Self-contained single-use reagent discs compatible with the Piccolo Xpress analyzer, offering 17 complete chemistry panels and 31 tests covering liver, kidney, metabolic function, lipids, and electrolytes. Each disc is self-contained, single-use, and refrigerated at 2-8°C with shelf life of 9-18 months, generating recurring consumable revenue. Includes specific panels such as Basic Metabolic Panel, Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, Lipid Panel, Hepatic Function Panel, Renal Function Panel, Electrolyte Panel, and MetLyte Plus CRP.
- Basic Metabolic Panel Single-use Piccolo reagent disc that performs the basic metabolic panel chemistry tests on whole blood, serum, or plasma using the Piccolo Xpress analyzer. CLIA-waived for use in non-laboratory point-of-care settings.
- Comprehensive Metabolic Panel Single-use Piccolo reagent disc that performs the comprehensive metabolic panel chemistry tests on whole blood, serum, or plasma using the Piccolo Xpress analyzer. CLIA-waived.
- Lipid Panel Single-use Piccolo reagent disc for lipid panel testing on the Piccolo Xpress analyzer. CLIA-waived for point-of-care use.
Quantifiable outcome
- Sample-to-panel results in approximately 12 minutes
- +4 more outcomes
Companies that use Abaxis
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles5 records
Abaxis technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
Abaxis partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- ZoetiscoreAbaxis is now a part of Zoetis. The Piccolo Xpress veterinary products are now available through ZoetisUS.com/dx. Zoetis acquired Abaxis to strengthen its global veterinary diagnostics position. Zoetis is a leading global animal health company.
Scale indicators4 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Abaxis competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Abbott Point of Care: Abbott's i-STAT system is the most established point-of-care blood chemistry analyzer globally, using single-use cartridges to deliver rapid results from whole blood. Notably, Abbott is also Abaxis's primary US distributor, making it both a direct competitor and a channel partner.
- Nova Biomedical: Nova Biomedical manufactures the StatStrip and pHOx lines of point-of-care blood gas and chemistry analyzers used in hospitals and clinics worldwide. Its single-use sensor strip technology for whole-blood testing is closely analogous to Abaxis's reagent-disc architecture.
- Werfen: Werfen's GEM Premier series delivers point-of-care blood gas, chemistry, and critical-care testing in hospitals. Werfen is also an Abaxis distributor for Spain and the Iberian Peninsula, making it both a competitor and channel partner in Europe.
- HORIBA Medical: HORIBA Medical produces the Microsemi and ABX series of compact hematology and clinical chemistry analyzers. Its POC-focused products target the same small-footprint, near-patient diagnostic niche as the Piccolo Xpress.
- Randox Laboratories: Randox manufactures the Evidence and Discovery analyzers offering comprehensive blood chemistry and immunoassay panels at the point of care. Its single-use biochip arrays are comparable in concept to Piccolo's reagent discs.
Emerging players
- EKF Diagnostics: EKF Diagnostics offers the QuikRead and DiaSpect point-of-care hemoglobin, HbA1c, and chemistry analyzers. While smaller and with a more focused menu, EKF competes in primary care POC chemistry and provides comparable single-use consumable economics.
Broad incumbents
- Roche Diagnostics: Roche offers the cobas family of point-of-care and central-lab analyzers including the Accu-Chek line. As the world's largest diagnostics company, Roche competes with Abaxis across hospital POC chemistry and primary care settings, while also serving as an IVD reagent manufacturer.
- QuidelOrtho: Formed from the merger of Quidel and Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, QuidelOrtho offers the Triage and Vitros lines of point-of-care immunoassay and chemistry analyzers. The Vitros series competes directly with Piccolo Xpress in hospital and reference lab settings.
- Sysmex: Sysmex is a global leader in hematology and clinical chemistry analyzers, distributing the Piccolo Xpress across multiple European countries while also offering competing POC and central-lab chemistry platforms. Its dual role as channel partner and competitor mirrors the Abbott relationship.
- Siemens Healthineers: Siemens Healthineers offers the RAPIDPoint and epoc blood gas/chemistry analyzers as part of a broad diagnostics portfolio spanning central lab, immunoassay, and imaging. The POC systems compete directly with Piccolo Xpress in hospital satellite labs and ED settings.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Abaxis social profiles
Digital presenceAbaxis compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Abaxis financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Abaxis leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Abaxis funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Abaxis M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A2 records
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Abaxis
What does Abaxis do?
Abaxis manufactures and sells the Piccolo Xpress, a compact point-of-care blood chemistry analyzer, along with proprietary single-use reagent discs. The system delivers lab-accurate multi-chemistry panel results from 100 microliters of whole blood, serum, or plasma in approximately 12 minutes, serving medical and veterinary care providers through a global authorized distributor network.
Is Abaxis a public or private company?
Abaxis is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Abaxis founded?
Abaxis was founded in 1995. It employs 5,001 to 10,000 people.
Where is Abaxis based?
Abaxis is headquartered in Union City, United States, in the North America region.
How does Abaxis make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Piccolo Xpress Analyzer Sales are the primary driver. The others are reagent Disc Consumables and reimbursable Panel Testing.
Who are Abaxis's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Abbott Point of Care, Nova Biomedical, Werfen, HORIBA Medical and Randox Laboratories. EKF Diagnostics is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Roche Diagnostics, QuidelOrtho, Sysmex and Siemens Healthineers.
Does Abaxis have an API?
No public API is recorded for Abaxis.
What industry is Abaxis in?
Abaxis's product category is Point-of-care blood chemistry diagnostics. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAHAAAN, Laboratory Automation, Sample Prep & Liquid Handling (IVD Lab Diagnostics), with a secondary code of HLAGAIAD, Liquid Handling & Laboratory Automation (Pipettes, Robots, Workstations). Its NAICS code is 334516 and its SIC code is 3826.