Abaxis

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.

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

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

• Point-of-care diagnostics
• Blood chemistry analyzers
• Clinical chemistry panels
• Medical diagnostic devices
• Veterinary diagnostics

Headquarters

HQ city

Union City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels8 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core 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

Named customers6 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• ZoetiscoreOthersAbaxis 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

Direct 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

• Facebookfacebook.com/abaxisveterinary
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/abaxis

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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

M&A2 records

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about Abaxis