Zoetis has added a dermatology application to Vetscan Imagyst. This promises to cut the time it takes a GP veterinarian to analyze a skin sample by up to half.
The new Vetscan Imagyst AI dermatology application analyzes impression smears, ear and skin swabs to identify yeast, inflammatory cells and bacteria.
Results are available in about 10 minutes, depending on your upload speed. In VetSurgeon’s understanding, how long would it probably take a dermatologist to perform this task (compared to a general practitioner, he could take twice as long depending on skill, available equipment and volume). ) tests, etc.).
In terms of accuracy, Zoetis said the application is comparable to that of clinical pathology professionals.
Additionally, reports with images can be created and shared with clients, increasing the consulting value.
According to a 2006 study, 72% of veterinary skin diagnosis and treatment recommendations are based on: Present only clinical symptoms and physical examination1.
The list price for the Vetscan Imagyst is just under £18,000, but there are various commercial deals you can discuss with your Zoetis account manager. Each AI analysis costs on the order of $10.
So the question is whether the new system is worth the investment. 72% of the time, it provides a more accurate diagnosis than an educated guess, and 28% of the time, it saves time over manual analysis.
Zoetis UK Diagnostics National Veterinary Manager Sophie DuGuido said: “The ability to accurately and reliably identify inflammatory cells, bacteria and yeasts at the time of office visit will make a big difference in a busy clinic, ensuring better outcomes and patient and owner satisfaction.”
“Performing cytology is an important component of any dermatological work-up, but it is often difficult for veterinary care teams to perform due to the considerable time pressures in the clinical setting.
“Vetscan Imagyst AI Dermatology enables clinicians to rapidly detect the presence or absence of skin infections in canine and feline dermatology cases, allowing clinicians to make clinically informed decisions.”
reference
- Hill PB et al. A survey of the prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment of small animal skin diseases in general practice. Veterinarian’s Record (2006) 158533-539
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