Pet parent must know following points for accurate diagnosis of your beloved pets for their healthy & happy life
| Criteria | In-House Lab | Dedicated Lab |
|---|---|---|
| Skilled Staff | No trained pathologist, other experts & technicians | Handled by experts such as Pathologists, Biochemists, Biotechnologists, Microbiologists, Radiologists |
| Test Menu Range | Limited and mostly machine generated | Comprehensive — Clinical & histopathology, PCR, ELISA, culture, IHC, toxicology |
| Turnaround Time | Rapid for routine tests | Slight delay — transport & batching |
| Quality Control | Not available | Standardized — certified protocols & proficiency testing |
| Equipment Maintenance | Not adequately done | Routine maintenance as per standard lab practices |
| Infrastructure | Limited | Adequate |
| Risk of Misdiagnosis | High for complex cases | Low — specialist review available |
| Sample Volume | Needs high volume to be cost-effective | No minimum volume required |
| Cost per Test | High | Affordable |
| Species Coverage | Limited — mainly companion animals | Wide — small, large, exotic, wildlife |
| Advanced Diagnostics | Usually unavailable | Fully available |
| Quality Assurance | Rare or none | Regularly audited; NABL/ISO certified |
| Report Standardization | Variable formatting | Professional, standardized with expert comments |
| Downtime Risk | High — machine or staff absence disrupts testing | Low — continuous service availability |
| Record Keeping & LIS | Manual or semi-digital | Automated LIS with sample tracking |
| Compliance / Legal Burden | High — multiple licenses & checks | Managed by referral lab |
| Upgradation Need | Generally not done | Continuous education programs followed |
| Collaboration Opportunities | Limited | Easy with universities & research partners |
| Staff Turnover Impact | High — affects consistency | Low — expert teams maintain continuity |
| Clinical Focus | Veterinarian time diverted to lab ops | Veterinarian focuses on patient care — better outcomes |
| Cost Efficiency | Viable only for high-volume centers | Cost-effective for most clinics |
| Waste Disposal | Clinic must manage biomedical waste | Handled by referral lab |