Zoetis adds CHCM and PCT to Vetscan OptiCell

Zoetis has expanded the capabilities of its Vetscan OptiCell point-of-care hematology analyzer, adding cellular hemoglobin concentration mean, or CHCM, and plateletcrit, or PCT. Zoetis says the update makes OptiCell the first point-of-care hematology analyzer to offer CHCM, a parameter that had previously been limited to reference laboratories, and brings the system’s total reported parameters to 24. The cartridge-based, AI-enabled platform launched in the U.S., U.K., and Australia in late 2024, with a broader European rollout announced in September 2025. (vettimes.com)

Why it matters: For veterinary teams, the practical value is less about adding another acronym and more about getting a more resilient red cell measurement in-clinic. CHCM is a direct optical measurement of hemoglobin concentration in intact red blood cells and is less affected than MCHC by common interferences such as lipemia, hemolysis, and agglutination, according to Cornell’s eClinPath. PCT, meanwhile, adds context around platelet mass, which may help clinicians interpret thrombocytopenia and platelet abnormalities at the point of care instead of waiting on a reference lab. Zoetis executives said the added parameters bring “meaningful diagnostic depth” for sick patients. (eclinpath.com)

What to watch: Zoetis said both new parameters are expected to roll out this year, so the next question is how quickly they appear across installed instruments and whether practices begin changing CBC workflows around in-clinic anemia and platelet assessment. (vettimes.com)