From consulting room to lab bench: How in-clinic qPCR is changing the way we manage common conditions and antimicrobial use in small animal practice

This session explores how in-clinic qPCR can improve everyday decision-making in practice. Using real-world cases, it shows when rapid molecular testing can help confirm infectious disease, guide. Treatment, support biosecurity, and reduce unnecessary antimicrobial use. The talk covers common presentations including gastrointestinal disease, respiratory disease, vague systemic illness, and zoonotic risk, with practical examples of when qPCR adds value and when it is unlikely to help. It also explains the workflow, result interpretation, and the importance of sampling quality, clinical context, and stewardship. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how to use qPCR thoughtfully, when it can change management on the same day, and how it fits into a modern diagnostic approach that balances speed, precision, and responsible prescribing.

• Recognise when in-clinic qPCR is likely to add value to the investigation of common veterinary presentations.
• Identify clinical scenarios where rapid molecular testing can support earlier treatment decisions, isolation, or biosecurity.
• Interpret qPCR results in the context of the whole patient, including sampling quality, clinical history, and differential diagnoses.
• Apply qPCR thoughtfully as part of antimicrobial stewardship, using it to reduce unnecessary empiric treatment where appropriate.