During a recent veterinary convention, a fellow vet mentioned that their hospital exclusively uses PCR testing, having completely moved away from lateral flow tests. Ewan ko, baka charot nya lang…
The statement was confident—perhaps even admirable at face value. After all, PCR is the gold standard in diagnostics: more sensitive, more specific, and incredibly precise.
But it also made me reflect on something deeper, something we rarely talk about out loud.
I also have a PCR machine in my hospital.
I practice in an executive village, with clients who—on paper—might be expected to afford advanced diagnostics.
And yet, the reality is that even in this setting, most clients pause when faced with the cost of PCR. They rethink. They ask for options. And many choose not to proceed—not because they don’t value their pet’s health, but because they’re weighing it alongside tuition, rent, groceries, and emergencies.
This isn’t a question of veterinary science.
It’s a question of economic reality.
Lateral flow tests are not perfect….
But they have served—and continue to serve—a vital role in many veterinary hospitals across the Philippines.
They are fast, relatively affordable, and practical. In cases where clients cannot afford PCR or where immediate decision-making is crucial, these tests help bridge the gap between ideal and possible.
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If the Philippine market were fully ready to run solely on PCR? Vet Diagnostix—my company—could provide it. We have the capability to supply, scale, and support it nationwide…. globally.
But the market isn’t there yet. Not fully. Not sustainably. I should know…
The truth is, most Filipino veterinarians still rely on lateral flow as their first line, with a growing interest in immunoassays and POCT (Point-of-Care Testing). And that’s not regression—it’s realism.
Veterinary excellence is not defined by using the most expensive tool in every case.
It’s about understanding when to use what, and why. It’s about clinical judgment, empathy, and meeting our clients where they are—without judgment, without arrogance.
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Yes, we must keep advancing. We must continue investing in better tools, better systems, and better education.
But let’s never shame the vet who uses lateral flow responsibly. Nor should we forget that accessibility, in a country like ours, is not just a compromise—it is compassion.
We don’t diagnose to impress.
We diagnose to save lives.
And sometimes, the test that saves a life is the one a client can say yes to.
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Dr. Geoff Carullo is a Fellow and the current President of the Philippine College of Canine Practitioners.
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