In human medicine, lateral flow tests—like COVID-19 antigen, dengue NS1, or HIV rapid kits—are not shown directly to patients. Instead, results are officially released on paper. The reason is simple: professionalism, standardization, and patient safety.
Medical technologists are licensed to perform and release results, but interpretation belongs to the physician. A faint line on a cassette could trigger panic or false reassurance if patients interpret it themselves. That’s why hospitals follow a strict rule: the kit is discarded after quality control, and the signed report becomes the only official record. It is this document—not the strip—that stands in court, in insurance claims, and in the medical file.
In veterinary practice, however, the culture is different. We often show the actual kit to pet owners. A positive heartworm, parvo, or leptospira test is easier to explain when they can see the band with their own eyes. This transparency builds trust. It becomes a teaching moment: “Here is the control line. Here is the positive band. This is why your pet is sick.”
But here lies the challenge: faint or borderline results can be confusing. Some clients take photos of the kit, interpret it their own way, and even spread it on social media. The test cassette becomes the “proof,” even if it was meant to be just one part of the diagnostic process.
If veterinary medicine is to rise to the same standards of human health care, perhaps we should do both:
- Show the kit for transparency and education.
- Issue a formal report as the official record.
A printed or digital result—with the clinic logo, date, patient ID, test type, and veterinarian’s signature—protects the profession and sets a higher standard. The kit then becomes a visual aid, while the report stands as the legal and medical proof.
Moving forward, this small shift could strengthen our credibility, safeguard us from disputes, and bring veterinary diagnostics closer to the standards our clients already expect from human medicine.
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