Abaxis, Inc., a medical products company manufacturing point-of-care instruments and consumables for the medical, research, and veterinary markets worldwide and providing reference lab services to the veterinary and research markets in the United States, has entered into a definitive non-exclusive distribution agreement with Henry Schein Animal Health. Henry Schein will sell the full line of Abaxis veterinary products throughout the United States with sales and marketing activities commencing immediately.

Clint Severson, president and chief executive officer of Abaxis, Inc., commented, "We are pleased to welcome Henry Schein to the growing Abaxis distribution network.  The addition of Henry Schein, as with all of our other distribution partners, is a reflection of the quality and efficacy of our VetScan line of diagnostic instruments for the veterinary profession. We value our partnership with Henry Schein and the opportunity to increase our presence and grow our market share for both respective businesses. Our expanded roster of distribution will help us to better serve the veterinary community."

Craig Tockman, DVM, vice president of sales and marketing of Abaxis, Inc. added, "We are committed to partnering with distributors like Henry Schein Animal Health, who provide the best access to the veterinary practice because of their relationships and the value they provide to the veterinarian.  Distributors help the veterinarian with best practices in their business, and understand that diagnostics is one of the most important areas in veterinary medicine today. Henry Schein is a world-class organization and we are pleased they will represent Abaxis."

"We look forward to representing the full line of Abaxis veterinary products in the United States as we deliver industry-leading solutions to our veterinary customer," said Lonnie Shoff, the chief executive officer of Henry Schein's Global Animal Health and Strategic Partnership Group.  "With this agreement, we will offer our customers the full suite of Abaxis product choices that are increasingly important to veterinarians and pet owners as the standard of care in animal health continues to increase.  In addition to offering Abaxis's award-winning diagnostic products, Henry Schein Animal Health, through our market-leading software companies, will fully integrate with Abaxis's diagnostic results allowing our veterinary customer to provide pet owners and the animals that they care for with the highest level of care."

Abaxis develops, manufactures, markets and sells portable blood analysis systems for use in any veterinary or human patient-care setting to provide clinicians with rapid blood constituent measurements.  

Henry Schein Animal Health, based in Dublin, Ohio, is a leading companion animal health distribution company in the United States.  The company employs approximately 900 team members, including 300 field sales representatives and 200 telesales and customer support representatives.