IDEXX Laboratories (NASDAQ: IDXX) has expanded its Faecal Dx antigen testing platform in the United Kingdom to include taeniid tapeworm detection, covering Taenia and Echinococcus species, according to a company press release.

The addition brings the total number of intestinal parasite groups detectable through Faecal Dx to seven, which now includes hookworm, roundworm, whipworm, flea tapeworm, taeniid tapeworms, Cystoisospora, and Giardia in select panels.

Taeniid tapeworm detection will be included at no additional cost in current Faecal Dx panels and profiles for IDEXX Reference Laboratories customers in the UK. Tests returning positive for taeniid tapeworms will automatically trigger a complimentary follow-up Echinococcus RealPCR test, though IDEXX noted it reserves the right to modify or discontinue the offering.

The European Scientific Counsel Companion Animal Parasites (ESCCAP) recognizes both Taenia and Echinococcus species as clinically important parasites. ESCCAP identifies Echinococcus as one of three key parasite groups requiring preventive control in dogs and cats due to its zoonotic risk.

IDEXX states that Faecal Dx antigen testing has been shown to detect up to twice as many intestinal parasite infections earlier than fecal flotation alone, citing a 2025 study published in Veterinary Parasitology. The platform launched in 2012, and the company reports more than 50 million tests have been run worldwide through April 2026, based on internal data.

"By broadening the insight available through Faecal Dx, we're making faecal testing easier to incorporate into everyday decision-making, helping veterinary teams reach more pets with greater confidence," said Mike Erickson, President and CEO of IDEXX.

IDEXX is headquartered in Westbrook, Maine, and employs approximately 11,000 people, offering products and services in more than 175 countries.