Abaxis Veterinary Reference Laboratories (AVRL), a fairly new division of Abaxis Inc., has named Mark Patterson as its president. Patterson was previously president of Heritage Labs, a commercial laboratory business he co-founded in Olathe, Kan. Other executive team members include Bill Roberts, Ph.D., vice president and laboratory director; Gene Hart, vice president of information services; and Ilya Frumkin, vice president of commercial operations. Dr. Roberts and Hart were also founders of Heritage Labs, while Frumkin was previously vice president of marketing at the company. Gary Anderson, DVM, Ph.D., director of Kansas State University Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, will serve in a consulting capacity for AVRL. Abaxis announced its plans to enter the commercial laboratory market with AVRL in late January. While AVRL will be a full service commercial laboratory, it will focus on specialty and esoteric testing and analysis, according to Martin Mulroy, vice president of sales and marketing for North American Animal Health. Related article: Abaxis to Form Commercial Laboratory for Vets
