WHAT began as a feasibility study in 1998 to see whether human allergy tests could be extended to animals has resulted in an amazing niche market company in York with a turnover of more than £500,000.
On the way, YorkTest Veterinary Services has won a host of accolades, including the Evening Press Small Business of the Year in 2001 and a DTI SMART award for research.
More recently, it won the Queen's Award For Enterprise, and last month's Business Innovation of the Year Award for the North East in the National Business Awards.
Now the firm, based at Garth Mews, Sim Balk Lane, Bishopthorpe, with laboratories in Osbaldwick, is gunning for the Best Use of New Technology title in the 2004 Evening Press Business Awards.
Its pitch is made at the same time as it has achieved a breakthrough by being able to allergy-test cats as well as dogs, something no other rival in the world has been able to achieve.
Under managing director Janice Culligan, the business is set for a further fillip as it perfects new tests for food and environmental allergens in horses.
Meanwhile, the company has forged partnerships with other companies and laboratories in the UK to improve its market share and has partner laboratories in Germany, Italy and Spain plus numerous vets from all around the world sending it samples for it to test.
Apart from the new technology which has gone into the product, new processes are being investigated for computerised test results and bar-coding to further efficiency.
Updated: 12:13 Friday, August 13, 2004
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article