Affordable Pet Labs is enrolling dogs in a scientific validation study, not launching a new test. The needle-free at-home test is not available to buy, and it must be compared with the standard blood test before anyone can know whether it meets the study’s requirements.
Scottsdale, Ariz., October 21, 2026: Affordable Pet Labs (APL), a direct-to-consumer veterinary laboratory serving pets in 52 cities nationwide, is asking dog owners to help evaluate a new, patent-pending at-home heartworm test method. The study will collect more than 1,500 samples.
The goal is to find out how closely the new method agrees with the current gold-standard blood test, dog by dog. Independent researchers set the acceptance thresholds and will review the results. If the new method does not meet those thresholds, APL says it will report that outcome.
Heartworm disease is devastating and preventable. Yet in most states, prevention requires a prescription, and getting one generally requires a negative heartworm test each year. For many dogs, completing that test is a barrier to protection. This study explores whether a reliable test method collected at home could eventually make that step more accessible.
Is this a product launch?
No. This is a study announcement. The new at-home heartworm test is not yet available for purchase, and it is not a substitute for a veterinary visit. Its performance has not been established through this study. It is possible the new method will not prove as effective as the current gold-standard blood test.
Dr. Joseph Menicucci, APL co-founder, put the distinction plainly:
“This is not a product or service announcement, yet. We are announcing a study and asking dog owners to help us prove this new testing is as reliable as the current methods. If we find that it is, and we have high confidence it will be, we will be able to open access to heartworm prevention for so many more pets.”
The new method allows a dog’s sample to be collected at home without a needle and analyzed in APL’s laboratory. During this first round of the study, however, APL technicians will collect every sample. The study will compare the new method with a standard heartworm blood test; it will not use the new test to make decisions about a participant dog’s prevention or treatment.
What happens during the study?
Each enrolled dog receives the standard heartworm test veterinarians rely on today. An APL technician visits the home and draws blood for laboratory testing for heartworm antigen and microfilariae. The results are reported to the pet parent and veterinarian as they would be for any APL client.
At the same visit, the technician also collects the non-blood sample for the new method. Both samples are then analyzed in parallel in APL’s laboratory. Across more than 1,500 samples, the study will measure how closely the new method agrees with the standard blood test.
The standard blood test is the test of record for every dog in the study. If a dog’s blood test is positive, APL will refer the dog to its veterinarian for follow-up. Results from the new method will be shared with participants only after the study is complete. They will not be used to decide whether a dog should start, stop, or change prevention or treatment.
The research design matters because a new testing approach needs to be evaluated honestly, not assumed to work because it is promising. Independent researchers set the study’s acceptance thresholds and review its results. If the test does not meet those thresholds, APL says it will say so.
Why is APL studying a different way to collect a sample?
Heartworm prevention requires a prescription. In most states, that prescription requires a negative heartworm test every year. For millions of dogs, completing the test can be the obstacle between a pet and prevention. As Dr. Menicucci said:
“The dogs in this study get the best heartworm test available (same as their veterinarian will do) today, for free, drawn in their own living room. In exchange, we get the samples we need to validate the new test honestly and quickly, including the possibility that the answer is no.”
If the new method is validated, APL plans to offer it nationwide directly to pet parents through at-home collection kits and its 52-city field team network. Dog owners could then complete an annual heartworm check from home, share results with their veterinarian, and seek a prevention prescription, including through telehealth where state law allows.
That is a possible future, not a service available today. Until validation is complete and a launch is announced, dog owners should continue to work with their veterinarian about heartworm testing and prevention. For more on the importance of annual test timing, read “Heartworm Test for Dogs: Why Timing Matters More Than You Think”, published September 27, 2026.
Could your dog participate?
Dogs may be eligible if they meet these requirements:
- At least 7 months old.
- Living in one of APL’s 52 cities, where every study visit is conducted by an APL technician.
- Not treated for adult heartworms with melarsomine (Immiticide) in the past 12 months.
- Not given doxycycline in the past 60 days. A brief history questionnaire also asks about other recent antibiotics and medications.
- Free of blood in the urine or an active urinary problem at the time of the visit.
Dogs who receive monthly heartworm prevention and dogs who do not are both welcome and needed. Dogs recently diagnosed with heartworm disease who have not yet been treated are especially valuable to the study. APL also welcomes rescue and shelter partnerships.
An application does not guarantee enrollment. APL reviews submissions and contacts owners if their dog qualifies and a visit can be scheduled.
What do participating dogs and their pet parents receive?
Each participating dog receives a complete heartworm test, antigen and microfilaria, collected at home by an APL technician, free of charge. Results go to the pet parent and veterinarian within 2–3 business days after the laboratory receives the sample.
Participants can also receive:
- The option to add basic blood work at the same visit for a discounted price.
- A credit for a free at-home heartworm test if the new service launches.
- A credit toward other future APL testing.
APL has 124 technicians and added 16 cities in the past 12 months. The company was founded in September 2019 by veterinarians Dr. Rory Lubold and Dr. Joseph Menicucci. It has tested hundreds of thousands of pets, has a 4.9-star customer rating, and is working toward its mission to test one million pets.
What does participation involve?
The home visit takes about 15 minutes. Pet parents who enroll will need to:
- Schedule one home visit and be present during sample collection.
- Read and sign a consent form covering the blood draw, the additional sample, and the de-identified use of samples and results for test development and publication.
- Complete a brief history questionnaire about their dog’s age, prevention history, travel, prior heartworm testing, and recent medications, including antibiotics.
The blood test remains the test of record. Any dog with a positive blood test is referred to its veterinarian for follow-up.
How can you enroll?
Enrollment is open until the study reaches its target. To apply or check whether your area is covered, visit AffordablePetLabs.com/HWT. You can also call 602-847-9123 with questions.
Frequently asked questions
Is the needle-free at-home heartworm test available now?
No. It is being evaluated in a validation study and is not available for purchase.
Does the new test replace my veterinarian?
No. It is not a substitute for a veterinary visit. The study’s test of record is the standard blood test, and dogs with a positive blood result are referred to their veterinarian.
What if I don’t live in one of APL’s 52 cities?
Check AffordablePetLabs.com/HWT to see whether your city is covered. Every study visit is conducted by an APL technician.
Will you help evaluate the new test?
A useful study needs to be willing to reach either answer. APL says independent researchers will review the results, and if the new method does not meet the study’s acceptance thresholds, the company will say so. If it is validated, APL plans to make it available nationwide, but only after that work is complete.
If your dog may qualify, visit AffordablePetLabs.com/HWT or call 602-847-9123 to learn more and apply.
