TREK Diagnostic Systems presented a number of innovative products, including the new Vizion System and the VersaTREK® Automated Microbial Detection System for para-JEM® to the veterinary community at the 50th American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians (AAVLD) Meeting October 18-24, 2007 in Reno, Nevada.

TREK, an annual AAVLD sponsor, showcased its recently-launched digital imaging device for veterinary susceptibility testing, the Vizion System. The Vizion features cost-effective, true MICs with LIS connectivity. The Vizion's immediate visual display projects images on a touch screen monitor with the complete antimicrobic format overlaid on it. Touching or clicking the MIC well gives the technologist instant CLSI interpretive feedback to expedite decision-making, while unique lighting options enable users to easily read difficult organisms on all Sensititre® MIC plates. In addition, the Vizion System links to the powerful SWIN® software system, and even enables the laboratory to store images for later review and training purposes.

According to TREK's Global Director of Marketing, Jenny Lorbach, "The Vizion System shows our continuous commitment to bring new, high quality, easy to use microbiology products to the veterinary community. The Vizion System compliments our extensive selection of veterinary-specific susceptibility products, and will allow laboratories to easily test fastidious and non fastidious isolates. There are no other systems like the Vizion for 96 well microbroth susceptibility plates available on the market today. Vizion represents true innovation, and has generated positive feedback in the industry."

Along with the meeting itself, TREK also sponsored their annual Customer Appreciation Dinner on October 20th. A presentation on the Vizion System was well received. TREK sponsored the annual Excellence in Diagnostic Veterinary Microbiology Award, as well. This year's award was presented at the AST Workshop, sponsored by TREK and Pfizer Animal Health, on Friday, October 19th to Joann M. Kinyon, Adjunct Assistant Professor and Assistant Scientist at the College of Veterinary Medicine at Iowa State University. Joann has been a pioneer in the isolation and characterization of Treponema hyodysenteriae, an important pathogen responsible for swine dysentery that was discovered in the early '70s. In addition, she has taught Vet Microbiology for more than 20 years, and has had 20+ publications appear in peer-reviewed journals.

Overall, the Vizion System generated considerable interest and enthusiasm from the wide range of veterinary attendees. The veterinary microbiologists were eager to learn how the Vizion could consolidate their off line susceptibility testing, as well as save their laboratories valuable time and money. With a number of exciting features and capabilities, the Vizion was certainly one of the product highlights of this year's AAVLD.