Configuring DVMAX with the Heska DCU (Data Capture Utility)

Owned by John Bellos (Unlicensed)
Last updated: Nov 06, 2020 by Amy Blanchard
2 min read

Applies to Versions: DVMAX 7.5 and Up
Operating Systems: Windows Only - per Heska the DCU will not run on Mac OS (updated: November 2020)

DVMAX supports the following Heska Instruments with the Heska Data Capture Utility:

  • Dri-Chem 4000 Chemistry
  • Dri-Chem 7000 Chemistry
  • HemaTrue Hematology
  • VitalPath Blood Gas & Lytes
  • Spotchem EZ
  • CBC-Diff

Included below are steps on how to configure this integration:

Step 1: Configure your Lab instruments with the Heska DCU


If you have one of the lab instruments listed above, you'll need to make sure they 'transmit' results to the Heska DCU application.
If you are not sure whether your system is set up this way, contact Heska support directly. http://www.heska.com

Step 2: Obtain the Path that the Heska DCU saves results to


Open the Heska DCU utility (If you are not sure where this is, contact Heska, or see Step 1)
Click the Preferences button.
Write down or remember the path listed in the Output Folder field.

Step 3: Configure DVMAX to retrieve results from the Heska DCU Output Folder.


Launch DVMAX Client on the same machine the Heska DCU runs on.
Go to the File menu and choose Preferences.
Click on the Lab Result Setup tab.
For In Office Analyzer 1 or 2 (which ever is not configured) click the Set Analyzer button.
In the Analyzer drop down menu, choose Heska DCU, then click Select.
Click the Start Analyzer button.
Browse to and Select the Output folder that you obtained in Step 2.

This will conclude the setup and DVMAX will start pulling results from your Heska lab instruments directly into the DVMAX Lab Log.

Troubleshooting - Runtime Error - File not found

If you get this error after clicking Start Analyzer, you can correct this by reviewing the path to the Heska Output folder.

Click Continue or Abort on the Runtime Error. Then close out of Preferences.
In DVMAX Client, click the Section menu, hold SHIFT and click System Constants.
A warning will appear. Read it fully and then click I Understand.
In the list of settings that appear, locate the two settings labeled bldanal.heskadcuFolder
Verify that both settings have the same path listed. The path should be the exact path to the Heska DCU folder.
If the path is incorrect, click inside the Value column for that setting and make the necessary corrections.