How Tri-County Technical College is Training Future Veterinary Professionals with the TrueBond TriFLEX

For over 45 years, Tri-County Technical College (TCTC) in Pendleton, South Carolina, has been preparing students for rewarding careers in veterinary technology. As the 20th oldest Veterinary Technology program in the nation, TCTC has earned a reputation for excellence, maintaining full accreditation since 1979 and achieving a remarkable 100% VTNE pass rate in 2025 (more than 30 percentage points higher than the national average of 67%).

The program’s success comes from a commitment to hands-on training that mirrors real-world veterinary practice. When it came time to upgrade their centrifuge equipment, TCTC chose Drucker Diagnostics’ TrueBond TriFLEX, a decision that has transformed how students learn essential clinical laboratory skills.

The search for the right equipment

TCTC’s partnership with Drucker began with a practical challenge. The program needed to replace aging Triac centrifuges, and finding the right solution meant looking for a manufacturer that could deliver reliability, versatility, and ease of use. During an online search for a replacement for Clay Adams’ discontinued Triac centrifuge, the team discovered that Drucker Diagnostics had developed the TrueBond TriFLEX specifically as a successor to the Triac.

The timing couldn’t have been better. TCTC’s clinical pathology lab needed equipment that could handle the full spectrum of veterinary samples while maximizing limited countertop space. The TriFLEX promised to deliver on both counts.

One centrifuge does it all

What makes the TriFLEX stand out in an educational setting? According to Stephanie Brown, licensed veterinary technician (LVT) and program director for Veterinary Technology at TCTC, the answer is versatility. “This unit is amazing for everything that we do in a teaching capacity,” Brown explained. “This one centrifuge can do anything from a PCV tube to our 60 mL ones. Countertop space is a premium for us, and in the past I had to have 2-3 centrifuges to do what this one centrifuge can do.”

Now, with 12 TrueBond TriFLEX units across campus (nine in the clinical pathology lab and three in the main lab), students have consistent access to professional-grade equipment that can handle every sample type they encounter. This means students spend less time managing equipment logistics and more time developing clinical skills. “It’s so easy to switch from a PCV tube to a large tube. It is easy to clean and operate also,” Brown said.

Real-world training that makes a difference

TCTC’s Veterinary Technology program operates like a working veterinary clinic. All animals come from shelters, humane societies, or rescue groups, and students perform complete workups on every patient. This means running fecal samples, blood work, and urinalysis using the same equipment and protocols they’ll encounter in their careers.

The TriFLEX plays a central role in this hands-on approach. Students use the centrifuges to process samples as part of comprehensive care that includes bloodwork, vaccines, microchipping, heartworm and flea prevention, and spay/neuter procedures. This repetition builds proficiency. While some programs only allow students to perform tasks once or twice, TCTC students become skilled through regular practice with real cases.

Student feedback on the TriFLEX has been consistently positive. “They like the ease of use and the ability to run all kinds of samples,” Brown said. “It is better than having to learn to use multiple different centrifuges.” This streamlined approach means graduates enter the workforce confident and prepared, with practical skills that translate immediately to veterinary practice.

Preparing students for success

Early exposure to professional lab equipment like the TrueBond TriFLEX gives TCTC students a significant advantage. “They are extremely prepared to go into practice and work,” Brown said. This preparation shows in the program’s outcomes. With a 98% job placement rate and graduates going on to positions at Sea World, the National Zoo, specialty practices, and veterinary schools across the nation, TCTC’s approach clearly works.

The program welcomes up to 34 freshmen each year into its two-year curriculum, which combines lecture, lab work, and clinical practice. Students participate in daily animal care and training at the Animal Housing & Learning Facility while developing competencies in diagnostic laboratory techniques, radiology, anesthesiology, surgical technology, and hospital management.

A partnership built on shared values

Drucker Diagnostics’ partnership with Tri-County Technical College reflects a shared commitment to education and excellence in veterinary care. By providing reliable, easy-to-use centrifuge technology that meets the demands of both teaching and clinical practice, Drucker supports the development of skilled veterinary professionals who will serve animal health for years to come.

As TCTC continues its legacy of training exceptional veterinary technicians, the TrueBond TriFLEX remains an essential tool in preparing students for the challenges and rewards of their chosen profession.