Zomedica Launches Same-Day Canine Cortisol Assay for Truforma

Zomedica Pharmaceuticals has released a new and improved canine cortisol assay for its TRUFORMA point-of-care diagnostic platform.

The assay allows veterinarians to diagnose Cushing’s syndrome and Addison’s disease within minutes, using a simple in-clinic process.

Previously, such diagnoses required shipping blood samples to external labs and waiting one or two days for results. With this launch, Zomedica is helping clinics make faster, more confident treatment decisions without delays.

The assay became available to clinics in May 2024, and early feedback has been highly positive.

TL;DR: Zomedica's In-Clinic Cortisol Assay Launch – Key Highlights

Product Launch: Zomedica introduced a new canine cortisol assay for its TRUFORMA platform in May 2024.
Diagnostic Speed: Enables same-day diagnosis of Cushing’s and Addison’s disease in dogs—in under 20 minutes.
Technology: Uses advanced bulk acoustic wave (BAW) sensor tech with a 45% wider dynamic range and 99% correlation to Siemens IMMULITE®.
Veterinary Benefits: Reduces lab delays, supports urgent care (like Addisonian crises), and improves treatment decisions and client satisfaction.
Positive Feedback: Vets report improved diagnostic confidence, quicker therapy starts, and fewer re-visits.
Platform Growth: Expands Zomedica’s TRUFORMA menu to 14+ assays, targeting a $1.5B point-of-care diagnostics market.
Market Positioning: Strengthens Zomedica’s competitive edge against players like Idexx.
Pharma Impact: Creates new opportunities for cartridge-based revenue, diagnostic partnerships, and expanded animal health diagnostics in emerging markets.

What the cortisol assay does

The cortisol assay is designed to measure cortisol levels in dogs to help confirm two serious adrenal diseases: Cushing’s syndrome, which causes excess cortisol production, and Addison’s disease, which results in dangerously low cortisol levels. Both conditions can lead to significant health issues if left untreated.

The TRUFORMA cortisol assay helps vets diagnose these conditions during a single clinic visit. It supports critical tests like the ACTH stimulation test and low-dose dexamethasone suppression test (LDDST), offering an efficient and accurate alternative to traditional reference lab workflows.

Key improvements in the new assay

Zomedica’s updated cortisol assay delivers reference lab-grade accuracy using bulk acoustic wave (BAW) sensor technology.

Here’s how the BAW sensor technology works:

It features a 45% wider dynamic range compared to earlier versions, allowing accurate detection of both very low and very high cortisol levels.

This is essential for diagnosing and monitoring conditions across the full clinical spectrum. The test also showed a 99% correlation with Siemens IMMULITE®, a common lab standard.

These enhancements came from real-world feedback and reflect Zomedica’s commitment to continuously improving the precision and reliability of in-clinic diagnostics.

Clinical benefits for veterinarians

The ability to test cortisol levels in-clinic transforms how veterinarians approach adrenal disease diagnosis. Traditionally, diagnosing Cushing’s or Addison’s required time-consuming, multi-step processes, including shipping samples to external labs and waiting for results. With TRUFORMA, clinics can now complete diagnostic protocols and receive results in less than 20 minutes.

This is especially life-saving in Addisonian crises, where a dog may collapse and require urgent treatment. Same-day diagnosis empowers veterinarians to begin therapy immediately, reduce unnecessary hospitalization, and avoid guesswork. It also improves pet owner satisfaction by offering quick and confident answers.

Positive feedback from veterinarians

Veterinary clinics using the TRUFORMA cortisol assay have reported strong clinical and business benefits. Many consider it a critical upgrade that improves diagnostic confidence and patient care. The Austin Veterinary Diagnostic Hospital highlighted that the analyzer enables same-day results and enhances treatment decisions for both Addison’s and Cushing’s disease.

Veterinarians also appreciate that the improved dynamic range allows better monitoring for dogs already on cortisol-regulating medications. With quick turnaround, fewer re-visits, and better pet outcomes, clinics are seeing improvements in both clinical efficiency and client satisfaction.

Strategic importance for Zomedica

This launch supports Zomedica’s broader strategy of making complex diagnostics faster, more accessible, and clinic-friendly. By adding cortisol to its growing test menu, Zomedica expands the TRUFORMA platform’s relevance in general, emergency, and specialty practices.

The company now offers 14+ assays and targets a $1.5 billion addressable market for point-of-care veterinary diagnostics.

The launch also helps Zomedica compete with larger players like Idexx, many of which have only recently begun offering in-house cortisol testing. It positions TRUFORMA as a strong alternative for clinics wanting fast, accurate results without lab delays.

Now available for clinics

The improved TRUFORMA cortisol assay became available to veterinary clinics in May 2024. Clinics already using the TRUFORMA platform received access via a software update and new cartridges. New users can join Zomedica’s free analyzer placement program and start testing immediately.

With no hardware cost and plug-and-play installation, the barrier to entry is low. As more clinics adopt in-house testing for adrenal and other diseases, Zomedica expects this assay to become one of the most commonly used on the platform.

What this means for the Pharmaceutical Industry

Zomedica’s in-clinic cortisol assay highlights a growing trend in veterinary healthcare: the shift toward fast, point-of-care diagnostics. This creates several opportunities for pharmaceutical companies to innovate and expand.

Key implications include:

New revenue models: Pharma can adopt razor-and-blade models by supplying diagnostic cartridges and consumables.
Partnership potential: Collaborations with diagnostic tech companies can lead to co-developed assays or bundled treatment kits.
Faster prescribing decisions: Immediate test results support more targeted treatments and improve antibiotic stewardship.
Growing market: The veterinary point-of-care diagnostics market is expected to grow at 10%+ CAGR through 2030.
Expansion into animal diagnostics: Pharma firms can tap into companion animal and livestock testing solutions.
Global reach: Point-of-care devices open doors in emerging markets with limited access to centralized labs.