March 06, 2026 — Henderson, Nevada, USA
Global epigenetics innovator VolitionRx Limited has announced the completion of validation and verification for the first fully automated version of the Nu.Q® Vet Cancer Test, developed in collaboration with Fujifilm Vet Systems. The new diagnostic solution utilizes a chemiluminescent immunoassay (ChLIA) platform, enabling centralized veterinary laboratories to perform high-throughput automated cancer screening for dogs. This milestone marks a major advancement in veterinary oncology diagnostics, offering veterinarians a faster, scalable, and more efficient method for detecting cancer biomarkers through a simple blood test and supporting earlier disease detection in companion animals.
Automated Veterinary Cancer Testing Expands Diagnostic Capacity
The automated Nu.Q® Vet Cancer Test represents a significant technological leap from traditional manual plate testing methods currently used in many veterinary laboratories. Through integration with the IDS i10® automated analyzer platform, laboratories can now perform cancer screening with higher throughput, faster processing times, and improved workflow efficiency. The automation allows centralized labs to handle larger testing volumes while maintaining consistent diagnostic accuracy, enabling veterinary clinics to receive results more rapidly and improve clinical decision-making for pet care.
Fujifilm Vet Systems, a leading diagnostic provider serving thousands of veterinary clinics in Japan, will implement the automated testing solution across its network of central reference laboratories. Since the original Nu.Q® Vet Cancer Test launch in Japan in July 2024, demand from veterinarians has grown rapidly, with more than 1,700 veterinary hospitals already registered to use the test. The automated system is expected to significantly expand testing capacity, allowing veterinary professionals to perform routine cancer screening and early detection more efficiently across large pet populations.
Early Cancer Detection for Companion Animals
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Cancer remains the leading cause of death among adult dogs, making early detection one of the most critical challenges in veterinary medicine. The Nu.Q® Vet Cancer Test is designed as an accessible and cost-effective blood-based screening tool that helps veterinarians identify cancer earlier in the disease process. Early detection can greatly improve treatment outcomes by enabling veterinarians to begin diagnostic imaging, biopsy procedures, or targeted therapies before the disease progresses to advanced stages.
The test works by detecting circulating nucleosomes in the bloodstream, which are fragments of DNA-protein complexes released during cell death. Elevated nucleosome levels can indicate abnormal cellular activity associated with cancer, allowing the test to act as a screening tool that alerts veterinarians to potential disease presence. As an epigenetics-based diagnostic technology, the Nu.Q® platform provides a non-invasive method for identifying cancer-related biomarkers using standard blood samples, making it suitable for routine wellness examinations and preventive health screening programs in veterinary practices.
Expanding the Nu.Q Platform Across Human and Veterinary Medicine
The automated veterinary test also demonstrates the broader potential of Volition’s Nu.Q® diagnostic technology platform, which is designed to support early detection and monitoring of diseases across both human and animal health applications. The same automated analyzer platform used for the Nu.Q® Vet Cancer Test is also utilized for human diagnostic products such as Nu.Q® Cancer, Nu.Q® NETs, and Nu.Q® Discover, highlighting the technological synergy between veterinary and human medical diagnostics.
Japan represents a significant market opportunity for veterinary diagnostics, with approximately seven million pet dogs nationwide. Through its partnership with Fujifilm Vet Systems, Volition expects the automated Nu.Q® Vet Cancer Test to reach a large network of veterinary hospitals and diagnostic laboratories, potentially expanding cancer screening access across the country. The collaboration demonstrates how advanced epigenetic biomarker technologies can support earlier disease detection and improve healthcare outcomes for companion animals.
As the field of precision veterinary medicine continues to evolve, innovations such as automated blood-based cancer tests are expected to transform the way veterinarians detect and manage disease. By providing scalable diagnostic tools capable of identifying cancer earlier and more accurately, technologies like the Nu.Q® Vet platform may play a crucial role in improving survival rates, extending lifespan, and enhancing the overall quality of life for millions of pets worldwide.
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Source: VolitionRx Limited press release
