The availability of novel assay platforms represents a tipping point for diagnostics' adoption in the markets for translational medicine, esoteric testing, and high-complexity labs. Platform companies may be accustomed to defining their business strategies in terms of maximizing instrument placements but this may not be the optimal path to commercial success for a novel diagnostic test. They need to develop "category-killer" tests--those that combine platform and diagnostic content to offer a compelling clinical value proposition.