The Global Consortium for the Standardization of CSF Biomarkers met in Vancouver, Canada, on 14 July 2012 to assess moves on two fronts: in-vitro diagnostics companies are now developing fully automated assays that do not let the user influence parameters affecting the measurements, and the international bodies for certification and reference/metrology have formally agreed to take on the issue. These two developments bring the vision of stable assays grounded by single certified reference material within reach.