Luminex ELISA multiplex assays are specialized assays capable of simultaneous detection and quantification of multiple analytes or expressed genes. Luminex-based assays employ xMAP (Multi-Analyte Profiling) technology that provides high-throughput and efficient results compared to conventional ELISA and qPCR assays.

How does Luminex Multiplex biomarker ELISA work?

Luminex ELISA multiplex combines advanced optics, digital signal processing, and fluidics with innovative microsphere capabilities to produce an end-to-end multiplexed assay. Luminex-based assays provide an open-architecture platform that can be individually tailored to meet the requirement of a wide variety of biomarker assays.

Luminex multiplex bead assay employs superparamagnetic microspheres in analyte detection. The microspheres are 6.5 microns in size and consist of a magnetic core covered with a polystyrene surface. The beads are proportionally dyed with infrared and red fluorophores. The difference in proportionality among the two fluorophores gives rise to 100 unique microsphere signatures that can be detected by the xMAP detection systems. A distinct antibody gets conjugated to a distinct bead allowing multiple analyses in a single well. Similarly, multiple biomarker-specific beads can be combined into a single 96- or 384-well microplate for the simultaneous detection and quantification of multiple target biomarkers in a single run.

Do more with less sample in Luminex ELISA

Luminex-based assays can evaluate up to 100 biomarkers in just 12.5 μl of sample/reaction. This volume is way too less when compared to traditional ELISA assays that require 100-200 μl samples/well for one target biomarker. ELISA assays are considered the “gold-standard” in biomedical and clinical research. However, the ability to multiplex several analytes in small-volumes makes Luminex ELISA ideal for biomarker analysis.

Luminex ELISA multiplex has a linearity way over 3-5 times of magnitude and therefore supports a broad range of biomarker concentrations without the need for multiple dilutions. Thus Luminex cytokine assays are well-known in mainstream biomedical research as they deliver cost-effective cytokine quantification in minimal sample volumes.

Moreover, ready-to-use Luminex ELISA kits are available for routine biomedical and clinical use. These kits are time and cost-saving as they can simultaneously analyze multiple target biomarkers in a single run. Nonetheless, they facilitate extensive biomarker analysis as patient specimens are judiciously used in biomarker analysis.

Luminex ELISA multiplex assays are extensively used in the identification of high-risk patients, monitoring treatment efficacy, and determining disease prognosis. Luminex multiplex bead assays can help monitor biological interactions such as enzyme/receptor-ligand and antigen-antibody binding in real-time. They provide higher standard curve recovery and intra-assay precision than conventional ELISA validation, with kits available for prime study subjects such as humans, rats, monkeys, and mice. Such high-end platforms not only facilitate analyzing several analytes in a single run but also saves valuable resources and time that eventually increases the costs involved in the drug development process.

Summary

Luminex ELISA assays are swiftly becoming the number one choice for the evaluation of preclinical and clinical samples. As Luminex-based assays allow the user to design their study parameters, today laboratories create tailored Luminex-based assays in the assessment of multiple protein biomarkers.