Luminex Cytokine Panel Service

Why Perform Cytokine Assay?

Cytokines are proteins or peptides secreted by activated immune cells and certain stromal cells that mediate and regulate immune and inflammatory responses and have a powerful regulatory effect on the immune system.

Cytokine assays are of great value in disease diagnosis, basic immune research and cytokine therapy monitoring. Both the concentration of cytokines in peripheral blood can be measured and the cytokine secretion by lymphocytes can be stimulated by in vitro culture to amplify the stimulatory effect of drugs on immune cells, thus predicting the potential risk that a drug may cause cytokine release syndrome, and it can also be used to determine the minimum expected level of biological effect and to select a reasonable safe starting dose.

Our Technology Platform for Cytokine Panel Analysis

Our cytokine analysis based on Luminex xMAP technology enables the simultaneous detection and quantification of multiple metrics in a variety of complex samples.

The Luminex xMAP technology involves coupling highly specific capture monoclonal antibodies to different fluorescently labeled magnetic beads, mixing the different types of beads and suspending them in a 96-well microtiter plate. Biotin-labeled high-affinity paired secondary antibodies combined with SA-PE are added for signal amplification to achieve effective detection of multiple trace cytokines. The Luminex technology provides accurate and reproducible results for each metric, requiring only a small number of samples and at a lower cost, successfully achieving more data in a shorter time than other assays.

Luminex Parameter

*Parameter*	*Specification*
*Technology*	Luminex xMAP technology
*Detection Method*	Fluorescent flow cytometry
*Capture Antibodies*	Highly specific monoclonal antibodies coupled to fluorescently labeled magnetic beads
*Signal Amplification*	Biotin-labeled secondary antibodies combined with SA-PE
*Multiplex Capacity*	Up to 100 analytes (80 on MagPlex)
*Dynamic Range*	≥3.5 logs
*Sensitivity*	0.06–1 pg/mL
*Read Time*	96-well in ~20 min
*Sample Volume*	6.3–80 µL (assay dependent)
*Sample Types*	Serum, plasma, cell culture supernatants
*Plate Format*	96-well
*Automation Compatible*	Yes, with front eject option
*Operational Validation*	Calibration, verification, and fluidics
*Applications*	Protein assays

Luminex Cytokine Multiplex Panels Brochure

Discover cytokine diversity with Luminex cytokine panels. Unleash potential across species.

Advantages of Luminex Cytokine Array

96-well plate design for batch detection of multiplexed factors up to 80 samples
High sensitivity, as low as pg/mL
Multi-factor assays performed with 50 μL liquid sample and 200 μg total protein
Suitable for serum/plasma, culture supernatant, cells, tissue lysate, and other biological samples
Maximized information in a single sample and cross-analysis allowed between analytes

FAQs

What sample types can be used in Luminex cytokine assays?

Luminex cytokine assays are compatible with various sample types including serum, plasma, cell culture supernatants, and tissue homogenates, providing flexibility for both clinical and research applications.

What are the advantages of using Luminex for cytokine analysis compared to other methods?

Luminex assays offer several advantages such as high multiplexing capability (up to hundreds of analytes), low sample volume requirements, high sensitivity (detecting low pg/mL levels), rapid assay times, and cost-effectiveness due to reduced reagent consumption and labor.

How sensitive is the Luminex assay in detecting cytokines?

Luminex assays can detect cytokines at low concentrations, typically ranging from 0.06–1 pg/mL depending on the cytokine and assay conditions, making it suitable for detecting subtle changes in cytokine levels.

Can Luminex assays measure multiple cytokines simultaneously?

Yes, Luminex assays can measure up to hundreds of cytokines simultaneously in a single sample, providing comprehensive profiling of immune responses and biomarker discovery.

What cytokines can be analyzed using Luminex cytokine assay?

The Luminex platform can analyze a wide range of cytokines and chemokines, including but not limited to tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukins (IL), interferons (IFN), growth factors, and other immune response mediators depending on the assay panel selected.

Is Luminex cytokine assay suitable for clinical research or diagnostics?

Yes, Luminex cytokine assays are widely used in clinical research for biomarker discovery, monitoring disease progression, evaluating treatment efficacy, and potentially in diagnostic applications pending validation and regulatory approval.

How do you analyze and interpret Luminex assay data?

Luminex assay data is analyzed using dedicated software that integrates calibration curves, controls, and sample measurements. Data interpretation involves comparing cytokine levels between samples or conditions, assessing trends, and identifying significant changes that correlate with biological outcomes.

Are special equipment or software required for Luminex cytokine assay?

Performing Luminex cytokine assays requires a Luminex instrument (such as the Luminex 200 System), associated automation modules for sample handling, and dedicated software for instrument control, data acquisition, and analysis. These tools ensure robust and reproducible cytokine quantification across experiments.

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