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Human Cytokine Luminex Multiplex Panels (15/17/21/48/71/96-Plex)

Human Cytokine Luminex Multiplex Panels (15/17/21/48/71/96-Plex)

Available in 15, 17, 21, 48, 71, and 96-plex formats covering interleukins, interferons, TNF cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors. All panels validated for serum, plasma, cell culture supernatants, and tissue lysates.

15-96 Plex OptionsHuman25 μL Sample4-5 Log Range

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Cytokines are low molecular weight soluble proteins that regulate a broad spectrum of physiological processes including immune response, hematopoiesis, cell growth, inflammation, and tissue repair. They function through paracrine, autocrine, and endocrine mechanisms, forming a complex regulatory network involved in many important physiological functions.

Creative Proteomics provides magnetic bead-based Luminex xMAP multiplex assays with flexible panel configurations from 15 to 96 analytes per well. Our panels cover major interleukin (IL) families, interferons (IFN), tumor necrosis factors (TNF), chemokines (MCP, MIP, IP-10, I-TAC), and growth factors (VEGF, FGF, EGF, HGF).

All panels are validated for serum, plasma, cell culture supernatants, and tissue lysates, and are compatible with MAGPIX, Luminex 200, and FLEXMAP 3D systems.

Panel Specifications

TechnologyLuminex xMAP

Plex Range15 to 96-plex

SpeciesHuman

Sample Volume25-50 μL

SensitivitySub-pg/mL

Dynamic Range4-5 logs

Assay Time3-4 hours

Human Cytokine Luminex Multiplex Panels (15 to 96-Plex)

Seven preconfigured human cytokine multiplex panels. Each panel is optimized for multiplex performance with validated cross-reactivity profiles.

Panel Name	Plex	Key Targets
Human Cytokines/Growth Factors 15-Plex Panel	15	GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-1RA, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12(p40), IL-12(p70), IL-13, MCP-1, TNF-α	Inquiry
Human Cytokines/Growth Factors 17-Plex Panel	17	Angiopoietin-2, BMP-9, EGF, Endoglin, Endothelin-1, FGF-1, FGF-2, Follistatin, G-CSF, HB-EGF, HGF, IL-8, Leptin, PLGF, VEGF-A, VEGF-C, VEGF-D	Inquiry
Human Cytokines/Growth Factors 21-Plex Panel	21	Fractalkine, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-10, IL-12(p70), IL-13, IL-17A, IL-21, IL-23, ITAC, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, MIP-3α, TNF-α	Inquiry
Human Cytokines/Growth Factors 48-Plex Panel A	48A	sCD40L, EGF, Eotaxin, FGF-2, Flt-3 ligand, Fractalkine, G-CSF, GM-CSF, GROα, IFNα2, IFN-γ, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1ra, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-15, IL-17A, IL-17E/IL-25, IL-17F, IL-18, IL-22, IL-27, IP-10, MCP-1, MCP-3, M-CSF, MDC, MIG, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, PDGF-AA, PDGF-AB/BB, RANTES, TGFα, TNF-α, TNF-β, VEGF-A	Inquiry
Human Cytokines/Growth Factors 48-Plex Panel B	48B	6Ckine, APRIL, BAFF, BCA-1, CCL28, sCD137, CTACK, CXCL16, ENA-78, Eotaxin-2, Eotaxin-3, sFAS, sFASL, GCP-2, Granzyme A, Granzyme B, HMGB1, I-309, IFN-β, IFN-ω, IL-11, IL-16, IL-20, IL-21, IL-23, IL-24, IL-28A, IL-29, IL-31, IL-33, IL-34, IL-35, I-TAC, LIF, Lymphotactin, MCP-2, MCP-4, MIP-1δ, MIP-3α, MIP-3β, MPIF-1, Perforin, SCF, SDF-1, TARC, TPO, TRAIL, TSLP	Inquiry
Human Cytokines/Growth Factors 71-Plex Panel	71	6CKine, BCA-1, CTACK, EGF, ENA-78, Eotaxin, Eotaxin-2, Eotaxin-3, FGF-2, Flt3L, Fractalkine, G-CSF, GM-CSF, GROα, I-309, IFNα2, IFN-γ, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1RA, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-15, IL-16, IL-17A, IL-17E/IL-25, IL-17F, IL-18, IL-20, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23, IL-27, IL-28, IL-33, IP-10, LIF, MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, MCP-4, M-CSF, MDC, MIG, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, MIP-1δ, PDGF-AA, PDGF-AB/BB, RANTES, sCD40L, SCF, SDF-1α+β, TARC, TGFα, TNF-α, TNF-β, TPO, TRAIL, TSLP, VEGF-A	Inquiry
Human Cytokines/Growth Factors 96-Plex Panel	96	6Ckine, APRIL, BAFF, BCA-1, CCL28, sCD137, sCD40L, CTACK, CXCL16, EGF, ENA-78, Eotaxin, Eotaxin-2, Eotaxin-3, sFas, sFasL, FGF-2, FLT-3L, Fractalkine, GCP-2, G-CSF, GM-CSF, Granzyme A, Granzyme B, GROα, HMGB1, I-309, IFNα2, IFN-β, IFN-ω, IFN-γ, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-1RA, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-11, IL-12p40, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-15, IL-16, IL-17A, IL-17E/IL-25, IL-17F, IL-18, IL-20, IL-21, IL-22, IL-23, IL-24, IL-27, IL-28A, IL-29, IL-31, IL-33, IL-34, IL-35, IP-10, I-TAC, LIF, Lymphotactin, MCP-1, MCP-2, MCP-3, MCP-4, M-CSF, MDC, MIG/CXCL9, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, MIP-1δ, MIP-3α, MIP-3β, MPIF-1, PDGF-AA, PDGF-AB/BB, Perforin, RANTES, SCF, SDF-1, TARC, TGFα, TNF-α, TNF-β, TPO, TRAIL, TSLP, VEGF-A	Inquiry

How to Choose the Right Human Cytokine Multiplex Panel

Choose the right plex level based on your research focus, sample volume, and target analytes.

15-21

Focused Cytokine Profiling

Best for targeted studies of specific immune pathways (Th1/Th2, Th17, inflammation). 25 μL per well.

Choose this for: known targets, minimal volume

Broad Coverage Screening

Panel A: classic cytokines and growth factors. Panel B: soluble receptors and granzymes. 50 μL per well.

Choose this for: comprehensive profiling

71-96

Comprehensive & Max Coverage

Combines all targets with extended inflammatory and immune checkpoint markers. 50 μL per well.

Choose this for: maximum analyte coverage

Not sure which panel to choose? Contact us with your target list and sample type we will recommend the optimal configuration or create a custom mix.

Sample Requirements for Human Cytokine Luminex Assays

Proper sample collection and handling are essential for reliable Luminex multiplex assay results.

Recommended Sample Types

Serum25 μL, no hemolysis

EDTA/Heparin Plasma25 μL, clear, no fibrin

Cell Culture Supernatant50 μL, centrifuge before use

Tissue/Cell Lysate50 μL, clarify by centrifugation

Handling and Quality Notes

Sample Storage-80°C, avoid freeze-thaw

Shipping ConditionsDry ice or wet ice

CSF/Saliva/BALSupported with matrix testing

Minimum ReplicatesDuplicate recommended

Human Cytokine Panel Research Applications

Human cytokine multiplex panels are widely used across immunology, oncology, drug development, and translational research.

Immune Profiling and Biomarker Discovery

Comprehensive cytokine and chemokine profiling for immunology, vaccine, and infectious disease research. High-plex panels enable broad screening from minimal sample volumes.

Cancer Immunology and Immuno-Oncology

Tumor microenvironment analysis, immunotherapy response monitoring, and immune checkpoint profiling using multiplex panels.

Inflammation and Autoimmune Disease

Multi-analyte cytokine detection for RA, IBD, psoriasis, and other inflammatory conditions. Panels cover IL-6, TNF-α, IFN-γ, chemokines.

Drug Discovery and Preclinical Development

Pharmacodynamic biomarker monitoring, cytokine release assessment, and safety evaluation. Small sample volumes support multi-timepoint studies.

Cell Therapy and CAR-T Research

Cytokine release profiling for CAR-T and cell therapy development. Panels covering IL-6, IFN-g, TNF-a and chemokines are essential for safety and efficacy assessment.

Infectious Disease and Vaccine Research

Evaluate immune responses to pathogens and vaccines through comprehensive cytokine and chemokine profiling. Suitable for cohort studies and longitudinal sampling.

What You Get: Data Deliverables and Quality Metrics

Every Luminex multiplex assay includes a comprehensive data package with full quality control documentation.

Data Package

Raw fluorescence intensities (.csv)
Calculated concentrations (pg/mL)
5PL standard curves for each analyte
Full QC report (.xlsx format)

Quality Control

Standard curve R² > 0.98
Intra-assay CV < 10%
Inter-assay CV < 15%
Spike recovery: 80-120%

Assay Performance

Duplicate sample measurements
Method summary with lot numbers
Detection limits per analyte
Platform: Luminex xMAP

Human Cytokine Multiplex Assay Case Study and Data

Published reference data from a Luminex 27-plex study in healthy human serum, providing baseline reference ranges and variability metrics for cytokine multiplex assay design.

STUDY DESIGN

Biancotto A, et al. (2013) used a Luminex Bio-Rad 27-plex assay to measure 27 cytokines, chemokines, and growth factors in serum from 144 healthy adult donors (65% female, 35% male; median age 27, range 21-62; 70% Caucasian). Fasting morning samples were collected at two time points 7 days apart to establish baseline levels and assess temporal stability. Serum was diluted 4-fold and assayed in duplicate on a Luminex-100 system. A minimum of 50 beads per analyte were acquired across 22 plates with a bridge sample for inter-plate reproducibility.

Full 27-plex panel: IL-1β, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12p70, IL-13, IL-15, IL-17, IL-1RA, Eotaxin, basic FGF, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IP-10, MCP-1, MIP-1α, MIP-1β, PDGF-BB, RANTES, TNF-α, VEGF.

Key Findings for Study Planning

Undetectable analytes: GM-CSF, IL-2, and IL-15 were below detection limits in >90% of healthy subjects. These may only be measurable in activated or disease conditions.
Inter-subject vs intra-subject variability: Inter-subject CV (52% to 737%) was consistently higher than intra-subject CV (9% to 99%), indicating that longitudinal within-subject designs provide greater statistical power.
Temporal stability: RANTES, MCP-1, VEGF, MIP-1b, and PDGF-BB showed significant but modest day-to-day variation, suggesting these analytes may require stricter sampling standardization.

Practical Implications for Your Study

Use each subject as their own control (paired analysis) rather than separate cohort comparisons for longitudinal studies.
Account for high inter-subject variability in low-abundance cytokines (CV often >100%) when planning sample sizes.
Standardize collection times (fasting morning samples) and use duplicate measurements with 4-fold dilution for optimal data quality.

Cytokine	Mean (pg/mL)	SD	% Detectable	CV
IL-1β	2.2	2.5	77%	114%
IL-6	2.9	2.4	85%	83%
IL-8	7.7	5.2	100%	68%
IL-10	1.3	1.3	50%	100%
TNF-α	6.0	2.7	97%	45%
IFN-γ	5.6	5.6	79%	100%
MCP-1	158	98	100%	62%
IP-10	117	89	100%	76%
VEGF	73	67	97%	92%
RANTES	10,993	5,716	100%	52%
Eotaxin	67	35	100%	52%
MIP-1β	86	42	100%	49%

Source: Biancotto A, et al. PLOS ONE. 2013;8(12):e76091. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076091

Related Human Luminex Multiplex Panels

Explore other human Luminex multiplex panels available for your research.

Human Inflammation Panel

Targets: IL-6, TNF-α, IL-1β, IP-10, IFN-γ, MCP-1
Plex: 20 to 48-Plex
Focus: Inflammatory cytokines

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Human Chemokine Panel

Targets: CXC, CC, C, CX3C subfamilies
Plex: Multiplex
Focus: Chemokine profiling

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Human Th1/Th2 Cytokine Panel

Targets: IFN-γ, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-12, IL-13
Plex: 6 to 12-Plex
Focus: Th1/Th2 balance

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Human Cancer Biomarker Panel

Targets: Oncology cytokines, growth factors, tumor markers
Plex: Multiplex
Focus: Tumor microenvironment

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Human Growth Factor Panel

Targets: EGF, FGF, VEGF, HGF, PDGF
Plex: 11-Plex
Focus: Growth factor signaling

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Human Kidney Injury Panel

Targets: KIM-1, NGAL, Clusterin, Cystatin C
Plex: Multiplex
Focus: Kidney injury biomarkers

View Details

Human Cardiovascular Panel

Targets: Cardiac troponin, CRP, NT-proBNP
Plex: 6 to 12-Plex
Focus: CVD biomarkers

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Human Complement Factor Panel

Targets: C1q, C3, C4, Factor B, Properdin
Plex: 7 to 8-Plex
Focus: Complement system

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← All Human PanelsBrowse species overview

Supporting Publications for Human Cytokine Luminex Assays

Selected references utilizing Luminex multiplex assays for human cytokine profiling in research.

REFERENCE

Biancotto A, et al. (2013) Baseline levels and temporal stability of 27 multiplexed serum cytokine concentrations in healthy subjects. PLOS ONE. 8(10):e76091.

DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076091

REFERENCE

Duffy D, et al. (2014) Functional analysis via standardized whole-blood stimulation systems defines the boundaries of a healthy immune response to complex stimuli. Immunity. 40(3):436-450.

DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2014.01.012

REFERENCE

Breen EC, et al. (2011) Multisite comparison of high-sensitivity multiplex cytokine assays. Clin Vaccine Immunol. 18(7):1229-1242.

DOI: 10.1128/CVI.05032-11

Customization available: Select specific targets, expand plex capacity up to 100, or optimize for unusual sample matrices. Contact us for a custom quote

Frequently Asked Questions About Human Cytokine Panels

Common questions about our human cytokine Luminex multiplex panel service.

Can I run Panel A and Panel B together for a 96-plex result?

Yes. Panel A and Panel B use compatible Luminex bead regions with no cross-reactivity. They can be ordered as separate assays or combined in a single workflow.

Can I create a custom panel with targets from multiple panels?

Yes. We can create a custom mixed panel selecting individual analytes from any of our available targets. There is no minimum plex size.

What is the detection limit for low-abundance cytokines in serum?

Typical LOD ranges are 0.2-2.0 pg/mL depending on the analyte. IL-6 and TNF-α are routinely detected in healthy human serum (mean 2.9 and 6.0 pg/mL).

What volume is needed for running multiple panels on the same samples?

Each panel requires 25 μL (serum/plasma) or 50 μL (CCS). Running two panels requires approximately 50 μL of serum or 100 μL of CCS total.

Can unused samples be returned after analysis?

Yes. Any unused sample volume can be returned upon request. Samples are stored at -80°C throughout. Indicate your preference when submitting.

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