title: Comparison of three multiplex cytokine analysis systems: Luminex, SearchLight and FAST Quant.
abstract: Multiplex cytokine analysis technologies have become readily available in the last five years. Two main formats exist: multiplex sandwich ELISA and bead based assays. While these have each been compared to individual ELISAs, there has been no direct comparison between the two formats. We report here the comparison of two multiplex sandwich ELISA procedures (FAST Quant and SearchLight) and a bead based assay (UpState Luminex). All three kits differed from each other for different analytes and there was no clear pattern of one system giving systematically different results than another for any analyte studied. We suggest that each system has merits and several factors including range of analytes available, prospect of development of new analytes, dynamic range of the assay, sensitivity of the assay, cost of equipment, cost of consumables, ease of use and ease of data analysis need to be considered when choosing a system for use. We also suggest that results obtained from different systems cannot be combined.
authors.affiliation: School of Surgical and Reproductive Sciences, 3rd Floor, William Leech Building, University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE2 4HH, UK. g.e.lash@ncl.ac.uk
authors.forename: Gendie E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Lash
authors.forename: Paula J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Scaife
authors.forename: Barbara A
authors.initials: BA
authors.lastname: Innes
authors.forename: Harry A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Otun
authors.forename: Steven C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Robson
authors.forename: Roger F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Searle
authors.forename: Judith N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Bulmer
mesh_terms: D018414:CD8-Positive T-Lymphocytes / Q000276:immunology; D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D016207:Cytokines / Q000032:analysis*; D003656:Decidua / Q000166:cytology / Q000276:immunology; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay / Q000191:economics / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007694:Killer Cells, Natural / Q000276:immunology; D011247:Pregnancy; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines