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Cost-sharing strategy

The cost-effectiveness of the Bio-Plex instument and xMAP® (Luminex)-based assays are evident when many samples are processed using the same mulitplex assay.

At the UHNMAC, we understand that evaluating new technologies can be expensive. Thus, we have launched a cost-sharing strategy that will enable researchers to evaluate two commonly used assays: the 27-plex Human Cytokine Panel (Bio-Rad), for the identification and quantification of 27 cytokines, and the 5-plex Human Phospho Signal Transduction assay (Bio-Rad), for the detection and quantification of five phosphorylated proteins. Most Luminex-based assays are carried out in 96-well plates and thus are only cost-effective if you have enough samples to fill a 96-well plate.

With this trial offer, researchers can submit any number of samples and still receive the lowest price per sample!

27-plex Human Cytokine Panel: $60 per sample
This panel can detect and quantify the following 27 cytokines:
IL-1β, IL-1ra, IL-2, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12 (p70), IL-13, IL-15, IL-17, Eotaxin, Basic FGF, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, IP-10, MCP-1 (MCAF), MIP-1α, MIP-1β, PDGF-BB, RANTES, TNF-α, and VEGF

23-plex Mouse Cytokine Panel: $60 per sample
This panel can detect and quantify the following 23 mouse cytokines:
IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-9, IL-10, IL-12 (p40), IL-12 (p70), IL-13, IL-17, Eotaxin, G-CSF, GM-CSF, IFN-γ, KC, MCP-1 (MCAF), MIP-1α, MIP-1β, RANTES, and TNF-α

For the cytokine assays, samples will be analysed when at least 78 samples have been received.


5-plex Human Phospho Signal Transduction assay: $25 per sample
This panel is able to detect and quantify the following phosphorylated proteins:
Akt, ERK1/2, 1κB-α, JNK, and p38 MAPK

For the signal transduction assay, samples will be analysed when at least 90 samples have been received.



Please note that this pricing is for academic groups. Commercial customers should contact us for a quote.

Sample Preparation Guidelines and Submission Form:
Please note that we cannot process infectious human sera at this time (pending approval)
For cytokine assays Download
For phosphoprotein assays Download
For other types of assays, please contact us.

Contact:

Please note that special paperwork is required for shipping biological samples from locations outside of Canada. For the Customs documentation that you will need, please download this form . Once you send us this information, the UHN Customs Officer will generate the appropriate Customs document and send it to you via e-mail. This document must be included with the waybill on your package.

Return to the BioPlex service webpage.

Although two Bio-Rad assays are being used for this trial offer, the Bio-Plex instrument can run xMAP® assays available from various vendors including:

Please contact us for information regarding other xMAP® assays.

Quick questions:
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What is xMAP® technology?

xMAP® technology is a multi-analyte bead-based technology that enables the detection and quantification of multiple nucleic acid or protein targets simultaneously. The xMAP system combines flow cytometry, fluorescently-dyed microspheres (beads), lasers, and digital signal processing. The technology uses 5.6 micron polystyrene beads. Each bead type is filled with a dye mixture (made with varying ratios of two fluors), giving each of the 100 different bead types a unique spectral signature. Each set of beads can be conjugated with a different capture molecule (enzyme substrates, DNA, antigens, antibodies, etc). The conjugated beads are then incubated with the sample (analytes of interest). A fluorescently-labelled analyte-specific reporter molecule is then added to detect and quantify each captured analyte, similare to a sandwich immunoassay.

Can the Bio-Plex run xMAP® assays available from vendors other than Bio-Rad?

Yes! The Bio-Plex can also run xMAP® assays available from other vendors:
Invitrogen
Millipore
Luminex
Panomics (Affymetrix)
R&D Systems

How much sample is required?
The amount of sample required depends on the specific assay and the type of sample to be processed. Please contact us for details.

Is there any data analysis required?

The Bio-Plex Manager v5.0 software provides system control, validation, calibration, data acquisition, and data analysis for multiplex assays. The software will calculate concentration, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, and percent recovery. Data is normalised using internal controls to allow for comparison between plates, experiments, and samples. This software can also generate customised reports. Data can also be exported to text, XML, and Excel spreadsheets.

Since many beads are read, are replicates necessary?

If you have enough sample, we recommend performing replicates (same sample in different wells).