How It Works

AimPlex multiplex assay technology utilizes multiple magnetic bead populations differentiated by size and different levels of fluorescence intensity. With multiple sizes of beads and multiple levels of fluorescence intensity in each bead size, the AimPlex technology can measure up to 23 analytes simultaneously in a single reaction.  The bead populations in the reaction are determined by a flow cytometer equipped with dual 488nm and 633/640nm lasers.  The maximum emission of the bead classification dye is at 700 nm.

Magnetic Bead-based immunoassays are similar to the principle of a sandwich ELISA, having each bead population conjugated with a specific capture antibody trapping the protein of interest, such as a cytokine, in the sample. The amount of the analyte captured is detected via a biotinylated antibody against a secondary epitope of the protein, followed by a streptavidin-R-phycoerythrin treatment. The fluorescent intensity of R-phycoerythrin on the beads is quantified on a flow cytometer. Concentrations of a protein of interest in the samples can be obtained by comparing the fluorescent signals to those of a standard curve generated from a serial dilution of a known concentration of the analyte.

The assay procedure consists of a 60-minute antigen and capture antibody conjugated bead incubation step, a 30-minute biotinylated detection incubation step and a 20-minute streptavidin-PE incubation step.