Bio-Rad Bio-Plex Pro™ Human Isotyping Assays - Manual (Page 3)

Introduction
Bio-Plex Pro ™ Human Isotyping Assays
Bio-Plex Pro isotyping assays enable you to measure multiple
immunoglobulin isotypes in only 5 μl of sample. A detailed profile of the
immune response to infection, disease, vaccination, or drug therapy can
now be obtained in a single three hour experiment. Bio-Plex Pro isotyping
assays are multiplex bead-based assays designed to quantitate multiple
immunoglobulin isotypes in diverse matrices, including serum, plasma,
and tissue culture supernatants. These assays are optimized for the
Bio-Plex suspension array system, which utilizes xMAP technology. For
a brief overview of the assay protocol, see the Bio-Plex isotyping assay
workflow in this manual. The Bio-Plex suspension array system, which
incorporates novel technology using color-coded beads, allows the
simultaneous detection of up to 100 analytes in a single well of a 96-well
microplate. The advantages over traditional methods of immunoglobulin
isotyping include the ability to create a complete quantitative
immunoglobulin class and subclass profile from limited sample, reduced
sample preparation and assay time, and increased throughput. The use
of magnetic beads allows researchers to automate wash steps.
Advantages of Magnetic Bead-Based Assays
Products in the Bio-Plex Pro family of assays are on magnetic polystyrene
beads. These beads provide a choice in the method of assay preparation —
standard or magnet-based. The standard workflow for Bio-Plex assay
preparation requires multiple wash steps in which the 96-well filter plate
is placed on a vacuum manifold to draw the liquid through the bottom of
the filter plate. In contrast, magnet-based assay preparation permits
liquid removal from the top of the well and thus does not require a filter
plate or vacuum manifold. As a result, either an automated or manual
washer can be used. Bio-Rad offers both solutions with the automated
Bio-Plex Pro wash station and the manual Bio-Plex handheld magnetic
washer. Magnetic separation offers greater convenience and reproducibility
compared to vacuum filtration.
For a current listing of Bio-Plex assays, panels, and reagents, please visit
www.bio-rad.com/bio-plex.
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