Tips & Tricks: Deciding Which MILLIPLEX® Assays Are Best for Your Research and What Materials Are Required
Before you start multiplexing with MILLIPLEX® kits, check out these tips for how to select the best MILLIPLEX® assay for your research. Also, learn what materials are required to complete your multiplex workflow but not provided with the kits.
Which MILLIPLEX® Assay Is Best for Your Research?
Finding the best MILLIPLEX® assay for your research depends on various factors, such as what platform you are using, which analytes you need, the species you are studying, and more. Below are some tips to help you find the right assay.
Switching From One Assay Platform to Another
Our multiplex and singleplex assays for the same analyte often (not always) use the same antibody pairs and conditions.
- In method comparison tests, while the absolute values may not be exactly the same, the results correlate. Hence, when switching from one assay platform to another, a correlation factor may be used when comparing with other platform data.
- Please contact Technical Support for more information on correlation factors.
Locating Protocols and Technical Documents
To locate protocols and technical documents for a specific MILLIPLEX® panel:
- Search SigmaAldrich.com using the catalog number.
- Scroll down to the "Documentation” section.
This section will contain the MILLIPLEX® kit protocol link and links to technical information.
Finding Analytes of Interest
There are four easy methods to find your analytes of interest:
- Use the MILLIPLEX® Analyte Kit Finder. Select your species of interest and research area, and then select your analytes.
- Visit SigmaAldrich.com/milliplex, scroll to “Products”, and type your analyte of interest into the keyword box to filter to relevant MILLIPLEX® kits.
- Search the latest edition of the Analyte Quarterly.
- Contact Technical Support.
You can also subscribe to our Analyte Update newsletter so you never miss a new product launch.
Finding Publications Citing a Specific Panel/Analyte
To find publications citing a specific panel or analyte, contact Technical Support or your Sales Specialist. Many of our panels have publications listed on their product detail pages. These are listed under “Peer Reviewed Papers” near the bottom of the product page.
Determining Species Cross-Reactivity
To determine species cross-reactivity for a MILLIPLEX® panel or analyte:
- For a subset of kits, see the tables in our Species Cross-Reactivity Tips & Tricks article.
- Contact Technical Support.
- For cell signaling kits, we analytically verify the assay with human cell/tissue culture samples. However, we provide the species homology for each analyte in a table on the product detail pages for each kit.
Designing "Customizable" Kits
To design a "Customizable" MILLIPLEX® kit:
- Select your panel of interest: for example, Human Cytokine/Chemokine/Growth Factor Panel A (Cat. No. HCYTA-60K).
- Choose the analytes you want from that panel. For example, you may need only five analytes: IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, GM-CSF, and VEGF-A.
- Add the number of analytes you chose to the catalog number, for example, HCYTA-60K-05, and list the specific analytes.
Designing and Ordering "Customizable" Kits Online
To design and order a customizable MILLIPLEX® kit online:
From the product detail page:
- Click “Design And Price Your Kit.”
- Select your analytes.
- Select MILLIPLEX® kit. Some kits require you to choose your sample type.
- Press “Continue” to review the order and adjust the quantity. You may add custom premixing or space saver packaging if applicable.
- Select “Add To Cart” and proceed to checkout or continue shopping.
From the MILLIPLEX® home page:
- Click “Search MILLIPLEX® Panels”.
- Select your species of interest and research area (optional).
- Select your analytes.
- Select MILLIPLEX® kit from analyte results. Some kits require you to choose your sample type.
- Press “Continue” to review the order and adjust the quantity. You may add custom premixing or space saver packaging if applicable.
- Select “Add To Cart” and proceed to checkout or continue shopping.
Materials Required to Complete Multiplex Workflows But Not Provided
Before you begin your multiplexing workflow, make sure you have all the materials required to run a MILLIPLEX® assay.
General Lab Equipment
- Adjustable pipettes with tips capable of delivering 5 µL to 1,000 µL
- Multichannel pipettes capable of delivering 5 µL to 50 µL or 25 µL to 200 µL (Figure 1)
- Laboratory vortex mixer
- Ultrasonic waterbath (Branson® Ultrasonic Cleaner Model B200 or equivalent)
- Sonicator probes should not be used
- Orbital titer plate shaker
- Automatic Plate Washer for magnetic beads or Handheld Magnetic Separation Block (such as the BioTek® 405 Plate Washer)
Figure 1.Example of a multichannel pipette for quick pipetting.
Luminex® Multiplex Platforms
- Luminex® 200™, MAGPIX®, FLEXMAP 3D®, or xMAP® INTELLIFLEX instruments, with analysis software.
- Belysa® Immunoassay Curve Fitting Software is also compatible with these instruments and offers easy data analysis for MILLIPLEX® assays.
- Sheath fluid (Luminex® 200™, FLEXMAP 3D®, or xMAP® INTELLIFLEX instruments) or drive fluid (MAGPIX® instrument).
- Sheath Fluid PLUS or Drive Fluid PLUS can be reordered directly from us:
- Before you open a MILLIPLEX® kit, check your instrument to be sure it has been properly calibrated and maintained.
- All Luminex® instruments using xMAP® technology, operating on xPONENT® software, require regular calibration and performance verification testing to ensure that the system is operating correctly and maintaining data accuracy.
- Maintenance kits for Luminex® instruments are available directly from us:
For questions or issues with Luminex® instruments, contact Luminex® Technical Support:
Phone: 512-381-4397 Toll-free: 1-877-785-2323
Email: support@luminexcorp.com
Bead Washers
Bead washer (either automated or manual):
- Automated magnetic bead plate washers:
- Handheld magnetic separator blocks:
Figure 2.BioTek® MultiFlo™ FX Automated Reagent Dispenser.
For questions or issues with BioTek® washers, contact BioTek® Technical Support:
- In North America: (800) 242-4685
- Outside the U.S.: (802) 655-4740
- Email: TAC@biotek.com
Please visit the Technical Support page to find your regional Technical Support Team, or contact your Sales Specialist.
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