Choose Your Immunoassay Based on Your Research Goal
Choosing the right immunoassay starts with your research objective. Whether you are conducting early-stage biomarker discovery, target validation, or high-throughput multiplexing, or generating rapid, reproducible quantitative data, our high-performance assay platforms deliver publication-grade data you can trust. Built with rigorously tested in-house antibodies and proteins, our assays are designed to deliver accurate, reproducible, and high-quality results every time.
Use the interactive guide to find your ideal immunoassay solution in three questions or less.
For comprehensive resources on developing immunoassays, visit our Immunoassay Development Solutions.
Need more detail?
Now that you’ve identified the type of assay for your needs, explore the table below to compare additional key features and specifications to see how your selection aligns with your research requirements.
Additional Platform Feature and Specifications
| DuoSet ELISA Development Kits | QuantiKine ELISA Kits | Simple Plex Assays | Luminex Assays | Proteome Profiler Arrays | Simple Western Assays | |
| Instrument Required | Plate Reader | Plate Reader | Ella | Luminex System | Imaging System | Abby, Jess, Leo |
| Method of detection | Colorimetric | Colorimetric | Fluorescence | Fluorescence | Chemiluminescence | Chemiluminescence and fluorescence |
| Hands-on time | 2 hrs | 30 mins | 20 mins | 1 hr | 2 hrs | 30 mins |
| Total assay run time | 20 hrs | 1.5- 5 hrs | 1.5 hrs | 4 hrs | 20 hrs | 3 hrs |
| Plex level per sample | 1 | 1 | Up to 8 | Up to 50 | Up to 119 | Up to 24 (plus total protein) |
| Minimum required sample volume | 10-200 µl | 10-200 µl | 2.5-25 µl | 50 µl | 50-500 µl | 3 µl |
| Protein Size Measurement | No | No | No | No | No | Yes |
| Throughput and Format | 96-well plate | 96-well plate | 16-, 32-, and 72-sample cartridge | 96- or 384- well plate
| 1 sample per membrane | Up to 100 capillaries |
| Intracellular and extra-cellular proteins | Extra-cellular, Secreted | Extra-cellular, Secreted
| Extra-cellular, Secreted
| Extra-cellular, Secreted
| Intra- and extra-cellular proteins
| Intra- and extra-cellular proteins |
| Most common sample types | Serum, plasma, cell culture supernatants | Serum, plasma, cell culture supernatants, other biofluids
| Serum, plasma, CSF
| Serum, plasma
| Cell and tissue lysates
| Cell and tissue lysates |
ELISA Kits
Single Analyte
Legendary reproducibility has helped make the Quantikine ELISA Kits the most trusted name in ELISA kits. Carefully selected antibody pairs and optimally formulated diluents help ensure accurate and reproducible results from one experiment to the next. Choose from over 1,200 target analytes.
Multiplex Luminex Assays
Multi-analyte
Our Luminex Assays are designed to maximize multiplexing capacity and flexibility while maintaining assay specificity. Personalize your Luminex panel with the largest, mix and match menu on the market. Choose from >490 analytes across multiple species.
Automated Simple Plex Assays
Multi-Analyte and Single Analyte
Simple Plex Assays on the Ella Platform deliver precise, automated immunoassays with ready-to-go cartridges for analysis of up to 8 analytes per sample. Get reproducible results in under 90 minutes with no manual steps, choosing from 380+ analytes across multiple species.
Matched Antibody Pairs
Single Analyte
Matched antibody pairs are capture and detection antibodies selected to bind non-overlapping epitopes of the same target, providing a starting point for sandwich ELISA and custom immunoassay development. All R&D Systems™ matched antibody pairs are rigorously validated for use in ELISA applications. Choose from over 600 target analytes.
Simple Western Assays
Single or Multiplex Western Assays
Automated capillary western systems powered by Simple Western technology provide absolute quantitation to measure endogenous protein expression in cell or tissue lysates. Process up to 96 samples in 3 hours with only 3 µL of lysate samples.
Proteome Profiler Antibody Arrays
Multiplex Arrays
Proteome Profiler Antibody Arrays are multiplex membrane assays for early-stage discovery research, measuring over 100 proteins per sample. Kits include buffers, detection antibodies, and membranes spotted in duplicate with high-quality capture antibodies. Arrays utilize chemiluminescence for detection, and are imaged similar to traditional Western blots.
Choose Your Path: Build Your Immunoassay Journey
The right immunoassay strategy depends on your research goals. Some studies require broad profiling of multiple biomarkers to understand complex biology, while others focus on precise measurement of a specific target. R&D Systems offers workflows for both multiplex and single-analyte research, enabling you to move from discovery through validation with trusted assay solutions designed for every stage of your project.
Multiplex Research Path: Multiplex Immunoassays Assays
When studying complex biological processes, measuring multiple proteins simultaneously can provide a more complete understanding of pathways, immune responses, and disease mechanisms. The multiplex workflow helps researchers move from broad biomarker screening to quantitative verification and highly reproducible validation using complementary immunoassay platforms.
Best for:
- Discovery studies (eg: biomarker discovery)
- Pathway analysis,
- Immune profiling
- Systems-level biology
- Translational research
- Biomarker measurement
Single-Analyte Research Path: Single Analyte Immunoassays
When research focuses on a specific protein of interest, single-analyte assays provide the sensitivity, precision, and validation needed for confident decision-making. This workflow supports progression from early target exploration to highly validated quantitative measurements.
Best for:
- Target validation
- Mechanistic studies
- Translational research
- Highly reproducible biomarker measurement
- Longitudinal sample analysis
- Quality control testing
- Manufacturing and process development
Switch Immunoassay Platforms with Confidence
We offer a full catalog of immunoassay solutions so you can find the best platform for your needs. When your needs change, you can also move between platforms with confidence and consistency in your results. High-Performance Luminex Assays and Simple Plex Cartridges are both correlated to the gold standard Quantikine ELISA. Whether you are starting with a multiplex assay or single analyte, we have your current and future needs covered.
Seamless correlation across platforms: Human serum levels of IFN-gamma was measured using High Sensitivity Quantikine ELISA, High-Performance Luminex Assay, and Simple Plex assays. The results show a tight correlation across the three types of immunoassays, with R2 values of >0.979.
Build your Immunoassay Workflow: Bundle and Save
No single instrument covers every stage of a research program. Bundling the right instruments gives your lab access to hundreds of analytes across species, including targets unique to each platform, while providing the flexibility to screen broadly, confirm priority targets, or use either platform end to end. With both assay menus available, you can build the workflow around your research needs rather than the limitations of a single instrument. Whichever bundle you choose, you’ll also receive complimentary data analysis software, expert training, and technical support for both platforms from R&D Systems.
Ella + Luminex
Pair the automated precision of Ella with the multiplex power of Luminex®. Bundle Ella with your choice of four Luminex instruments, selecting the platform that best fits your plex, throughput, and budget needs.
| Ella |
+ Pick Your Luminex Instrument | MAGPIX® RUO | Luminex 200® | FLEXMAP3D® | INTELLIFLEX® |
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| Always Included | Compact, most budget-friendly | Affordable workhorse, most popular installed instrument | Advanced and versatile, higher throughput formats | Most advanced, widest dynamic range |
Ella + Simple Western
Bundle Ella with your choice of Simple Western instrument, selecting the platform that best fits your throughput, sample type, and analysis needs. Together they deliver both high-sensitivity quantitation and size-based characterization from the same low-volume samples all through fully automated, walk-away workflows that maximize data per sample while minimizing hands-on time.
| Ella |
+ Pick Your Simple Western Instrument | Jess | Abby | Leo |
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Always Included
| Flexible, Multiplexing
| Budget friendly | High-throughput quantitative analysis |
Custom Immunoassay Development Services
When off-the-shelf reagents aren't enough, R&D Systems partners with you to build immunoassays around your exact targets and specifications. Backed by decades of assay development expertise and global manufacturing capabilities, our custom services span single-analyte ELISA kits, multiplex Luminex® panels, automated Simple Plex assays, and bespoke antibody development delivering tailored, validated solutions that accelerate your research. Explore the services below to find the right fit for your project
Custom Luminex® Assay Services
Immunoassay Quality
Learn about the 4 essentials of immunoassay quality- spike recovery, dilution linearity, specificity and consistency.
Assay Insider Newsletter
Assay Insider, your go-to newsletter for staying up-to-date on the latest developments in immunoassays from R&D Systems. Each issue features industry news, new resources, tips and tricks, customer stories, new and featured products.
Immunoassay Solutions
Explore R&D Systems Immunoassay solutions from discovery to validation.
Immunoassay Development
Identify the possible causes of your issue and follow our recommended troubleshooting steps to help ensure a successful immunoassay experiment.
Luminex Assay Guide
The Luminex Assays User Guide offers insights on choosing the right multiplex assay and ensuring consistent, reliable performance.
Simple Plex Assay Guide
Simple Plex assays are hands-free, single or multi-analyte with no cross-reactivity, and reproducible even across multiple labs.
ELISA Kit Guide
A clear, comprehensive guide to ELISAs. Learn about different ELISA formats, controls, best practices, and troubleshooting.
Simple Western Brochure
Learn more about Simple Western Technology and how to achieve automated quantitative western analysis.