Flow Cytometry Testing
Flow cytometry can be used to determine which cell population is prevalent in the monitored immune response by e.g., surface marker as well as intracellular cytokine staining (ICS). In addition, Flow Cytometry can be used to evaluate peptide binding using multimers, pentamers. We perform all these different types of assays. In addition at CTL we can use multiplexed analyte measurements by Cytometric Bead Array (CBA) to quantify multiple proteins (such as cytokines) simultaneously. Antibody-coated beads capture the analytes of interest. Each bead in the array has a unique fluorescence intensity allowing to run multiple different beads simultaneously in a single tube reducing the sample volume needed in comparison to traditional ELISA and Western blot techniques. The elevated concentration of cytokine or analytes of interest may be detected in the serum or plasma of individuals that e.g., experience inflammation or other pathologic conditions. CTL contract laboratory has for example validated CBA panels for testing human IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF, MCP-1 (CCL2) and Mig (CXCL9) in serum, plasma or cell culture supernatants. We can run any other analytes of interest to which beads are available.
A strength of Flow Cytometry is that it can be used in conjunction with ELISPOT to further evaluate the immune response as cell culture supernatants from ELISPOT plates or other biological fluids, whether it be serum or plasma, can be tested. Flow Cytometry is a technique that can help provide a more complete understanding of a subject’s immune response and is especially useful if the T cell response is large, i.e., too numerous to count using the ELISPOT assay readout.
Together these diverse assays CTL performs complement each other and can provide a comprehensive view of a subject’s immune response.
Flow cytometer assays we perform:
- Surface marker staining
- Intracellular staining
- Intracellular cytokine staining (ICS)
- Multimers, pentamers evaluations
- Cytometric Bead Array (CBA)
- Validated CBA panels for testing human IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IL-17, IFN-γ, TNF, MCP-1 (CCL2) and Mig (CXCL9) in serum, plasma or cell culture supernatants.