Cytometric Bead Arrays

Cytometric bead arrays for multiplex cytokine quantification on your existing flow cytometer

Bead-based arrays couple capture antibodies to beads with a defined size and fluorochrome combination, giving you multiplex protein measurement without buying extra instruments, and they work with most standard flow cytometers. You incubate your sample with the bead mixture, add biotinylated detection antibodies, and a PE-conjugated streptavidin reporter generates a signal proportional to the captured protein, which you quantify against a standard curve. Premade panels are available for human, mouse, and rat samples, or you can build customised arrays from a large library of validated antibody pairs covering cytokines, chemokines, growth factors, and signalling proteins. Magnetic bead variants use a magnetic separator for automated washing, reducing hands-on time and letting you integrate the assay with liquid handling systems.

Pick by panel and flow cytometer.

1. Panel composition. Pre-designed disease-focused versus user-mixed à la carte; panel breadth typically 4 to 40.
2. Sample volume. 25 to 50 microliters typical; verify your sample volume budget.
3. Flow cytometer compatibility. 2-laser standard adequate; some arrays require 3-laser for full discrimination.
4. Quantification. Standard-curve based. Include spike-in recovery controls.
5. Use case. Choose CBA when flow access is easier than Luminex and a modest panel size is sufficient.

RayBiotech is the dominant supplier in this inventory.