Luminex Life Science Assays

About xMAP Technology

Luminex’s xMAP technology is built on proven, existing technology that have been combined in a unique way. Featuring a flexible, open-architecture design, xMAP technology can be configured to perform a wide variety of bioassays quickly, cost-effectively and accurately.

The Luminex reader combines two lasers, fluidics, and real-time digital signal processing to distinguish up to 100 different sets of color-coded polystyrene beads, each bearing a different assay. The Luminex reader is an essential tool that performs the key functions of this multiplex technology.

Fluidics — The reader detects individual beads by flow cytometry. The fluidics system of the reader aligns the beads into single file as they enter a stream of sheath fluid and then enter a flow cell. Once the beads are in single file within the flow cell, each bead is individually interrogated for bead color (analyte) and assay signal strength (PE fluorescence intensity).

Lasers — The reader uses a 532 nm green laser (“assay” laser) is used to excite the PE dye of

the assay (Streptavidin-PE). The 635 nm solid state laser (red “classify” laser) is used to excite

the dyes inside the beads to determine their “color” or “region” and is also used for doublet

discrimination by light scatter

Detectors — The reader has four detectors, one for each of the optical paths shown in the figure below. Detectors are used to measure the fluorescence of the assay, to make bead determination (1-100) and the last to discriminate between single and aggregate beads.