BD Immunoassay Reagents: CBA, ELISA & ELISPOT for Cytokine Panels

As a BD distributor, Iright brings together BD’s core immunoassay formats—Cytometric Bead Array (CBA), ELISA, and ELISPOT—so you can quantify cytokines, chemokines, complement factors, and cell-secreted analytes with confidence. This collection page helps you choose faster, verify SKUs, and request quotes backed by expert technical support.

What These BD Immunoassay Reagents Do for Cytokine Analysis

Across discovery, immunology, and translational workflows, you often need either multiplex breadth, single-analyte precision, or single-cell readouts. BD’s portfolio mirrors those needs: CBA for multiplexed bead-based quantification by flow cytometry, OptEIA™ ELISAs for sensitive plate assays, and ELISPOT for enumerating secreting cells.

BD Product Families at a Glance: CBA vs ELISA vs ELISPOT

Choosing a family starts with the biological question and your instruments. The matrix below summarizes typical use cases, advantages, and where each method shines. Use it as a quick orientation before you drill down into panels, kits, and required components.

Family overview (quick reference)

• CBA (Cytometric Bead Array) – Multiplex, small sample input, rapid turnaround on a flow cytometer; examples include Human/Mouse Inflammatory Cytokine kits and Flex Sets.
  

• ELISA (OptEIA™) – High sensitivity and straightforward quantification with standard microplate readers; e.g., Human C3a ELISA Kit (Cat. No. 550499).
  

• ELISPOT – Detects and counts cytokine-secreting cells at single-cell resolution; e.g., Human IFN-γ ELISPOT Set (Cat. No. 551849) or Pair (551873).

How to Choose: Assay Selector for Multiplex vs Single-Analyte Needs

Start with target count and available equipment. If you need double-digit cytokines from tiny volumes, bead-based multiplexing is efficient; for one to a few targets, ELISA’s simplicity wins. Single-cell function mapping calls for ELISPOT, provided you have access to a compatible reader or imaging workflow.

Selector checklist

• Targets per run: ≥10 analytes → CBA; 1–3 analytes → ELISA; per-cell secretion → ELISPOT.
• Samples & volume: Scarce serum/plasma/supernatant favors CBA’s multiplexing efficiency. 
  BD Biosciences
• Instruments: Flow cytometer → CBA; plate reader → ELISA; ELISPOT reader → ELISPOT. 
  
• Performance needs: Consider sensitivity, linear range, and CVs stated in each kit’s IFU.

Popular Panels & Kits: Cytokine/Chemokine Panels, Flex Sets & OptEIA

Below are frequently selected kits with catalog numbers exactly as listed by BD. Use them to anchor your shortlists; when you need alternates or species variants, we’ll map equivalents and availability for your region.

Selected BD immunoassay SKUs

Assay Workflow & Required Components (CBA, ELISA, ELISPOT)

Your setup time drops when you stage components up front. The outline below highlights essentials per method, plus any kit-specific requirements (buffer kits, software, or readers) you’ll want on the same PO.

CBA (flow cytometry multiplex)
Typical steps: sample prep → bead incubation with standards/samples → detection mix → wash → acquisition → analysis. Flex Sets must be run with the BD CBA Human Soluble Protein Master Buffer Kit (Cat. No. 558264, 100 tests; 558265, 500 tests) and analyzed with FCAP Array™ (Cat. No. 641488).

ELISA (plate reader)
Steps: add samples/standards → bind analyte and detection antibodies → enzyme-substrate development → read absorbance. The BD OptEIA™ Human C3a ELISA IFU details matrices and performance claims; follow the manual for plate layout and standard curve prep.

ELISPOT (single-cell)
Steps: coat plate → add cells and stimulation → detect secreted cytokine as spots → count with an ELISPOT reader. For IFN-γ, reference the Human IFN-γ ELISPOT Set/Pair documentation for recommended reagents (e.g., BD ELISPOT streptavidin-HRP, Cat. No. 557630).

Trusted Sourcing at Iright & SKU Validation Against BD Catalog

Procurement quality matters when experiments are on the line. We validate SKUs against BD product pages and IFUs, flag region-specific availability, and help confirm alternates when items migrate or consolidate. Share prior POs or labels if you need fast cross-checks for legacy numbers.

What you can expect

• SKUs mirrored from BD sources and IFUs.
• Links to official manuals, standards, and buffer kits for a complete setup.
• Equivalent mapping when kits are updated, discontinued, or region-moved (with audit trail).

Performance & Compliance Notes (RUO, Sensitivity, Linearity)

All products listed here are for Research Use Only unless BD explicitly states otherwise; review each kit’s IFU for sensitivity (LOD/LOQ), linearity, recovery, and recommended matrices or anticoagulants (e.g., EDTA plasma for C3a). Keep instrument class and safety notes in mind when operating lasers or readers.

Quick reminders

• Verify sample type (serum/plasma/supernatant), anticoagulant, and storage conditions.
• Confirm dynamic range meets your biological question.
• Record lot numbers and software versions to streamline QC and reproducibility.

Comparison Table: Throughput, Sensitivity, Hands-On Time & Instruments

Selecting the right format often hinges on trade-offs between breadth, sensitivity, and resources. Use the table to align your next experiment with your constraints and goals before finalizing SKUs.

Compatibility & Sample Types: Serum/Plasma/Supernatant Guidance

Matrix effects can shift assay performance. Match the kit to the intended sample and follow the IFU’s handling and anticoagulant guidance. For example, BD OptEIA™ Human C3a specifies EDTA plasma and other matrices in its manual; CBA kits outline diluents and standard preparation for multiplex curves.

Practical tips

• Standardize collection tubes across cohorts (EDTA vs heparin).
• Pre-clear turbid samples when needed; avoid repeated freeze–thaw.
• Run matrix-matched controls and report dilutions alongside concentrations.

FAQ: CBA vs ELISA, Sample Volume, ELISPOT Readers & More

Below are concise answers to common questions we receive from labs upgrading or standardizing their cytokine pipelines. If you have a specific panel in mind, we’ll tailor an itemized cart with compatible controls and software.

Q1: When should I pick CBA over ELISA?
If you need many cytokines from scarce volume and already have a flow cytometer, CBA saves time and sample while preserving quantitation across targets.

Q2: Do CBA Flex Sets need anything extra?
Yes. Flex Sets require the BD CBA Human Soluble Protein Master Buffer Kit (558264/558265) and are typically analyzed with FCAP Array™ (641488). 

Q3: Which ELISA should I start with for complement biology?
A widely used starting point is the BD OptEIA™ Human C3a ELISA Kit (550499) with clear matrix guidance in the IFU.

Q4: What does ELISPOT add that ELISA/CBA can’t?
ELISPOT measures functional secretion at the single-cell level, revealing responder frequencies that bulk concentration assays may mask. See the Human IFN-γ ELISPOT Set (551849) for reference.