Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 13, 2026
06:50
A High-Throughput Electrochemiluminescence 7-Plex Assay Simultaneously Screening for Type 1 Diabetes and Multiple Autoimmune Diseases
Published on: May 29, 2020
Comparison between multiplex assays for autoantibody detection in systemic lupus erythematosus
John G Hanly1, Li Su, Vern Farewell
1Division of Rheumatology, Capital Health and Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada. john.hanly@cdha.nshealth.ca
Journal of Immunological Methods
|May 5, 2010
Summary
Three multiplexed immunoassays for autoantibodies in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) showed reasonable agreement. However, significant differences were found in associations with disease activity and nephritis, particularly for key autoantibodies like anti-dsDNA.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Rheumatology
- Clinical Chemistry
Background:
- Accurate detection of autoantibodies is crucial for diagnosing and managing systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).
- Multiplexed immunoassays offer a method to measure multiple autoantibodies simultaneously, but their comparative performance requires evaluation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare the performance of three multiplexed immunoassays in detecting autoantibodies associated with SLE.
- To assess the association of these autoantibodies with global disease activity, lupus nephritis, and cumulative organ damage in SLE patients.
Main Methods:
- Stored sera from 192 SLE patients in a long-term registry were analyzed.
- Three multiplexed assays (Bio-Rad, INOVA Diagnostics, Mikrogen) were used to measure autoantibodies including anti-dsDNA, anti-chromatin, and others.
- Disease activity was assessed using SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), and organ damage using SLICC/ACR damage index (SDI).
Main Results:
- Overall agreement between the three assays for autoantibody detection was reasonable, ranging from 70% to 99%.
- Significant associations were observed between SLEDAI scores and various autoantibodies (ANA, anti-dsDNA, anti-chromatin, anti-Sm, anti-U1-RNP).
- Concurrent lupus nephritis showed association with anti-dsDNA, and differences in assay associations with disease activity and nephritis were noted.
Conclusions:
- While multiplexed immunoassays show reasonable agreement for autoantibody detection in SLE, assay-specific differences exist.
- These differences impact the association of autoantibodies with SLE disease activity and nephritis, highlighting the need for careful assay selection.
- No significant association was found between autoantibodies and cumulative organ damage (SDI).
