Related Experiment Video
Updated: Dec 21, 2025
Multiplex Cytokine Profiling of Stimulated Mouse Splenocytes Using a Cytometric Bead-based Immunoassay Platform
Published on: November 9, 2017
Variability in the Laboratory Measurement of Cytokines
Vijaya Knight1, Thomas Long2, Qing H Meng3
1From the Department of Pediatrics, Section of Allergy and Immunology, University of Colorado School of Medicine and Children's Hospital Colorado, Aurora (Knight).
Insights
Cytokine testing shows significant variability between methods and labs, especially for interleukin-6, interleukin-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha. Consistent cytokine monitoring requires using the same method and laboratory.
Area of Science:
- Clinical immunology
- Laboratory medicine
- Biomarker analysis
Background:
- Cytokine measurement is crucial for immune monitoring in immunotherapy and assessing inflammatory diseases.
- Current commercial assays and platforms for cytokine analysis lack standardization.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the variability and comparability of commonly used cytokine testing platforms in clinical laboratories.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of 4 cytokines (IL-1, IL-6, IL-8, TNF-α) using data from 6 College of American Pathologists cytokine surveys (2015-2018).
- Interrogation of inter-method and intra-laboratory variability.
Main Results:
- Significant variability observed across testing methods for IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α; IL-1 showed less variability.
- Substantial intra-laboratory variability was also found, with TNF-α measurements exhibiting the highest degree of variation.
Conclusions:
- This study represents the largest method comparison for cytokine measurement to date.
- Significant variations exist across methods, laboratories, and within laboratories for cytokine analysis.
- For serial cytokine monitoring, consistent use of the same method within the same laboratory is recommended.
Context.—:
The measurement of cytokines in clinical laboratories is becoming an increasingly routine part of immune monitoring when administering biologic and cell-based immunotherapies and also for clinical assessment of inflammatory conditions. While a number of commercial assays and platforms are available for cytokine measurement, there is currently little standardization among these analytical methods.
Objective.—:
To characterize the variability and comparability among cytokine testing platforms that are commonly used in clinical laboratories.
Design.—:
We analyzed data for 4 cytokines (interleukin [IL]-1, IL-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha [TNF-α]) from 6 College of American Pathologists cytokine surveys administered from 2015 to 2018. Analyses interrogated variability between testing methods and variability within each laboratory across the mailings.
Results.—:
Significant variability was noted across methods with analysis of IL-1 showing the least variability and IL-6, IL-8, and TNF-α varying between methods to a greater extent. Intralab variability was also significant with TNF-α measurements again showing the greatest variability.
Conclusions.—:
This retrospective analysis of College of American Pathologists proficiency testing data for cytokine measurement is the largest method comparison to date, and this study provides a description of the variation of cytokine measurement across methods, across laboratories, and within laboratories. Serial monitoring of cytokines should preferentially be performed by the same method within the same laboratory.
Related Concept Videos
01:11Variability: Analysis
The range is a simple measure of variability, indicating the difference between the highest and...
01:20Measurement of Bioavailability: Pharmacodynamic Methods
01:30Measurement of Bioavailability: Pharmacokinetic Methods