Re: multiplex

To me, "multiplex" means that you are measuring multiple outcomes 
simultaneously.  Thus, if you are measuring different cytokines using 
different colors on the same cells in a single tube, that would be a 
multiplex (cytokine) assay.

Any given assay could be a multiplex assay to one person and not to 
another.  For example, if you are staining PBMC with CD3, CD4, and 
CD8, you might wish to have only a single outcome (the fraction of 
CD3+CD4+CD8- T cells), thus, it is a multicolor "singleplex" assay. 
On the other hand, someone else might use exactly the same stain to 
quantify CD3+CD4+CD8- as well as CD3+CD4-CD8+ T cells; now it becomes 
a multiplex (multicolor) assay (although this is a trivial example).

Any assay must be multiparameter to be multiplex, but a 
multiparameter assay need not be multiplex.

mr

At 8:55 AM -0400 5/18/06, Robert J. Palmer Jr. wrote:
>In my lab we are having a friendly discussion on the derivation and 
>use of the term "multiplex".  What does this term mean and under 
>what conditions is its use appropriate?  For example, does the use 
>of FITC/TRITC/Cy5 qualify as a "multiplex" application?  If so, I 
>would counter that this used to be called, appropriately, 
>"multicolor" so I am not sure why replacement of that previously 
>valid descriptor with the vague (?) term "multiplex" is desirable. 
>How about the use of several flavors of quantum dots?	This 
>application seems to garner the modifier "multiplex" on a frequent 
>basis.  When and how is this different than "multicolor"?
>Thanks for the scientific lingo lesson :) :)!
>Rob Palmer
>--
>Robert J. Palmer Jr., Ph.D.
>Natl Inst Dental Craniofacial Res - Natl Insts Health
>Oral Infection and Immunity Branch
>Bldg 30, Room 310
>30 Convent Drive
>Bethesda MD 20892
>ph 301-594-0025
>fax 301-402-0396


-- 
_____________________________________________
Mario Roederer, Ph.D.
Chief, ImmunoTechnology Section and Flow Cytometry Core
Vaccine Research Center, NIAID, NIH
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