Custom Assay Development
Your Targets. Ultrasensitive Results.

When off-the-shelf panels don't cover your target, we build it. Using the NULISAqpcr platform with customer-provided or sourced antibodies, Ascend Biosciences develops custom single-plex and multiplex biomarker assays with fg/mL sensitivity — tailored precisely to your research needs.

fg/mL sensitivity Customer or sourced antibodies Custom targets Expert support Minimal sample input

Why Custom Assay Development

Purpose-Built for Your Biology

The NULISAqpcr Custom Assay Development service gives you the sensitivity of NULISA technology with the flexibility to target any protein you choose.

🎯

Unmatched Sensitivity

Detect ultra-low abundance targets at fg/mL concentrations — capabilities impossible with standard ELISA or conventional multiplex platforms. Ideal for rare biomarkers in precious clinical samples.

🧫

Minimal Sample Input

Cost-effective and sample-sparing by design. Run high-sensitivity assays from minimal input volumes — critical for rare biospecimens, pediatric samples, and CSF where sample availability is limited.

🔗

Multi-Target Detection

Flexibility to conjugate multiple antibody pairs and measure several targets simultaneously. Combine custom targets with existing NULISA panels for a comprehensive biomarker readout in one run.

🤝

Expert Development Support

From initial antibody pair design and conjugation through QC, validation, and data analysis — our scientific team supports every step of your custom assay development project.

NULISAqpcr Technology

Fully Customizable, High-Sensitivity Proteomics

The NULISAqpcr Custom Assay Development service provides researchers with a flexible solution for creating targeted biomarker assays with high sensitivity and precision. Scientists use their own antibodies to create assays tailored to their individual research — whether exploring immunology, neurology, oncology, or any other field.

Assays are run on the ARGO HT System, delivering automated, high-throughput performance with the reproducibility and sensitivity NULISA is known for.

Use your own validated antibody pairs, or we can help source suitable antibodies for your target

Barcoded oligonucleotide conjugation enables precise, specific detection

Assay run on ARGO HT — automated, high-throughput, reproducible

Offline analysis with integrated cloud-based analytics pipeline

Compatible with plasma, serum, CSF, tissue lysate, cell culture supernatant, aqueous humor

Discuss Your Project →

Common Applications

🔬

Novel Biomarker ValidationYour discovery identified a promising target not in any existing panel — we build the assay to validate it.

💊

Drug Development & PK/PDMeasure therapeutic drug levels or pharmacodynamic biomarkers with fg/mL precision in clinical samples.

🧠

CNS & Rare BiomarkersUltra-low abundance neurological targets in CSF or blood that exceed the sensitivity limits of standard assays.

🐭

Preclinical ResearchCustom mouse or rat assays where no validated panel exists for your specific target of interest.

📊

Companion DiagnosticsDevelop and validate assays to support IVD or companion diagnostic programs with reproducible, quantitative data.

Development Process

From Antibody to Assay in 6 Steps

A streamlined, proven workflow built on the NULISAqpcr platform — from antibody curation to data delivery.

Step 01

Curate

Select specific, high-affinity antibody pairs for your target(s). Customers may provide their own validated antibodies, or our team can advise on and help source suitable antibody pairs to maximize assay performance.

Step 02

Conjugate

Synthetic, barcoded oligonucleotides are conjugated to your antibody pairs using the NULISAqpcr chemistry — enabling highly specific, nucleic acid-amplified detection.

Step 03

Rigorous quality control to determine assay performance metrics — sensitivity, dynamic range, linearity, and reproducibility — before moving to sample testing.

Step 04

Load

Simple, streamlined sample preparation and loading onto the ARGO HT System. Minimal hands-on time with an automated, standardized workflow.

Step 05

Run

High-throughput sample processing on the ARGO HT instrument. Automated liquid handling and detection delivers consistent, reproducible results at scale.

Step 06

Analyze

Data analyzed through an integrated, cloud-based analytics pipeline. Results delivered as normalized, QC-checked data ready for downstream statistical analysis and publication.

Who This Is For

Built for Researchers Who Need More

🎓 Academic Researchers

Studying novel targets, rare diseases, or emerging biomarkers that aren't covered by any commercial panel. Custom assay development lets you apply NULISA sensitivity to your specific biology.

💼 Pharma & Biotech

Drug programs requiring quantification of therapeutic biologics, PD biomarkers, or safety markers at ultra-low concentrations in clinical trial samples.

🔭 Biomarker Discovery Teams

Following up on discovery hits that need a targeted, validated assay for cohort-scale validation — bridging from Olink or NULISA discovery data to focused custom measurement.

🐭 Preclinical Scientists

Running mouse or rat studies where validated commercial panels don't exist for your target. Custom development enables consistent cross-species biomarker tracking.

Custom Assay vs Off-the-Shelf Panels

Not sure whether to use a standard NULISA panel or develop a custom assay? Here's a quick guide — or contact us and we'll recommend the best approach for your project.

Choose a standard panel when

Your targets are covered by an existing NULISA or Olink panel, you need broad discovery coverage, or your study timeline doesn't allow for assay development.

Choose custom development when

Your specific target isn't in any commercial panel, you need ultra-sensitivity beyond standard assay limits, you have validated antibody pairs to leverage, or you require a companion diagnostic-grade assay.

Feature	Standard Panel	Custom Assay
Target flexibility	Fixed panel	Any target
Sensitivity	fg/mL	fg/mL
Time to results	2–3 weeks	Development + run time
Antibodies	Provided	Customer-provided or we help source
Validation	Pre-validated	Custom validation included
Best for	Discovery & broad profiling	Novel targets & validation