Scientific poster: Transforming autoimmune research with ultrasensitive biomarker quantification

Biomarkers General interest News
Scientific poster: Transforming autoimmune research with ultrasensitive biomarker quantification

This scientific poster illustrates the simultaneous detection of two low-abundant blood biomarkers, IL-6 and TNF-α, in apparently healthy and disease plasma and serum samples using the ultrasensitive FemtoQuest™ system and SMC® technology.

This high sensitivity assay is needed to detect such biomarkers, as they are of low abundance in plasma/serum samples, helping advance autoimmune disease research. These new findings demonstrate how the SMC® 2-plex assay exhibits superior sensitivity, as compared to the MILLIPLEX® Human Cytokine/Chemokine/Growth Factor Panel A and Conferma® ELISA, providing an avenue for more detailed biomarker analysis. Notably, this higher sensitivity assay was able to differentiate between TNF-α and IL-6 levels, where only TNF-α was elevated in rheumatoid and psoriatic arthritis samples.

Overall, using SMC® technology coupled with the new FemtoQuest™ system enables simultaneous dual-plex analysis of low-abundant cytokines, leading to the ability to explore new interactions between immune factors associated with chronic autoimmune diseases and more.

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For Research Use Only. Not For Use In Diagnostic Procedures. 

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The Life Science business of Merck operates as MilliporeSigma in the US and Canada. 

© 2026 Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany and/or its affiliates. All Rights Reserved. The vibrant M, Millipore, Conferma, FemtoQuest, MILLIPLEX and SMCxPRO are trademarks of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany or its affiliates.