The University of Maryland Cytokine Core Laboratory (CCL) was established March 31, 1995. The CCL is a full-service research core laboratory focused on the measurement of cytokines and growth factors using immunoassays.

The laboratory is located in 500 square feet of high quality laboratory space in the MSTF research building located on the campus of the University of Maryland, Baltimore. The CCL has offered this assay service to University of Maryland investigators as well as to extramural investigators from across the United States and several other countries.

The CCL scientific/business model utilizes commercial bulk reagents, rather than high-cost pre-made kits, to create our optimized in-house assays. The use of robotics to set-up assays insures high precision and high throughput. Pricing structure is based on high volume and low profit margin. High volume also allows us to negotiate for lower reagent costs, providing further reductions in the final price our assays.

In 2003, we added a Luminex 100 Multiplex System in order to offer our customers a more flexible and extensive route for cytokine measurement.

In 2003 we were pleased to begin offering out clients the option of having their samples assayed by the Luminex 100 System. This is a multiplex system that allows the testing of several cytokines and growth factors on a small sample volume. Because of this results can be obtained quickly and this can be more cost effective that buying traditional ELISA kits. The system utilizes fluorescent microbeads and reporter molecules in order to detect multiple cytokines and growth factors in one sample.

Data is for research purposes only and is not intended for diagnostic use.