Advanced multiplexed analysis with the FlowMetrix system.

The FlowMetrix System is a multiplexed data acquisition and analysis platform for flow cytometric analysis of microsphere-based assays that performs simultaneous measurement of up to 64 different analytes. The system consists of 64 distinct sets of fluorescent microspheres and a standard benchtop flow cytometer interfaced with a personal computer containing a digital signal processing board and Windows95-based software. Individual sets of microspheres can be modified with reactive components such as antigens, antibodies, or oligonucleotides, and then mixed to form a multiplexed assay set. The digital signal-processing hardware and Windows95-based software provide complete control of the flow cytometer and perform real-time data processing, allowing multiple independent reactions to be analyzed simultaneously. The system has been used to perform qualitative and quantitative immunoassays for multiple serum proteins in both capture and competitive inhibition assay formats. The system has also been used to perform DNA sequence analysis by multiplexed competitive hybridization with 16 different sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes.