Whole blood assay services
Whole blood assays provide a physiologically relevant platform for studying immune responses and compound activity in a complex human biological environment. By analysing immune cell activation, cytokine release and functional responses directly in fresh human whole blood, researchers can obtain insights that are often difficult to reproduce using isolated cell cultures.
At BioMedha, we develop and perform human whole blood assays using freshly collected donor samples from our on-site blood donor panel. These assays enable drug discovery teams to investigate immune responses, compound activity and potential immune safety profiling during early-stage research.
Why whole blood assays are important in drug discovery
Whole blood assays preserve the natural interactions between immune cells, serum proteins, platelets and other blood components. This allows researchers to evaluate immune responses within a system that closely reflects the human physiological environment.
Compared with assays using isolated immune cells or immortalised cell lines, ex vivo whole blood assays can provide valuable insight into:
Compound activity, potency, and efficacy
Immune functional response
Cytokine release and signalling pathways
Biomarker and target expression
Immune-mediated or compound induced toxicity
Translational immune responses to small molecules and biologics
Whole blood assays are particularly useful during early drug discovery, immunology, immuno-oncology, and inflammation research, where understanding immune activation or inhibition or immune safety risks is critical.
Whole blood assay platform at BioMedha
BioMedha offers robust whole blood assay services designed to support immunology and translational research programmes.
Key capabilities include:
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Fresh whole blood collected from consented healthy donors
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On-site blood donor panel enabling same-day sample collection
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Assays performed using human blood donor sample within couple hours of collection
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Integration with multiple detection platforms including:
Luminex multiplex cytokine analysis
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Flow cytometry
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ELISA
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AlphaLISA
These platforms allow researchers to analyse immune responses across multiple immune cell types while maintaining the biological complexity of whole blood.
Example whole blood assay case studies
The following examples summarise representative assay readouts developed at BioMedha using human donor whole blood.
IL-1β cytokine release assay
Figure-1: IL-1β levels by ELISA
CD11b activation (Flow Cytometry)
Figure-2: CD11b+ activation by Flowcytometry
Phagocytosis assay
Figure-3: Phagocytosis by Flowcytometry
MMP-9 activation
Figure-4: MMP-9 activation (AlphaLISA)
Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) inhibition
Figure-5: AchE inhibition (ELISA)
CD45 cytotoxicity
Figure-6: CD45+ cytotoxicity by Flowcytometry
Cytokine secretion profiling
Figure-7: Cytokine secretion analysis (Luminex multiplexing)
Immunophenotyping
Figure-8: Immunophenotyping by flowcytometry
Immunology assays using human whole blood
Using freshly collected human whole blood provides a powerful tool for understanding immune responses in a biologically relevant context.
Because multiple immune cell populations and soluble mediators remain present, whole blood assays allow researchers to observe immune activation within a system that better reflects human in vivo biology.
These assays can support studies including:
Cytokine release assessment
Signaling pathway and immune mechanism-of-action studies
Compound activity profiling
Immuno phenotyping
Biomarker analysis
Toxicity assessment
Related immunology assays
- PBMC assays
- Neutrophil assays
- T cell assays
- B cell assays
- Macrophage assays
- Immunogenicity assessment
Discuss your whole blood assay requirements
BioMedha provides specialist immunology CRO services supporting early-stage drug discovery programmes.
If you are exploring immune responses and compound activity in human whole blood and immune cell models, our scientists can help design a study aligned with your research objectives.