A semiautomated microfluidic ELISA for the detection of hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis biomarkers

Abstract

Abstract Objectives Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a rare, life-threatening condition characterized by a massive overactivation of the immune system. Because the clinical findings are nonspecific, the development of assays to facilitate rapid diagnosis is critical for patient care. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the performance of a microfluidic enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for HLH biomarkers and investigate the impact of insourcing this testing on workflow, cost, and turnaround time in a tertiary-care cancer hospital. Methods Trends in order volume were evaluated for C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 9 (CXCL9) and soluble interleukin 2 receptor ɑ (sIL2R), and a microfluidic ELISA was used to measure these analytes in serum samples. Analyte values, turnaround time, and costs were compared for this assay relative to reference laboratory testing. Results Test ordering has increased from 187 to 1030 requests annually over the past 5 years. Insourcing these analytes on a semiautomated ELISA can decrease time to result by approximately 2 days and generate a cost savings of roughly $140,000 annually within our laboratory. Conclusions Using a semiautomated ELISA for sIL2R and CXCL9 may help physicians arrive at a diagnosis and monitor therapy for patients with HLH while decreasing turnaround time and costs within the clinical laboratory.