Immunology at the RBL

The RBL Immunology Unit is a service component of the Regional Biocontainment Laboratory at Duke (housed in the GHRB). In addition to providing access to specialized instrumentation for multiplex assays, ELISAs, and Real-Time PCR, this unit assists investigators with design and implementation of molecular, protein, and cellular assays to quantify immune reconstitution or immune responses in vitro and in vivo. 
 
Unit Manager:  

Barbara Theriot, MS

919-681-9099

Commercial Luminex assays 

  • Full service from sample to data (plasma, serum, cell supernatant, tissue homogenate, cerebrospinal fluid, urine, lavage fluid...)

  • Assay read only service also available (FlexMAP 3D and Intelliflex DR-SE instruments)

  • BSL2 and BSL3, Select Agents

Labeling of Luminex beads with antigens or antibodies

Quantigene assays

Meso Scale Discovery (MSD) assays

  • 96-well format only

  • Full service from sample to data (plasma, serum, cell supernatant, tissue homogenate, cerebrospinal fluid, lavage fluid…)

  • Assay read-only service also available (MESO QuickPlex SQ 120MM instrument)

ELISAs

  • Commercial ELISA kits

  • Laboratory-developed endpoint titer ELISAs

  • Automated high-throughput ELISAs using a BioMek i7 liquid handler

Multimode plate reader use

  • BioTek Synergy H1 96- and 384-well reader with automated plate loader

  • Molecular Devices SpectraMax Plus 384 absorbance reader with automated plate loader

ELISPot and FluoroSpot reader use

  • ImmunoSpot Ultra M2 reader for double-color Enzymatic ELISPot or Three-Color FluoroSpot

Real-time thermocycler use

Quantitative signal joint T Cell Receptor Excision Circle (sjTREC) analysis (mouse, human, NHP, swine)

Sample preparation

  • Plasma, serum, or PBMC prep from whole blood

  • Tissue specimen prep/homogenization

  • Nucleic acid extraction

  • Bead-based cell separation

Influenza Assay / Animal Model Request (form link)

  • To be used by CIVICS investigators to submit requests for animal studies and RUO assay support
  • Download required RUO assay sample submission manifest 

Please Note: These links/forms are for the exclusive use of Duke CIVICS program investigators. 

Use Fees/Rates

Current approved rates for Duke Investigators can be seen in CoreResearch@Duke (Core D-0002)

CoreResearch@Duke can also be used to request a cost estimate for grant or contract proposals

Service Requests and Estimates

Internal Duke users:  

External Non-Profit Institution users:

  • A signed Research Analysis Quote and Agreement (RAQA) and Purchase Order (PO) will be needed from your institution
  • Contact the RBL Immunology Unit for a price quote to get the process started.

Non-Duke For-Profit Entity users:

  • Duke Shared Resources can only provide services to For-Profit Entities under a signed Sponsored Research Agreement (SRA)
  • The collaborative research project must have a defined research question, scope of work, budget, and timeline
  • Contact the RBL Immunology Unit to get the process started

Luminex Assay Kit Finder Tool

Directions to the RBL and Parking Information (contact us)

How to acknowledge work done in our facility:

Please acknowledge our facility in any publications/presentations:  “____ was performed in the Regional Biocontainment Laboratory (RBL) at Duke University, which received partial support for construction and renovation from the National Institutes of Health (UC6-AI058607 and G20-AI167200), and facility support from the National Institutes of Health (UC7-AI180254).”