The Uses and Misuses of Multiplex Autoantibody Assays in Systemic Autoimmune Rheumatic Diseases

Autoantibodies to cellular constituents are the serological hallmark in systemic autoimmune rheumatic diseases (1). They are often associated with certain diagnosis, clinical features, or disease activity and considered as clinically useful biomarkers. Autoantibody immunoassays have been used extensively for over 50 years with continuous changes in technologies and antigens used. While standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is still commonly used in practice, migration to multiplex immunoassays is the direction that many companies and laboratories are moving toward. Althoughmultiplex assays havemany advantages over conventional assays, there are also problems that may cause confusions among clinicians and researchers. In this Opinion Article, advantages and current problems in the use of multiplex immunoassays are discussed.