What Is Research Sample Testing, and Is It Right for Your Study?
If you’re generating biological samples but lack the equipment, validated assays, or bandwidth to analyze them yourself, Arbor Assays provides fee-for-service sample analysis across a wide range of biological matrices using ELISA, detection, and activity assays.
What does a sample testing service actually do?
A sample testing service takes samples you’ve already collected and runs them through validated assays to produce quantitative data. You’re not purchasing kits to run yourself. Arbor Assays provides the instrumentation, reagents, technical expertise, and quality checkpoints, you provide well-prepared samples and clear project goals.
Who is this service designed for?
Research sample testing serves scientists across academic, biotech, pharma, and government labs. It supports researchers, CROs, and core facilities needing specialized assays, extra capacity, or outsourced testing.
Who should not use this service?
This is a research tool, not a clinical laboratory. It is not appropriate for individuals submitting personal samples to learn about their own health, anyone seeking results to substitute for medical diagnosis, or non-researchers without an institutional context. If you need diagnostic testing, work with a licensed clinical laboratory or your healthcare provider.
What types of assays are available
- Sandwich ELISAs — for proteins, peptides, and cytokines in serum, plasma, or cell culture supernatant
- Competitive ELISAs — for small molecules and steroid hormones (cortisol, corticosterone, estradiol, testosterone) across matrices including urine, feces, saliva, and tissue homogenates
- Detection assays — colorimetric or fluorometric assays for total protein, lipid peroxidation, reactive oxygen species, and other non-protein analytes
- Activity assays — measure enzyme function rather than concentration; available for catalase, SOD, glutathione peroxidase, and others relevant to oxidative stress research
What sample types can be tested?
Commonly submitted matrices include serum, plasma, urine, saliva, fecal extracts, tissue homogenates, cell lysates, and cell culture media. Always confirm matrix validation before submitting your samples. Running an assay in an unvalidated matrix produces unreliable results.
Why use a sample testing service instead of running assays in-house?
The most common reasons are time (no assay optimization or troubleshooting startup cost), equipment access, reduced technical variability from a high-volume lab running consistent protocols, and freeing up personnel for experimental work. For manuscript preparation, working with a commercial service that provides documented QC and validation data can also strengthen a paper during peer review.
How does sample testing support academic and institutional core facilities?
Sample testing provides core labs with flexible testing capacity, specialized assay capabilities, and access to validated protocols. It offers a cost-effective way for core managers to expand their service offerings or phase out legacy Radioimmunoassays (RIAs) in favor of safer, modern ELISAs without devoting time or budget to in-house method development.
What does the process look like?
- Reach out: describe your analytes, sample type, volume, and timeline
- Scope the project: confirm assay format, matrix validation, detection limits, and data deliverable format
- Receive a quote: covers cost per sample, turnaround, and confidentiality terms
- Prepare and ship samples: aliquoted, clearly labeled, shipped frozen on dry ice with overnight delivery is typically best
- Receive results: raw data or a full analytical report with QC documentation, depending on your needs
What should I prepare before contacting Arbor Assays?
Come ready with your target analytes, sample matrix and estimated count, timeline (including any grant or publication deadlines), any prior assay data, and a sense of whether you need raw output or a full analyzed report.
Start Your Sample Testing Project Today
Our scientists run thousands of assays every year. Learn more and request a quote today. Let us put our extensive experience to work for you.
