Deciding between Olink® and NULISA™ can seem difficult, but it doesn’t have to be. Understanding the science behind both technologies, the panel options available, and the primary research benefits will give you the information you need to make an educated decision.
Protein analysis is a cornerstone of functional testing, with applications in drug targeting, biomarker analysis and screening, and patient stratification. Historically, protein analysis was limited to ELISA-based assays, where a single protein of interest is detected by a complementary antibody. While effective, this method requires a large sample input, can only detect one protein at a time, and can have limitations for sensitivity and specificity, depending on the target.
Fortunately, newer high-throughput protein detection assays, Olink and Alamar’s® NULISA, harness this historical methodology for multiplexed assays, which increased sensitivity and specificity, while also reducing input amounts. Both methods use a dual-antibody approach, where two target-specific antibodies bind to the same protein target. Once bound, DNA tags attached to each antibody hybridize, creating a barcode sequence. This combination of dual barcoding for protein detection offers high sensitivity and specificity. As each protein target is uniquely barcoded, many proteins can be simultaneously targeted in the same reaction.
Despite similarities in approaches, Olink and NULISA have some distinct differences. With regards to methodology, NULISA incorporates additional purification steps that wash away unbound antibodies, eliminating background noise and achieving an overall sensitivity of fg/mL detection as compared to pg/mL detection (Olink). This makes NULISA ideal for detection of rare low-abundance targets.
The chart below highlights the similarities and differences between each assay:
| Olink PEA™ | Alamar NULISA | |
| Recognition | Dual antibody pair | Dual antibody pair |
| Signal Mechanism | Proximity extension with oligonucleotide hybridization | Sequential capture and release with proximity ligation |
| Readout & Quantitation | NGS (relative quantitation): Explore (5416), Reveal (1034) qPCR (relative or absolute quantitation): Target (92/45) |
NGS (relative or absolute quantitation): CNS (120), Neuro (220), Inflammation (250,150 AQ) qPCR (relative or absolute quantitation): NULISAqpcr™ Custom Assays (1-5) |
| Sensitivity Floor | Femtomolar to picomolar, panel dependent (pg/mL) | Attomolar, validated for sub-pg/mL targets (fg/mL) |
| Sample Volume Requested | 40 µL | 40 µL |
| Best Fit | Discovery, broad biomarker surveys, large cohort screens | Neurodegeneration biomarkers, low-abundance target detection, longitudinal monitoring |
Olink has a series of 15+ target panels that cover 45 to 92 proteins per panel, or 1161 proteins overall, the larger Reveal panel covers 1034 proteins, and the Explore HT panel covers 5416 proteins. While the Target panels each focus on a specific application ranging from cardiovascular disease, immune-oncology, neurology, oncology, and inflammation, the larger Reveal and Explore HT panels are more exploratory, with broad coverage of over 500 inflammatory targets and a wide range of additional targets to cover additional biological pathways. The Target panels have a qPCR-based readout and measure absolute quantitation, while the Reveal and Explore HT panels have an NGS-based readout which measure relative quantitation.
| Olink | NULISA |
Click here for more information and to download the full list of targets |
Click here for more information and to download full list of targets |
NULISA panels are more mid-range in terms of the total number of targets, with three main options available that report relative target quantitation. The CNS disease panel covers 120 targets and was designed to focus on the readouts currently driving translational neurology research: amyloid beta 38, 40, and 42, phosphorylated Tau at 181, 217, and 231, neurofilament light, alpha synuclein, GFAP, and APOE status for genotype context. The inclusion of pTau217, NfL, and GFAP in a single assay is the practical differentiator, since these are the markers anchoring current Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, ALS, and broader CNS work. The Inflammation panel covers 250 targets, comprising 200 cytokines, chemokines, and their receptors, plus 50 additional inflammation and immune response proteins. It is well suited to autoimmune, neuroinflammatory, and immune oncology work, with attomolar sensitivity and a broad dynamic range from as little as 10 µL of plasma, serum, CSF, or other biofluids, plus 50 additional inflammation and immune response proteins.
The NULISA Inflammation panel is also available in an absolute quantitation format, which reports roughly 150 of the 250 targets as concentrations in mass units (pg/mL) while the remaining 100 or so stay relative, using a single calibrator sample rather than a full multipoint curve per analyte. This panel is the broadest cytokine and chemokine absolute quantitation multiplex assay currently available, ideal for translational and clinical work such as biomarker validation, disease stratification, treatment response monitoring, and pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and toxicology studies. Finally, the Neuro 220 panel includes the full CNS panel content plus a variety of immunological markers, providing a single assay that pairs neurodegeneration readouts with inflammatory profiling.
Assay selection comes down to one simple question: What is the goal of my study?
Olink Explore HT and Reveal cover a wide range of targets, ideal for discovery based broad profiling and characterization. However, while highly sensitive, Olink panels may still be unable to detect some ultra-low abundance proteins.
NULISA Inflammation and Neuro panels offer over 220 targets, not offered on the Olink platform. Combined with NULISA’s greater sensitivity, this makes it an ideal option for neuro-related sample characterization and detection of rare proteins in small sample volumes.
To validate absolute expression for a specific set of targets, Olink Target 48 or NULISAqpcr are the best options, depending on sensitivity required and specific target of interest.
Regardless of which assay you choose, GENEWIZ provides high-quality services for all Olink and NULISA assays. As both an Olink and Alamar Certified Service Provider, GENEWIZ is validated for technical expertise, rigorous quality control processes, and commitment to generating reproducible, publication-grade data. The certification process involves comprehensive validation of our technical capabilities, equipment calibration, staff training, and quality management systems. This rigorous oversight ensures that researchers partnering with GENEWIZ receive data that meets the highest standards of analytical validity, supporting confident decision-making in biomarker discovery, target validation, and translational research applications.
Learn more about GENEWIZ Olink and NULISA proteomics services.