Proteomics experiments can be time-consuming, expensive, and full of uncertainty. What if you could run high-sensitivity assays on small volumes, receive robust data quickly, and collaborate with experts who guide you every step? Olink panel services offer exactly that. This guide walks you through what researchers, CROs, academic labs, and biotech teams can expect when working with Olink proteomics—without getting bogged down in proprietary or clinical treatment claims.

Why Researchers Turn to Olink Proteomics

Proteomics workflows can be daunting — large sample requirements, low reproducibility, and long time to insight often sap momentum. Many labs struggle to reconcile sensitivity with throughput when profiling proteins across dozens or hundreds of samples. Olink proteomics aims to resolve that tension.

Researchers choose Olink proteomics because it offers:

High sensitivity with low sample input. Platforms like Olink PEA (Proximity Extension Assay) need only 1–4 µL of plasma, serum or comparable biological fluids to profile many proteins reliably.

Multiplexed panels with consistent performance. From focused 48- or 96-plex panels up to higher-plex assays such as Olink Explore, users get simultaneous measurement of many protein markers under standardized conditions.

Strong reproducibility and quality control. Olink includes built-in controls (e.g. Incubation, Extension, Detection), external calibrators, and QC warnings for outliers. That gives users confidence in comparative studies.

Step 1 – Your First Contact: Consultation & Project Scoping

When you first reach out, expect the service provider to ask detailed questions about your goals. This stage ensures your study design aligns with what Olink panels can deliver.

Defining research goals. Are you exploring inflammation, immune response, metabolic regulation, or discovering new biomarkers? Your objectives influence panel choice, throughput, and sample type.

Choosing the right panel. Olink offers many panel types (Target, Explore, Reveal). If your interest is in inflammation, for example, their cytokine or inflammation-focused panels may be ideal.

Internal link: How Olink's Cytokine Panel Accelerates Inflammation Research.

Sample type & volume. Plasma, serum, tissue lysate or even cell culture supernatants may be usable, but each has trade-offs (e.g. matrix effects). Discussing sample quality early avoids surprises.

Timeline & deliverables. You'll clarify sample handling, shipping, expected turnaround time, QC steps, what data you'll receive (raw data, NPX values, QC metrics).

Step 2 – Sample Preparation and Submission

The quality of your final results depends heavily on this step. Good preparation means fewer re-runs and more reliable data.

Sample collection & storage. Use validated collection buffers (e.g. EDTA or heparin) depending on plasma or serum, process quickly to avoid protein degradation, and store at –80 °C or lower.

Shipping & handling. If you're sending samples to an external lab, they should be shipped on dry ice, with tracking, temperature monitoring. Some providers offer sample receipt confirmation.

Aliquoting & randomization. To avoid batch effects, sample randomization across plates, inclusion of controls on each plate, and potential replicates are standard practice.

Agreement on QC thresholds. Before starting, clarify that you'll get sample QC warnings, limit of detection (LOD) thresholds, and flagging of samples that don't meet criteria.

Step 3 – Running the Olink Panels: What Happens Behind the Scenes

You won't need to worry about every technical detail, but understanding what happens helps set realistic expectations.

Proximity Extension Assay (PEA) technology. Two antibodies tagged with unique DNA oligos bind each target protein. If both attach, the oligos hybridize, get extended, then amplified and quantified. This ensures dual specificity (i.e. both antibodies must bind).

Multiplexing & batch layout. Many proteins are measured in parallel (e.g. 48-, 96-, or >1,000-plex panels). Internal quality controls—such as incubation, detection, amplification—ensure each batch meets standards.

QC and control features. Each run includes negative controls, plate controls, and internal sample controls. Measures like intra- and inter-assay coefficient of variation (CV) are calculated. For example, in the spike-in evaluation of Olink Reveal, reproducibility (both inter- and intra-plate CV) was strong.

Step 4 – Data Delivery and Interpretation Support

Once the run is complete, you get data. How it's delivered and what you do with it matters.

Formats and metrics. You will receive NPX values (Normalized Protein eXpression), QC reports, detection limits, and flags for any problematic assays. Some vendors also provide raw concentration units when standards allow.

Detectability & data completeness. Expect that some proteins may fall below detection limits in your sample type or cohort. In a typical Olink cytokine panel example, >80% of proteins were detectable in >75% of healthy donor plasma samples.

Support in interpretation. Look for optional services or guidance from provider, including pathway enrichment, differential expression analysis, and linking to biological meaning. If interested in integrating with other omics (see later), this is a good time to plan it.

Quality flags, repeat tests. If QC fails for individual samples or certain assays, you may be offered repeats or discarding of outlier data. Being prepared for that possibility mitigates delays.

Step 5 – Ongoing Collaboration and Next Steps

Your first data set is rarely the final goal. Olink services often include options for ongoing research collaboration.

Scaling up. If your initial project is small (e.g. pilot), you may later expand to larger cohorts. Having consistent sample prep and panel usage simplifies scaling.

Panel adaptation or extension. As your discoveries emerge, you may want to shift focus: e.g. from inflammation to metabolic markers, or combine Olink panels with other assays.

Internal link: Introduction to Olink Proteomics: What You Need to Know can help for broad background.

Cross-omics integration. Many researchers integrate proteomics with transcriptomics, metabolomics, or lipidomics. This can help cross-validate findings and build richer models of biology. A recent study used Olink proteomics and transcriptomics to show that TNF-α stimulation in mesenchymal stem cells induces cellular senescence and impaired differentiation capacity.

Publication, data sharing, and validation. Ensure your protocols, QC thresholds, and analysis pipeline are well documented. Sharing raw NPX data, or depositing in a public repository, strengthens reproducibility and trust.

What Clients Achieve with Olink

To illustrate what's possible, here are examples of real research outcomes using Olink proteomics (non-clinical claims only).

Metabolic biomarker discovery. In the Białystok PLUS cohort (~500 individuals), Olink Reveal data revealed dozens of proteins correlated with glucose tolerance and HbA1c. These findings help researchers form hypotheses about pathophysiology of early metabolic disruption.

Analytical benchmarking. The spike-in/NIST standard evaluation of Olink Reveal confirmed linearity, sensitivity and reproducibility (see Step 3), so labs know what technical performance to expect before investing in large sample numbers.

Comparisons with other platforms. In some studies, Olink panels performed comparably or better than other multiplexed immunoassays (e.g. Luminex or MSD) for sensitivity and dynamic range, especially at low abundance. (See comparative technical reviews of Olink vs alternatives.)

How Olink Fits Into the Bigger Picture of Research

It's helpful to situate Olink within broader omics and research pipelines. That helps define where it adds the most value.

Complementing other omics. Proteins are the functional molecules—transcriptomics shows potential, proteomics shows activity. Integrating Olink data with RNA-seq or single-cell transcriptomics can help identify post-transcriptional regulation or protein post-translational modifications.

Population studies & cohort analyses. When you have large cohorts or biobank samples, Olink's throughput and robustness make it feasible to generate large-scale protein datasets and compare across populations.

Pathway, network and systems biology analyses. Because many panels are designed to cover Reactome or other pathway frameworks, results lend themselves to enrichment analyses, network modeling, and hypothesis generation.

Technology evolution. Olink's Reveal is relatively new; others like Olink Explore, Target-96/48, etc., offer different trade-offs in terms of number of targets, sample volume, throughput, and cost. Choosing the right panel depends on your priorities.

Taking Action: Start Your Olink Proteomics Journey Today

You now know what to expect—from consultation and sample prep, through experiment and data, to downstream analyses. To make the most of Olink proteomics services:

Define your objectives clearly. What biology are you probing? What sample types, cohort size, and sensitivity are needed?

Communicate early with the provider. Ask about panel options, QC thresholds, and analysis support.

Plan for sample logistics. Good sample quality and consistent handling are essential.

Think downstream. How will you analyse and interpret NPX data? Will you integrate with other omics? Will you publish or share data?

For background on Olink technology vs traditional approaches: The Benefits and Innovation of Olink Proteomics Compared to Traditional Methods

For deep dive into Olink's formats, such as cytokine & inflammation panels: How Olink's Cytokine Panel Accelerates Inflammation Research

To see how Olink is applied in non-clinical research settings: Olink Proteomics in Clinical Research: A Game Changer (Note: "clinical research" here means research-use only, not diagnosis or treatment.)

Conclusion

Olink proteomics services can offer powerful, reproducible, high-throughput protein profiling with modest sample needs. Whether you're in a core lab, biotech, or academic setting, understanding the customer journey helps you plan well, avoid pitfalls, and generate meaningful data.

If you're ready, let's discuss your next experiment: tell us about your sample type, research focus, and throughput needs. We can help you choose the right Olink panel, plan QC, and interpret results for maximum insight. Contact us today to start.

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