A powerful synergy that lets you go deeper
Plasma proteomics offers a minimally invasive path to relevant biomarkers but is challenged by the plasma proteome’s vast concentration range. Mass spectrometry remains the gold-standard in proteomics, ideal for characterization of proteoforms, while affinity-based methods are gaining traction for their sensitivity and high throughput in complex biofluids like plasma and serum.
Explore the scientific resources on this page to discover why more researchers are combining Liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and Proximity Extension Assay (PEA™).
Expand your proteome coverage
LC-MS delivers unbiased protein detection, including proteoforms. PEA offers exceptional sensitivity with high throughput and simplicity. Together, they offer the best of both worlds, expanding proteome insights and accelerating biomarker discovery and validation.
Why combine LC-MS and PEA
Researchers share their perspectives on why they combine both technologies.
The combination of both technologies extends overall proteome coverage—leveraging LC-MS for unbiased proteoform analysis and PEA for high-throughput detection of low-abundance proteins.
Hear directly from respected scientists — Stephanie Hauck, Gabi Kastenmüller, Hanno Steen, Ann-Christine König, and Jochen Schwenk — as they share their perspectives on adopting this synergistic approach in the podcast and roundtable below.
How LC-MS and PEA compare
See data on shared and unique proteins detected by PEA and LC-MS, and their correlation
LC-MS and PEA operate on different principles and have distinct strengths that influence the subset of proteins they detect. As a result, they often identify non-overlapping sets of proteins in the same samples. This orthogonality extends proteome coverage and delivers a more complete, biologically relevant view of the plasma proteome.
Jessica Moore (Discovery Life Sciences) presents results from a study of 40 COVID-19 patients, in which PEA and LC-MS were used side by side.
What is possible when combining LC-MS and PEA
Integrating LC-MS and PEA accelerates biomarker discovery and validation
A growing body of high-impact research highlights the value of combining LC-MS and PEA.
Researchers are using the two technologies in parallel to maximize actionable proteomic insights—or at different stages of the biomarker development pipeline, from discovery to validation of protein signatures. Explore the success stories in the resources below.
Why PEA is the right affinity-based proteomics technology for you
Olink’s PEA technology uniquely combines specificity, sensitivity, and scalability—making it an ideal platform for high-throughput, multiplex protein biomarker analysis using minimal volumes of a wide range of sample types.
By combining the sensitivity of antibody-based detection with the specificity of PCR amplification, PEA provides exceptional analytical performance, even for low-abundance proteins (99.5% of Olink’s assays show no detectable cross-reactivity).
With panels ranging from 5 to over 5,400 proteins, and absolute quantification available for targeted panels, PEA supports a seamless transition from discovery to clinical translation. That proven reliability is why it’s trusted by leading academic institutions and top pharmaceutical companies worldwide.
