Explore the Science Behind Simple Ultrasensitive Biomarker Quantitation
Our SPLASH™ (Solid Phase Ligation Assay with Single wasH) technology pairs an antibody probe with a single wash step and standard qPCR to deliver ultrasensitive, specific, and accurate results without specialized instrumentation.
SPLASH maximizes signal while minimizing background
Digital immunoassays and no-wash chemistries have driven real advances in neurodegenerative disease blood-based biomarker quantitation, but they often come with reagent complexity, run-to-run variability, and performance drift over time. SPLASH™ takes a different approach: by combining qPCR-based signal amplification with antibody-based targeting and a bead-based wash step, it maximizes signal while physically washing away background interference, delivering the sensitivity of specialized ultrasensitive platforms without requiring one.
Download the white paper to learn how our single-wash SPLASH platform transform Alzheimer’s diagnosis and accelerate therapeutic development
SPLASH is a highly specific, ultrasensitive, and scalable assay for protein biomarker quantification
Specific
While conventional PLA utilizes oligo-conjugated antibodies, our SPLASH technology incorporates an additional binding moiety onto one antibody in the probe pair. This enables selective capture of the formed immunocomplex.
Ultrasensitive
Unbound probes and interfering substances are washed away, while the immunocomplex is captured and quantified.
Scalable and Simple
Our highly scalable workflow can be fully automated or performed manually, requiring no additional instruments.
See how SPLASH technology works
Antibody probes and target protein bind to form an immunocomplex
Immunocomplexes are captured via a biotin-streptavidin interaction
Unbound molecules from the sample matrix are washed away
Two unique oligos on the antibody probes are ligated
The ligation is inactivated and DNA is released
The DNA is quantified with qPCR
See our 2026 AD/PD posters
Development of an ultrasensitive, scalable Solid Phase Ligation Assay with Single wasH (SPLASH) based immunoassay for the quantitation of LRRK2
Presented at AD/PD 2026
Multi-platform Quantitation Of Alzheimer’s Disease Biomarkers Using A Multiplex Assay Compatible With qPCR and dPCR
Presented at AD/PD 2026
Simultaneous Quantitation of pTau-217, Aβ42, NfL, and GFAP in Plasma Using a Novel Multiplex Assay for Alzheimer’s Disease Staging and Monitoring
Presented at AD/PD 2026
FAQ
How is SPLASH™ different from a standard proximity ligation assay (PLA)?
Conventional PLA relies on oligo-conjugated antibodies alone. SPLASH™ adds a second binding moiety, biotin, onto one antibody in the probe pair. This lets the immunocomplex be physically captured on streptavidin-coated magnetic beads before quantification, rather than relying on ligation chemistry alone to generate signal. The result is more selective capture of the target and a cleaner separation from background before the sample ever reaches the qPCR instrument.
Why does SPLASH™ use a wash step instead of a no-wash chemistry?
Digital immunoassays and no-wash chemistries have driven real advances in ultrasensitive detection, but they can be prone to reagent complexity, run-to-run variability, and performance drift over time. SPLASH™ physically washes away unbound antibodies and interfering substances from the sample matrix before quantification, rather than managing interference through reagent design alone. This is also why SPLASH™ can report consistent results across studies and sites, since the same physical wash step is applied every run, regardless of instrument or operator.
How does SPLASH™ compare to other ultrasensitive platforms?
| Feature | Taudia SPLASH | Simoa | MSD | ELISA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Uses existing qPCR | ✓ | ✕ | ✕ | ✓ |
| Ultrasensitive | ✓ | ✓ | ~ | ~ |
| Multiplex capability | ✓ (5+) | Limited | ✓ (10+) | Limited |
| Specialized instrument | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| Workflow complexity | Low | Moderate | Moderate | Moderate |
| Cost per sample | Low | High | Moderate | Low |
Can SPLASH™ be automated, or is it a manual-only workflow?
Both. SPLASH™ can be run as a fully manual benchtop workflow, or scaled through NeuXplore™, Taudia’s automated sample-to-answer platform. On the automated system, a typical run processes up to 48 samples in under 4 hours. The same three-step chemistry (incubate, wash, quantify) underlies both formats, so results are designed to be comparable whether a lab is running manually or at scale.
How sensitive is SPLASH™, and how is that validated?
- SPLASH™ has demonstrated quantification of pTau-217 down to femtogram-per-milliliter concentrations, made possible by physically washing away background interference before quantification.
- The platform has clearly differentiated AD-positive from AD-negative patient samples in independent testing, with excellent spike-and-recovery performance, ensuring measurements stay accurate and reliable even in complex biological matrices.
- See our resource section to learn more.
How long does a SPLASH™ run take?
Manual bench-top workflow: roughly 1–2 hours to incubate, 5–10 minutes to wash and capture, and about 1 hour for qPCR read-out, for a total of around 2–3 hours with less than 30 minutes of hands-on time. Automated (NeuXplore™) workflow: about 15 minutes to set up a run, followed by 3–4 hours of unattended automated processing.
Ready to get started?
Talk to our team so we can help you find the right kit, walk through the data, or scope a custom assay.