Arbor Assays
Arbor Assays is a privately held, employee-owned life sciences tools company that manufactures and distributes ELISA assay kits, antibodies, and detection reagents under the DetectX® brand to academic researchers, pharmaceutical and biotech firms, and wildlife conservation programs across more than 50 countries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2007
- HeadquartersAnn Arbor, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Arbor Assays does
Arbor Assays is a privately held, employee-owned life sciences tools company headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, that manufactures and distributes immunoassay kits, antibodies, affinity resins, detection systems, and ancillary reagents for research applications. Founded in 2007, the company operates the DetectX® product platform, which spans 77 ELISA and colorimetric assay kits covering eight research areas (Cell Signaling, Inflammation, Kidney Injury, Metabolism, Oxidative Stress, Reproductive, Stress, and Volume & Normalization), plus approximately 40 supporting antibodies and ancillary reagents — 128 total SKUs. Core technology centers on proprietary antibody generation combined with ELISA and chemiluminescent ELISA (CLIA) detection formats, calibrated against WHO and NIST reference standards, with sensitivity as low as 1.85 pg/mL and assay run times of 30 minutes to 2.5 hours across sample types including serum, plasma, urine, fecal extracts, tissue culture media, and tissue extracts.
The company serves three primary customer segments in roughly horizontal fashion: academic and higher-education research institutions, pharmaceutical and biotechnology firms (including CROs), and wildlife, zoo, and aquarium conservation programs. Distribution is multi-channel: direct e-commerce via arborassays.com, US-based phone and inside-sales ordering, and a global network of regional distributors covering more than 50 countries across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, the Middle East, and Africa. Revenue derives from one-time kit sales (single-plate SKUs priced $328–$662, five-plate SKUs $1,309–$2,646), ancillary reagent sales, and contract sample testing services staffed by in-house scientists; pricing is unit-based with volume discounts and purchase-order terms. Marketing relies on a content-led engine combining an extensive protocol library, video demonstrations, a searchable publication archive of thousands of citations, an email newsletter, and society partnerships, notably a strategic relationship with the International Society of Wildlife Endocrinology (ISWE) producing specialized conservation-research Mini-Kits.
Operationally, Arbor Assays has no disclosed external institutional investors, no parent entity, no subsidiaries, and no recorded M&A activity; ownership rests with employees. Product registration is protected via registered US trademarks (DetectX®, ThioStar®, FRAP™, and the company logo). Headcount falls in the 11–50 range, consistent with a profitable, sub-scale niche tools vendor. Geographic footprint and product introductions continue to expand (recent launch imagery from Feb 2025 and May 2026 on the public site), but the company provides no public revenue, ARR, or growth disclosures.
Arbor Assays firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Arbor Assays
- Legal name
- Arbor Assays Inc.
- Website
- https://arborassays.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2007
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Arbor Assays is a privately held, employee-owned life sciences tools company that manufactures and distributes ELISA assay kits, antibodies, and detection reagents under the DetectX® brand to academic researchers, pharmaceutical and biotech firms, and wildlife conservation programs across more than 50 countries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Arbor Assays industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Immunoassay Kits
- NAICS
- In-Vitro Diagnostic Substance Manufacturing (325413), Medical Laboratories (621511)
- SIC
- In Vitro & In Vivo Diagnostic Substances (2835), Services-Medical Laboratories (8071)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Reagents, Chemicals & Assay Kits (Buffers, Antibodies, ELISA, Enzymes) (HLAGAIAI)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Biomarker Assay & Reagent Development (LDT/IVD assay design, antibodies/standards/controls) (HLAAAMAL), Specialty & Biomarker Laboratory Services (Immunoassays/Flow/Cytometry) (HLAGAEAB)
Keywords
Where Arbor Assays is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Ann Arbor
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Arbor Assays business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations
Revenue model
- Assay Kit Sales: Sale of ELISA and immunoassay kits for detection of steroids, hormones, proteins, and biomarkers. Products sold as 1-plate or 5-plate kits with corresponding pricing tiers. Core revenue driver.
- Antibodies and Ancillary Reagents: Sale of antibodies and ancillary reagents for assay development and research applications.
- Sample Testing Services: Laboratory testing services powered by company's assay kits, offering researchers outsourced analysis capabilities.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Single Plate Kit - Entry tier for individual researchers |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Five Plate Kit - Bulk pricing for larger research programs |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels3 records
Marketing channels6 records
Arbor Assays product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Arbor Assays develops, manufactures, and distributes DetectX®-branded ELISA and enzyme immunoassay kits for detecting and quantifying steroids, hormones, proteins, and biomarkers in biological samples (serum, plasma, urine, fecal extracts, tissue culture media, tissue extracts). The portfolio includes approximately 77 assay kits plus 40 antibodies and ancillary reagents, organized across research areas such as cell signaling, inflammation, kidney injury, metabolism, oxidative stress, reproductive, stress, and volume/normalization. The company also provides contract sample testing services powered by its own kits and specialized ISWE Mini-Kits for wildlife conservation research.
Product overview
Arbor Assays is a life sciences company that provides high-quality DetectX® branded ELISA and enzyme immunoassay kits for research use. The product portfolio includes 77 assay kits and 40 antibodies and ancillary reagents organized across eight research focus areas: Cell Signaling (12 products), Inflammation (22 products), Kidney Injury (10 products), Metabolism (26 products), Oxidative Stress (19 products), Reproductive (30 products), Stress (15 products), and Volume & Normalization (6 products). The company also offers specialized ISWE Mini-Kits (International Society of Wildlife Endocrinology) for wildlife conservation research and Sample Testing Services as a contract research offering. The DetectX® brand encompasses kits for hormone detection (cortisol, testosterone, estradiol, progesterone, corticosterone, oxytocin, ACTH), metabolic markers (glucose, urea nitrogen/BUN), inflammatory markers (PGE2, ceruloplasmin), and cell signaling molecules (cGAMP variants). Products reference WHO or NIST standards for precision and reliability. Target customers include academic/research institutions, pharmaceutical/biotechnology companies, and wildlife/zoo/aquarium conservation programs.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DetectX®: Registered trademark brand for assay kit product line including ELISA and colorimetric detection kits for various biomarkers including cortisol, testosterone, estradiol, urea nitrogen, glucose, and others.
- ThioStar®
- FRAP™ (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power)
- ISWE (International Society of Wildlife Endocrinology)
Products and services
- DetectX® Urea Nitrogen (BUN) Colorimetric Detection Kit Colorimetric detection kit that quantitatively measures urea nitrogen in approximately 30 minutes, intended for kidney function assessment.
- DetectX® 2′,3′-Cyclic GAMP ELISA Kit ELISA kit that measures 2′,3′-cGAMP in tissues and cells, supporting cell signaling research.
- DetectX® 3′,3′-Cyclic GAMP ELISA Kit World's first commercially available ELISA to measure 3',3'-cGAMP in cell lysates, culture medium, and microbiome model systems, now with 10X increased sensitivity.
- DetectX® Testosterone ELISA Kit ELISA kit providing non-invasive measurements of testosterone and dihydrotestosterone in serum, plasma, urine, and fecal extracts.
- DetectX® Glucose Colorimetric Detection Kit Colorimetric detection kit that quantitatively measures glucose in a variety of samples for metabolic research.
- DetectX® Thyroxine (T4) ELISA Kit ELISA kit that quantitatively measures thyroxine (T4) in serum, EDTA plasma, tissue culture media, and fecal extracts.
- DetectX® Estradiol ELISA Kit ELISA kit using a specifically generated antibody to measure estradiol and its metabolites in urine and fecal samples for reproductive research (not recommended for serum, plasma, or saliva).
- DetectX® Cortisol ELISA Kit ELISA kit that quantitatively measures cortisol in a variety of samples for stress research.
- DetectX® Corticosterone Multi-Format ELISA Kit ELISA kit that quantitatively measures corticosterone in a variety of samples for stress and metabolic research.
- DetectX® Progesterone ELISA Kit ELISA kit that quantitatively measures progesterone in extracted dried fecal samples, urine, and tissue culture media samples, used for reproduction and sex steroid metabolism research.
- DetectX® Oxytocin Chemiluminescent ELISA Kit (CLIA) Chemiluminescent ELISA kit designed to quantitatively measure oxytocin in serum, plasma, clarified milk, and tissue culture media samples.
- DetectX® Adrenocorticotropic Hormone (ACTH) ELISA Kit ELISA kit that quantitatively measures ACTH in plasma samples for endocrine research.
- DetectX® Glutathione (GSH) Colorimetric Detection Kit Detection assay kit that allows convenient, rapid, and easy quantitation of both GSH and GSSG for accurate measurement of cellular oxidative status.
- DetectX® FRAP™ (Ferric Reducing Antioxidant Power) Detection Kit Detection kit that quantitatively measures antioxidant status in a variety of samples.
- DetectX® Ceruloplasmin Activity Kit Colorimetric activity kit that quantitatively measures ceruloplasmin activity in serum and urine samples.
- DetectX® Alkaline Phosphatase (ALP) Colorimetric Activity Kit Colorimetric activity kit that quantitatively measures alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity in a variety of biological samples.
- DetectX® 11-Ketotestosterone ELISA Kit Immunoassay kit that measures 11-ketotestosterone in urine or in extracted fecal, serum, and plasma samples, with sensitivity of 1.85 pg/mL.
- DetectX® 17-Hydroxyprogesterone ELISA Kit ELISA kit that quantitatively measures 17-hydroxyprogesterone in a variety of samples and species, with sensitivity of 20.3 pg/mL.
- DetectX® 20-Hydroxyecdysone ELISA Kit ELISA kit that measures 20-hydroxyecdysone in arthropods and plants, with sensitivity of 197.8 pg/mL.
- DetectX® Testosterone ELISA Kit (Improved Sensitivity) Testosterone ELISA kit that measures testosterone without extraction in serum and plasma, as well as in urine and dried fecal extracts, with enhanced sensitivity.
- ISWE Mini-Kits for Wildlife Endocrinology Specialized assay kits designed for wildlife conservation research, including 11-Oxoetiocholanolone (72T) Mini-Kit and 17β-Estradiol ISWE Mini-Kit, validated for use across multiple species in fecal extracts.
- Sample Testing Services Contract sample testing services powered by Arbor Assays' trusted assay kits, with scientists providing decades of experience to support research projects.
- Antibodies and Ancillary Reagents Supporting reagents and components for assay development and use with the DetectX® kit line, totaling approximately 40 products.
- DetectX® Assay Kit Product Line The full DetectX® branded ELISA and enzyme immunoassay kit product line, comprising approximately 77 assay kits spanning cell signaling, inflammation, kidney injury, metabolism, oxidative stress, reproductive, stress, and volume/normalization research areas.
Quantifiable outcome
- Assay sensitivity as low as 1.85 pg/mL (11-Ketotestosterone)
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Arbor Assays
Customer profileSegments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Arbor Assays technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature6 records
Arbor Assays partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- International Society of Wildlife Endocrinology (ISWE)coreArbor Assays maintains a dedicated ISWE Partnership section on their website, indicating a significant strategic relationship. The company develops specialized 'ISWE Mini-Kits' (11-Oxoetiocholanolone, 17β-Estradiol) specifically designed for wildlife conservation research. These kits are validated in fecal extracts against multiple species and designed for non-invasive hormone monitoring in wildlife conservation programs.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Arbor Assays competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Abcam: Global life sciences tools incumbent offering a deep catalog of antibodies, ELISA kits, and research reagents, overlapping with Arbor Assays in academic and pharma biomarker research accounts.
- Bio-Techne (R&D Systems): Large life sciences tools company offering ELISA kits, antibodies, and reagents across a much broader portfolio; competes with Arbor Assays in academic and pharma immunoassay accounts with greater scale and R&D resources.
Direct peers
- Enzo Life Sciences: Direct competitor offering ELISA kits, antibodies, and detection reagents across inflammation, oxidative stress, and hormone research—directly overlapping Arbor Assays' DetectX® product lines.
- Cayman Chemical: Ann Arbor-based direct competitor producing ELISA kits, biochemicals, and assay reagents for research markets with a comparable catalog breadth and overlapping customer base in academic and pharma research.
- ALPCO Diagnostics: Specialty immunoassay provider focused on hormone, steroid, and metabolic biomarkers, with ELISA kits serving comparable academic and pharma research customers.
- MyBioSource: Discount ELISA kit and antibody distributor serving academic and pharma researchers with similar immunoassay products, competing on price for many of the same single-analyte kits Arbor Assays sells.
- Eagle Biosciences: Specialty immunoassay kit manufacturer and distributor serving academic, clinical, and pharma research, with overlapping product categories in hormones, steroids, and biomarkers.
- Calbiotech: ELISA kit manufacturer specializing in hormone and biomarker immunoassays with similar customer profile in research and academic labs, overlapping in reproductive, stress, and metabolic panels.
- Life Diagnostics: Specialty ELISA and immunoassay kit provider with comparable product focus on hormones, steroids, and biomarkers, serving research and veterinary endocrinology markets.
Emerging players
- Elabscience: Rapidly growing ELISA kit and reagent manufacturer offering cost-competitive alternatives in hormone, steroid, and biomarker panels, increasingly competing for academic price-sensitive accounts globally.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Arbor Assays social profiles
Digital presenceArbor Assays financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Arbor Assays leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Arbor Assays funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Arbor Assays M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Arbor Assays
What does Arbor Assays do?
Arbor Assays develops, manufactures, and distributes DetectX®-branded ELISA and enzyme immunoassay kits for detecting and quantifying steroids, hormones, proteins, and biomarkers in biological samples (serum, plasma, urine, fecal extracts, tissue culture media, tissue extracts). The portfolio includes approximately 77 assay kits plus 40 antibodies and ancillary reagents, organized across research areas such as cell signaling, inflammation, kidney injury, metabolism, oxidative stress, reproductive, stress, and volume/normalization. The company also provides contract sample testing services powered by its own kits and specialized ISWE Mini-Kits for wildlife conservation research.
Is Arbor Assays a public or private company?
Arbor Assays is a private company. It is classified as management employee owned and is currently operating.
When was Arbor Assays founded?
Arbor Assays was founded in 2007. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Arbor Assays based?
Arbor Assays is headquartered in Ann Arbor, United States, in the North America region.
How does Arbor Assays make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Assay Kit Sales are the primary driver. The others are antibodies and Ancillary Reagents and sample Testing Services.
Who are Arbor Assays's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Abcam and Bio-Techne (R&D Systems). Direct peers are Enzo Life Sciences, Cayman Chemical, ALPCO Diagnostics, MyBioSource, Eagle Biosciences, Calbiotech and Life Diagnostics. Elabscience is listed as an emerging player.
Does Arbor Assays have an API?
No public API is recorded for Arbor Assays.
What industry is Arbor Assays in?
Arbor Assays's product category is Immunoassay Kits. Its primary akta.pro industry code is HLAGAIAI, Reagents, Chemicals & Assay Kits (Buffers, Antibodies, ELISA, Enzymes), with a secondary code of HLAAAMAL, Biomarker Assay & Reagent Development (LDT/IVD assay design, antibodies/standards/controls). Its NAICS code is 325413 and its SIC code is 2835.