Using a double-antibody immunoaffinity assay (Luminex) and ELISA technology, we
measured concentrations of certain neurotrophins, neuropeptides, and cytokines in pooled
samples (one to three subjects per sample) eluted from archived neonatal blood of children
with later-diagnosed autism, Down syndrome, very preterm birth, or term control infants. We
also measured analytes in blood from healthy adult controls. Case or control status for infant
subjects was ascertained by retrospective review of service agency medical records. We …