openELISPOT: Open-Source, Low-Cost ELISpot Reader for Global Research Equity

Empowering labs in low-resource settings to perform high-quality cellular immunity research — without the £30,000 price tag.

Our mission…

The openELISPOT project is a not-for-profit, open-source initiative led by Dr. Andy Tran and Dr. Mathew John Paul. We’re designing an affordable, fully functional ELISpot reader using 3D printing, off-the-shelf electronics, and open software — so any lab, anywhere, can study T-cell responses to TB, HIV, priority pathogens and cancer.

GitHub Repository (Coming soon!)

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Low Cost & Accessible

Can be built with off-the-shelf components for under £500, removing financial barriers to cellular immunology research

Locally Manufacturable & Repairable

All custom components are fully 3D-printable with common materials on consumer-grade FDM printers, reducing reliance on proprietary parts

High Performance & Reliability

Delivers spot-count accuracy comparable to commercial readers, reproducible and transparent image analysis for publication-ready data

Meet the openELISPOT

Performance you can trust

The openELISPOT reader is designed to deliver highly repeatable and reliable spot counting, comparable to commercially available systems.

Consistent imaging across 96-well plates
Optimised illumination and optics for visible ELISpot assays (HRP / ALP)
Stable mechanical design to minimise motion variability
Validated through side-by-side testing during the trial phase

This makes the reader suitable for real-world research workflows, teaching labs and demonstrations.

Built for openness and repairability

No costly service contracts, yearly subscriptions, or lengthy repairs. If something breaks, you can fix it locally.

Unlike closed commercial instruments, openELISPOT is built to be understood, repaired, and improved by its users.

Open hardware and software
Modular components
No proprietary consumables
Easy replacement of motors, electronics, optics, or printed parts
Upgrade specific components as technology evolves

Designed to be printed

The mechanical design of openELISPOT is optimised specifically for FDM 3D printing, making it increasingly accessible to labs with basic fabrication capabilities.

Printable using common materials (PETG, ABS, PET-CF etc)
No slicer supports required
Engineered specifically for dimensional stability, ensuring warp-free printing even on open-frame printers
Suitable for local manufacturing and adaptation

Open and customisable software

The openELISPOT software stack, based on Raspberry Pi OS, Mainsail, Moonraker, Klipper and OpenCV, is fully open source and designed to be flexible.

Customisable image acquisition and analysis
Adaptable for different plate formats
Transparent image processing pipeline
Designed to evolve with community input

Users can rely on carefully-designed default workflows, or can modify the software to their specific needs.

Technical Specifications

Dimensions (deployed): 300x300x300mm (WxHxD)
Weight: TBA
Plate compatibility: 96 well microplate
Assay compatibility: Visible stain only, e.g. HRP or ALP (FluoroSpot capability planned for a future release)
Connectivity: WiFi 2.4GHz WiFi 5 (802.11ac)
Camera: 12MP BSI Sensor (Sony IMX477)
Lens: WaveShare 100X Microscope Lens
SBC: Raspberry Pi 5 (8GB RAM)
Operating system: Raspberry Pi OS (Debian 12 Bookworm)
MCU/Mainboard: BigTreeTech SKR Pico V1.0
Motion system: Cartesian (X+Y)
Motion repeatability: TBA
Power: 24V DC in
Power consumption: <30W

Our Timeline

We are proudly supported by the VALIDATE Network to accelerate the development of openELISPOT through the Directors’ Fund. This project gives us the capacity to build and donate two fully functional openELISPOT prototypes to selected VALIDATE partner labs for testing and optimisation.

Late 2025

openELISPOT reader designed from the ground up, in-house prototype built, tested and finalised. Software configuration and image analysis pipeline complete.

Applications open for VALIDATE members (please note this call has now closed).

Early 2026

VALIDATE Co-Design Collaborators chosen.

Two prototypes shipped to LMIC partner labs for real world testing and feedback.

Optimise and improve design and software for final release.

Mid 2026

Full plans (CAD files, software, assembly guides) released freely on GitHub under CC BY-SA 4.0 License.

2026+

Community builds, kit options, translations and future upgrades (e.g. FluoroSpot) planned.

Build your openELISPOT

We are working hard to develop openELISPOT along with our VALIDATE collaborators, and aim to release full CAD files, assembly guides and software in mid-2026.

Interactive assembly guides will be available on our website, and as a single combined .PDF on GitHub. A complete ground-up build takes approximately two days, and the step-by-step assembly guides will walk you through every stage: from printing parts to wiring electronics, with clear visuals and plain-language instructions.

Assembly Guide (Coming soon!)

Bill of Materials (Coming soon!)