diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index 41635b1..dff3e3b 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -93,6 +93,7 @@ export(is.apt)
 export(is.intact.attributes)
 export(is.soma_adat)
 export(is_intact_attr)
+export(is_lifted)
 export(is_seqFormat)
 export(left_join)
 export(lift_adat)
@@ -144,6 +145,8 @@ importFrom(dplyr,ungroup)
 importFrom(lifecycle,deprecate_soft)
 importFrom(lifecycle,deprecate_stop)
 importFrom(lifecycle,deprecate_warn)
+importFrom(lifecycle,deprecated)
+importFrom(lifecycle,is_present)
 importFrom(magrittr,"%>%")
 importFrom(methods,new)
 importFrom(methods,setGeneric)
diff --git a/R/adat-helpers.R b/R/adat-helpers.R
index d944f1d..13812d0 100644
--- a/R/adat-helpers.R
+++ b/R/adat-helpers.R
@@ -62,12 +62,6 @@ getAdatVersion <- function(atts) {
 }
 
 
-.ss_ver_map <- c(v3 = "1129", v3.0 = "1129",
-                 v4 = "5k", v4.0 = "5k",
-                 v4.1 = "7k",
-                 v5  = "11k", v5.0 = "11k")
-
-
 #' Gets the SomaScan version
 #'
 #' @rdname adat-helpers
@@ -92,7 +86,7 @@ getSomaScanVersion <- function(adat) {
 #' is.null(checkSomaScanVersion(ver))
 #' @export
 checkSomaScanVersion <- function(ver) {
-  allowed <- c("v3.0", "v4", "v4.0", "v4.1", "v5", "v5.0")
+  allowed <- c("v4", "v4.0", "v4.1", "v5", "v5.0")
   if ( !tolower(ver) %in% allowed ) {
     stop("Unsupported assay version: ", .value(ver),
          ". Supported versions: ", .value(allowed), call. = FALSE)
diff --git a/R/lift-adat.R b/R/lift-adat.R
index 8b15dca..daabd46 100644
--- a/R/lift-adat.R
+++ b/R/lift-adat.R
@@ -17,9 +17,9 @@
 #' Likewise, "lifting" from `v4.0` -> `v4.1` requires
 #' a separate annotations file and a `soma_adat` from SomaScan `v4.0`.
 #'
-#' @param adat A `soma_adat` class object.
-#' @param anno.tbl A table of annotations, typically the result of a call
-#'   to [read_annotations()].
+#' @inheritParams params
+#' @param bridge The direction of the lift (i.e. bridge).
+#' @param anno.tbl Deprecated.
 #' @return A "lifted" `soma_adat` object corresponding to the scaling
 #'   reference in the `anno.tbl`. RFU values are rounded to 1 decimal to
 #'   match standard SomaScan delivery format.
@@ -50,19 +50,43 @@
 #' attr(lifted, "Header")$HEADER$ProcessSteps
 #' attr(lifted, "Header")$HEADER$SignalSpace
 #' @importFrom tibble enframe deframe
+#' @importFrom lifecycle deprecated is_present
 #' @export
-lift_adat <- function(adat, anno.tbl) {
+lift_adat <- function(adat,
+                      bridge = c("11k_to_7k", "11k_to_5k",
+                                 "7k_to_11k", "7k_to_5k",
+                                 "5k_to_11k", "5k_to_7k"),
+                      anno.tbl = deprecated()) {
 
-  stopifnot(inherits(adat, "soma_adat"))
+  stopifnot(
+    "`adat` must be a `soma_adat` class object." = inherits(adat, "soma_adat"),
+    "`adat` must have intact attributes."        = is_intact_attr(adat)
+  )
+
+  if ( is_present() ) {
+    deprecate_warn(
+      "6.1.0",
+      "SomaDataIO::lift_adat(anno.tbl =)",
+      "SomaDataIO::lift_adat(bridge =)",
+      details = "Passing 'anno.tbl =' is now unnecessary."
+    )
+  }
+
+  bridge <- match.arg(bridge)  # does a syntax check for allowed params
   atts <- attr(adat, "Header.Meta")$HEADER
-  anno_ver <- attr(anno.tbl, "version")
-  .check_anno(anno_ver)
   .check_anml(atts)
 
+  # the 'space' refers to the SomaScan assay version signal space
+  # prefer SignalSpace if present; NULL if absent
+  from_space <- getSomaScanVersion(adat)
+  checkSomaScanVersion(from_space)
+  from_space <- map_ver2k[[from_space]]   # map ver to k and strip names
+  new_space  <- .check_direction(from_space, bridge)  # check and return new space
+
   if ( grepl("Plasma", atts$StudyMatrix, ignore.case = TRUE) ) {
-    scalar_col <- ver_dict[[anno_ver]]$col_plasma
+    ref_vec <- .get_lift_ref(matrx = "plasma", bridge = bridge)
   } else if ( grepl("Serum", atts$StudyMatrix, ignore.case = TRUE) ) {
-    scalar_col <- ver_dict[[anno_ver]]$col_serum
+    ref_vec <- .get_lift_ref(matrx = "serum", bridge = bridge)
   } else {
     stop(
       "Unsupported matrix: ", .value(atts$StudyMatrix), ".\n",
@@ -71,92 +95,28 @@ lift_adat <- function(adat, anno.tbl) {
     )
   }
 
-  if ( scalar_col %in% names(anno.tbl) ) {
-    anno.tbl <- anno.tbl[, c("SeqId", scalar_col)]
-  } else {
-    stop(
-      "Unable to find the required 'Scalar' column in the annotations file.\n",
-      "Do you have the correct annotations file?",
-      call. = FALSE
-    )
-  }
-
-  # the 'space' refers to the assay version signal space
-  from_space <- atts$SignalSpace      # prefer this; NULL if absent
-  if ( is.null(from_space) ) {
-    from_space <- atts$AssayVersion   # if missing; use this
-  }
-
-  .check_ver(from_space)
-  .check_direction(scalar_col, from_space)
-
-  new_space <- gsub(".*(v[0-9]\\.[0-9])$", "\\1", scalar_col)
-  attr(adat, "Header.Meta")$HEADER$SignalSpace <- new_space
-  new_step <- sprintf("Annotation Lift (%s to %s)", tolower(from_space), new_space)
+  # update attrs with new SignalSpace information
+  attr(adat, "Header.Meta")$HEADER$SignalSpace  <- map_k2ver[[new_space]]
+  attr(adat, "Header.Meta")$HEADER$AssayVersion <- map_k2ver[[new_space]]
+  new_step <- sprintf("Lifting Bridge (%s to %s)",
+                      tolower(from_space), new_space)
   steps    <- attr(adat, "Header.Meta")$HEADER$ProcessSteps
   attr(adat, "Header.Meta")$HEADER$ProcessSteps <- paste0(steps, ", ", new_step)
-  ref_vec <- deframe(anno.tbl)
   scaleAnalytes(adat, ref_vec) |> round(1L)
 }
 
 
-
-# Checks ----
-# check attributes of annotations tbl for a version
-# x = annotations version from annotations tbl
-.check_anno <- function(x) {
-  if ( is.null(x) ) {
-    stop("Unable to determine the Annotations file version in `anno.tbl`.\n",
-         "Please check the attributes via `attr(anno.tbl, 'version')`.",
-         call. = FALSE)
-  }
-  if ( !x %in% names(ver_dict) ) {
-    stop("Unknown Annotations file version from `anno.tbl`: ", .value(x),
-         "\nUnable to proceed without knowing annotations table specs.",
-         call. = FALSE)
-  }
-  invisible(NULL)
-}
-
-# check that SomaScan data has been ANML normalized
-# x = Header attributes
-.check_anml <- function(x) {
-  steps <- x$ProcessSteps
-  if ( is.null(steps) | !grepl("ANML", steps, ignore.case = TRUE) ) {
-    stop("ANML normalized SOMAscan data is required for lifting.",
-         call. = FALSE)
-  }
-  invisible(NULL)
-}
-
-# check supported versions: v4, v4.0, v4.1
-.check_ver <- function(ver) {
-  allowed <- c("v4", "v4.0", "v4.1")
-  if ( !tolower(ver) %in% allowed ) {
-    stop(
-      "Unsupported assay version: ", .value(ver),
-      ". Supported versions: ", .value(allowed), call. = FALSE
-    )
-  }
-  invisible(NULL)
-}
-
-#' @param x the name of the scalar column from the annotations table.
-#' @param y the assay version from the adat header information.
-#' @noRd
-.check_direction <- function(x, y) {
-  y <- tolower(y)
-  if ( grepl("4\\.1.*4\\.0", x) & y == "v4" ) {
-    stop(
-      "Annotations table indicates v4.1 -> v4.0, however the ADAT object ",
-      "already appears to be in version ", y, " space.", call. = FALSE
-    )
-  }
-  if ( grepl("4\\.0.*4\\.1", x) & y == "v4.1" ) {
-    stop(
-      "Annotations table indicates v4.0 -> v4.1, however the ADAT object ",
-      "already appears to be in version ", y, " space.", call. = FALSE
-    )
-  }
-  invisible(NULL)
+#' Test for lifted objects
+#'
+#' [is_lifted()] checks whether an object
+#' has been lifted (bridged) by the presence
+#' (or absence) of the `SignalSpace` entry
+#' in the `soma_adat` attributes.
+#'
+#' @rdname lift_adat
+#' @return Logical. Whether `adat` has been lifted.
+#' @export
+is_lifted <- function(adat) {
+  x <- attr(adat, "Header.Meta")$HEADER
+  !is.null(x$SignalSpace)
 }
diff --git a/R/s3-print-soma-adat.R b/R/s3-print-soma-adat.R
index 15f6c58..0c11705 100644
--- a/R/s3-print-soma-adat.R
+++ b/R/s3-print-soma-adat.R
@@ -24,7 +24,7 @@ print.soma_adat <- function(x, show_header = FALSE, ...) {
   atts_symbol <- if ( attsTRUE ) symb_tick else symb_cross
   meta   <- getMeta(x)
   ver    <- getSomaScanVersion(x) %||% "unknown"
-  ver    <- sprintf("%s (%s)", ver, .ss_ver_map[tolower(ver)])
+  ver    <- sprintf("%s (%s)", ver, map_ver2k[tolower(ver)])
   n_apts <- getAnalytes(x, n = TRUE)
   pad    <- strrep(" ", 5L)
   dim_vars <- c("SomaScan version", "Attributes intact", "Rows",
diff --git a/R/sysdata.rda b/R/sysdata.rda
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..328bba4
Binary files /dev/null and b/R/sysdata.rda differ
diff --git a/R/utils-lift.R b/R/utils-lift.R
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0e90853
--- /dev/null
+++ b/R/utils-lift.R
@@ -0,0 +1,78 @@
+
+# map external commercial names to
+# internal SomaScan version names
+# ----------------------------------
+#  1) bridge     2) lref obj
+# ----------------------------------
+.bridge_map <- c(
+  "7k_to_5k"  = "v4.1_to_v4.0",
+  "5k_to_7k"  = "v4.0_to_v4.1",
+  "11k_to_7k" = "v5.0_to_v4.1",
+  "7k_to_11k" = "v4.1_to_v5.0",
+  "5k_to_11k" = "v4.0_to_v5.0",
+  "11k_to_5k" = "v5.0_to_v4.0"
+)
+
+map_ver2k <- c(
+  V3   = "1129k",
+  v3   = "1129k",
+  v3.0 = "1129k",
+  V4   = "5k",
+  v4   = "5k",
+  v4.0 = "5k",
+  V4.1 = "7k",
+  v4.1 = "7k",
+  V5   = "11k",
+  v5   = "11k",
+  v5.0 = "11k"
+)
+
+map_k2ver <- c("1129" = "v3.0", "5k" = "v4.0", "7k" = "v4.1", "11k" = "v5.0")
+
+# matrx: either serum or plasma
+# bridge: direction of the bridge
+.get_lift_ref <- function(matrx = c("plasma", "serum"), bridge) {
+  matrx <- match.arg(matrx)
+  df <- lref[[matrx]][, c("SeqId", bridge)]
+  setNames(df[[2L]], df[[1L]])
+}
+
+
+# Checks ----
+# check that SomaScan data has been ANML normalized
+# x = Header attributes
+.check_anml <- function(x) {
+  steps <- x$ProcessSteps
+  if ( is.null(steps) | !grepl("ANML", steps, ignore.case = TRUE) ) {
+    stop("ANML normalized SOMAscan data is required for lifting.",
+         call. = FALSE)
+  }
+  invisible(NULL)
+}
+
+#' @param x the 'from' space.
+#' @param y the bridge variable, e.g. '5k_to_7k'.
+#' @return The 'to' space, from the 'y' param.
+#' @noRd
+.check_direction <- function(x, y) {
+  x <- tolower(x)
+  from <- gsub("(.*)_to_(.*)$", "\\1", y)
+  to <- gsub("(.*)_to_(.*)$", "\\2", y)
+
+  if ( isFALSE(x == from) ) {
+    stop(
+      "You have indicated a bridge from ", .value(from),
+      " space, however your RFU data appears to be in ",
+      .value(x), " space.", call. = FALSE
+    )
+  }
+  if ( isTRUE(x == to) ) {
+    stop(
+      "You have indicated a bridge to ", .value(to),
+      " space, however your RFU data already appears to be in ",
+      .value(x), " space.", call. = FALSE
+    )
+  }
+
+  invisible(to)
+}
diff --git a/man/lift_adat.Rd b/man/lift_adat.Rd
index 088eda5..e6fe4f2 100644
--- a/man/lift_adat.Rd
+++ b/man/lift_adat.Rd
@@ -2,20 +2,31 @@
 % Please edit documentation in R/lift-adat.R
 \name{lift_adat}
 \alias{lift_adat}
+\alias{is_lifted}
 \title{Lift an ADAT Between Assay Versions}
 \usage{
-lift_adat(adat, anno.tbl)
+lift_adat(
+  adat,
+  bridge = c("11k_to_7k", "11k_to_5k", "7k_to_11k", "7k_to_5k", "5k_to_11k", "5k_to_7k"),
+  anno.tbl = deprecated()
+)
+
+is_lifted(adat)
 }
 \arguments{
-\item{adat}{A \code{soma_adat} class object.}
+\item{adat}{A \code{soma_adat} object (with intact attributes),
+typically created using \code{\link[=read_adat]{read_adat()}}.}
+
+\item{bridge}{The direction of the lift (i.e. bridge).}
 
-\item{anno.tbl}{A table of annotations, typically the result of a call
-to \code{\link[=read_annotations]{read_annotations()}}.}
+\item{anno.tbl}{Deprecated.}
 }
 \value{
 A "lifted" \code{soma_adat} object corresponding to the scaling
 reference in the \code{anno.tbl}. RFU values are rounded to 1 decimal to
 match standard SomaScan delivery format.
+
+Logical. Whether \code{adat} has been lifted.
 }
 \description{
 The SomaScan platform continually improves its technical processes
@@ -26,6 +37,11 @@ minute differences in RFU space for a given analyte, requiring a calibration
 This is accomplished by applying an analyte-specific scalar to each analyte
 RFU (ADAT column). The scalar values themselves are typically provided
 via \verb{*.xlsx} file, which can be parsed via \code{\link[=read_annotations]{read_annotations()}}. See Details.
+
+\code{\link[=is_lifted]{is_lifted()}} checks whether an object
+has been lifted (bridged) by the presence
+(or absence) of the \code{SignalSpace} entry
+in the \code{soma_adat} attributes.
 }
 \details{
 Lifting between various versions requires a specific
diff --git a/tests/testthat/test-lift-adat.R b/tests/testthat/test-lift-adat.R
index 3f2cffb..dac361b 100644
--- a/tests/testthat/test-lift-adat.R
+++ b/tests/testthat/test-lift-adat.R
@@ -1,81 +1,58 @@
 
 # Setup ----
 apts <- head(getAnalytes(example_data), 3L)
-adat <- example_data[1:3, c("SampleId", apts)]
-
-# mock up a dummy annotations table
-# example_data is V4; lift V4 -> v4.1
-tbl <- tibble::tibble(
-  SeqId = getSeqId(apts), "Plasma Scalar v4.0 to v4.1" = c(0.5, 1.1, 1.5)
-)
-attr(tbl, "version") <- "SL-99999999-rev99-1999-01"   # lookup test from `ver_dict`
-
-
+adat <- example_data[1:3L, c("SampleId", apts)]
 
 # Testing ----
 test_that("a mock table of scalars transforms to correct, rounded values", {
-  a <- lift_adat(adat, tbl)
-  expect_equal(a$seq.10000.28, round(adat$seq.10000.28 * 0.5, 1L))
-  expect_equal(a$seq.10001.7, round(adat$seq.10001.7 * 1.1, 1L))
-  expect_equal(a$seq.10003.15, round(adat$seq.10003.15 * 1.5, 1L))
-})
-
-test_that("a reference vector of 1.0 scalars returns identical adat", {
-  tbl$`Plasma Scalar v4.0 to v4.1` <- 1.0
-  a <- lift_adat(adat, tbl)
-  expect_equal(a, adat, ignore_attr = TRUE)  # Header.Meta modified
-  # check that header entries were added correctly
+  expect_equal(getSomaScanVersion(adat), "V4")  # orig; 5k
+  expect_warning( a <- lift_adat(adat, bridge = "5k_to_7k") )
+  expect_true(is_lifted(a))
+  expect_equal(getSomaScanVersion(a), "v4.1")   # updated; 7k
   expect_equal(attr(a, "Header")$HEADER$SignalSpace, "v4.1")
-  expect_match(attr(a, "Header")$HEADER$ProcessSteps, "Annotation Lift")
+  expect_match(attr(a, "Header")$HEADER$ProcessSteps, "Lifting Bridge")
+  expect_equal(a$seq.10000.28, round(adat$seq.10000.28 * 1.053, 1L))
+  expect_equal(a$seq.10001.7, round(adat$seq.10001.7 * 1.300, 1L))
+  expect_equal(a$seq.10003.15, round(adat$seq.10003.15 * 1.507, 1L))
 })
 
-test_that("an error occurs if analytes are missing from anno.tbl", {
-  t2 <- head(tbl, 2)
+test_that("lifting wrong direction triggers error; .check_direction()", {
   expect_error(
-    lift_adat(adat, t2),
-    paste0("Missing scalar value for 1 analytes. Cannot continue.\n",
-           "Please check the reference scalars, their names, or the ",
-           "annotations file to proceed."), fixed = TRUE
+    lift_adat(adat, "5k_to_5k"),
+    "'arg' should be one of"
   )
-})
-
-test_that("lifting wrong direction triggers error", {
-  attributes(adat)$Header.Meta$HEADER$AssayVersion <- "v4.1"
   expect_error(
-    lift_adat(adat, tbl),
-    "Annotations table indicates v4.0 -> v4.1, .* v4.1 space"
+    lift_adat(adat, "7k_to_5k"),
+    "You have indicated a bridge from '7k' space"
   )
-})
-
-test_that("error is tripped if Scalar is not found in annotations table", {
-  names(tbl) <- c("SeqId", "ReferenceScalars")
+  attr(adat, "Header.Meta")$HEADER$AssayVersion <- "v5.0"   # 11k
   expect_error(
-    lift_adat(adat, tbl),
-    "Unable to find the required 'Scalar' column in the annotations file"
+    lift_adat(adat, "5k_to_7k"),
+    "You have indicated a bridge from '5k' space"
   )
 })
 
 test_that("un-supported matrices are trapped", {
-  attributes(adat)$Header.Meta$HEADER$StudyMatrix <- "Cell Lysate"
+  attr(adat, "Header.Meta")$HEADER$StudyMatrix <- "Cell Lysate"
   expect_error(
-    lift_adat(adat, tbl),
+    lift_adat(adat, "5k_to_7k"),
     "Unsupported matrix: .*'Cell Lysate'.*\\.\nCurrent supported matrices:"
   )
 })
 
 test_that("only supported assay versions are allowed", {
-  attributes(adat)$Header.Meta$HEADER$AssayVersion <- "V3"
+  attr(adat, "Header.Meta")$HEADER$AssayVersion <- "V3"
   expect_error(
-    lift_adat(adat, tbl),
-    "Unsupported assay version: .*V3.*\\. Supported versions:"
+    lift_adat(adat),
+    "Unsupported assay version: 'V3'\\. Supported versions:"
   )
 })
 
 test_that("only ANML normalized data can be lifted", {
-  attributes(adat)$Header.Meta$HEADER$ProcessSteps <-    # trim off ANML step
-    strtrim(attributes(adat)$Header.Meta$HEADER$ProcessSteps, 74)
+  attr(adat, "Header.Meta")$HEADER$ProcessSteps <-    # trim off ANML step
+    strtrim(attr(adat, "Header.Meta")$HEADER$ProcessSteps, 74L)
   expect_error(
-    lift_adat(adat, tbl),
+    lift_adat(adat),
     "ANML normalized SOMAscan data is required for lifting."
   )
 })