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Basophil activation test in allergy: time for an update?
1Department of Pathology and Diagnostics, Unit of General Pathology, University of Verona, Verona, Italy. salvatore.chirumbolo@univr.it
International Archives of Allergy and Immunology
|January 25, 2012
Summary
The basophil activation test (BAT) using flow cytometry is a valuable tool for diagnosing allergies and hypersensitivity reactions. Further optimization is needed to enhance its analytical performance and expand its diagnostic applications.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Allergy Diagnostics
- Flow Cytometry
Background:
- Basophil activation test (BAT) quantifies immediate-type allergic responses.
- BAT is useful for assessing IgE-mediated allergies, anaphylaxis, and immunotherapy follow-up.
- Current BAT methods primarily use anti-IgE capture and CD63 upregulation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the utility and applications of BAT in allergy diagnosis.
- To highlight areas for improvement in BAT methodology and analytical performance.
- To discuss the potential for expanding BAT applications in hypersensitivity diagnosis.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of existing BAT studies.
- Analysis of common BAT protocols involving anti-IgE and CD63.
- Discussion of preanalytical conditions and flow cytometry gating strategies.
Main Results:
- BAT is a demonstrated tool for immediate-type hypersensitivity assessment.
- Existing BAT protocols have limitations requiring optimization.
- New activation markers and improved controls are needed.
Conclusions:
- BAT is a versatile technique for diagnosing various hypersensitivity reactions.
- Optimizing analytical performance and preanalytical conditions is crucial for BAT.
- Further research is warranted to expand BAT's diagnostic capabilities and refine its application.
