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Updated: May 16, 2026

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Basophil Activation Test for Allergy Diagnosis
Published on: May 31, 2021
Fluoroquinolone photodegradation influences specific basophil activation.
Cristobalina Mayorga1, Inmaculada Andreu, Ana Aranda
1Research Laboratory, Carlos Haya Hospital, Malaga, Spain.
International Archives of Allergy and Immunology
|November 28, 2012
Summary
Laboratory light significantly impacts fluoroquinolone drug testing. Light exposure altered results for moxifloxacin in the basophil activation test, but not for ciprofloxacin, highlighting light
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Photochemistry
- Immunology
Background:
- Fluoroquinolones (FQs) are photoreactive, but light's effect on in vitro testing is unclear.
- The basophil activation test (BAT) assesses IgE-mediated hypersensitivity to FQs.
- Ciprofloxacin (CIP) shows higher BAT positivity than moxifloxacin (MOX).
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of laboratory light on FQ degradation and drug-protein conjugate formation.
- To determine how light exposure influences the accuracy of the BAT for FQ hypersensitivity.
- To compare the effects of light on ciprofloxacin and moxifloxacin.
Main Methods:
- Assessing fluorescence emission intensity of CIP and MOX under light and dark conditions.
- Evaluating BAT positivity rates for CIP and MOX in both light and dark settings.
- Analyzing drug-protein conjugate formation under varying light conditions.
Main Results:
- Moxifloxacin (MOX) showed decreased fluorescence intensity and significantly lower BAT positivity (17.9%) under light compared to dark (35.7%) conditions.
- Ciprofloxacin (CIP) exhibited no changes in fluorescence or BAT positivity (46.4%) regardless of light exposure.
- Light exposure demonstrably affects photolabile drug testing.
Conclusions:
- Laboratory light is a critical factor influencing in vitro test results, particularly for photolabile drugs like MOX.
- Standardized light conditions are essential for accurate interpretation of BAT results when evaluating FQ hypersensitivity.
- These findings underscore the importance of controlling light exposure in photochemistry and immunological assays involving photoreactive compounds.
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