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Updated: Apr 29, 2026

Basophil Activation Test for Allergy Diagnosis
Published on: May 31, 2021
Allergy to formaldehyde: basophil histamine-release test is useful for diagnosis
Yusuke Tanaka1, Yuko Nakase, Masao Yamaguchi
1Division of Respiratory Medicine and Allergology, Department of Medicine, Teikyo University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract:
We describe a case of formaldehyde-induced urticaria with a positive test result for serum IgE antibody against this substance. Formaldehyde's slow protein-binding property may explain why basophil histamine-release tests using fresh formaldehyde solutions are not diagnostic, whereas the tests are useful if formaldehyde that had been stored with albumin is used.
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