Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 12, 2026

Isolation and Flow Cytometric Characterization of Murine Small Intestinal Lymphocytes
Published on: May 8, 2016
Delayed-type allergy to cobalt-comparison of a flow cytometric lymphocyte proliferation test with patch testing
Iris Spoerri1, Andreas J Bircher2, Susanne Link3
1Department of Biomedicine, Research Group of Dermatology, University Hospital Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
Background:
The patch test is the standard procedure for diagnosing delayed-type sensitization. If a patch test is not possible, the flow cytometric lymphocyte proliferation test (LPT), which determines the number and type of cells responding to a specific antigen in vitro, might be considered as an alternative.
Objectives:
Our aim was to establish a flow cytometric LPT for the detection of delayed-type allergic responses to cobalt, and to determine the correlation between stimulation indices (SIs) in LPT and the grade of patch test reactions. With the patch test as a diagnostic reference, we also assessed the sensitivity and specificity of the LPT.
Methods:
Fifty-four patients patch tested with the baseline series including cobalt (CoCl2 ) were additionally tested with the flow cytometric LPT with CoCl2 .
Results:
There was a significant correlation between the results of both tests: rs = 0.43; P = .001. The LPT with CoCl2 showed a sensitivity of 52.6% and a specificity of 85.7%. Corresponding to the low sensitivity of the LPT, high likelihood ratios for a positive patch test reaction were reached only in cases of strong lymphocyte proliferation (SI ≥ 10).
Conclusions:
In cases of clearly increased SIs, the flow cytometric LPT with CoCl2 gives relevant diagnostic information, and represents a valuable alternative to patch testing.
Related Concept Videos
Multiple Comparison Tests
It would be easy to compare two samples using a significance alpha level of 0.05. In other words, there is only one sample pair to be compared. However, it would be difficult to identify a significantly different sample if the number...
Types of Hypothesis Testing
When the null and alternative hypotheses are stated, it is observed that the null hypothesis is a neutral statement against which the alternative hypothesis is tested. The alternative hypothesis is a claim that instead has a certain direction. If the null hypothesis claims that p = 0.5, the alternative hypothesis would be an opposing statement to this and can be put either p > 0.5, p < 0.5, or p...
Long-patch Base Excision Repair
Introduction to Types of Flows
Two-dimensional flow involves changes in both length and height, as seen in...
The Sense of Self: Reflected Self-Appraisal and Social Comparison
Abnormal Proliferation

