[Diagnosis of allergic diseases by basophil count and in vitro degranulation using manual and automated tests...

The author has designed a human basophil degranulation test based on a one-step method of basophil staining after exposure to a specific allergen. This very simple test is now commercially available as a ready-to-use kit. It explores allergic sensitivity at cellular level, probably through IgE-dependent sensitization of the basophil. It correlates positively with histamine release and the radio-allergo-sorbent test (RAST) and detects sensitivity to common allergens as well as to foods and chemicals, including drugs. In its present form, the test provides a simple, inexpensive and reliable means of diagnosing allergic diseases in vitro but does not lend itself to mass investigations. It has recently been developed further and can now be performed on the automatic Hemalog D Technicon machine.