[Human basophil degranulation test (HBDT) in fungal allergic asthmatic patients]

The authors recommand the methodology of HBDT for testing fungal allergens, pH 7.6, 37 degrees C and 10 mg/ml are the most suitable experimental conditions. The positive rate of HBDT in allergic asthmatic patients is 91.7%, and correlated very well with the results of skin tests. The degranulation index (DI) in allergic asthma is significantly higher than that in normals (P < 0.001). The DI after one year's desensitization treatment with fungal allergens is markedly lowered than before (P < 0.001). The results suggest that HBDT is a simple, reliable and precise method to investigate allergens in vitro and also reflects the function of basophils in asthma.