Pricing and Online Ordering at www.alphalabs.co.uk nemail order sales@alphalabs.co.uk nfreefax order 0800 614249 23 Basophil Activation Testing Food Allergy Testing In the UK, approximately 2 million people are affected by food allergies, including both children and adults. Allergies significantly impact patients, with many experiencing reactions and requiring lifestyle changes to manage their condition effectively. Among infants, about 1 in 40 develop a peanut allergy, and roughly 1 in 20 develop an egg allergy. It is important to note that while allergies are more common in infants, they can develop later in life as well. Accurate diagnosis is crucial to distinguish true allergies from non-allergic reactions, and Basophil Activation Testing (BAT) offers a valuable solution in this regard. Offering BAT before a challenge test can significantly reduce the number of patients who need to undergo a provocation challenge, improving patient safety and comfort. The true value of BAT lies in its high specificity, with some studies reporting near 100% specificity. BÜHLMANN Flow CAST ® System: Advancing Allergy Testing The Flow CAST ® system, developed by BÜHLMANN Laboratories, represents a significant advancement for in vitro allergy testing. Utilising a dual-marker approach (CCR3 and CD63), it enables the detection of Basophil Activation in whole blood samples through flow cytometry. This is particularly effective for identifying both IgE and non-IgE mediated immediate-type allergic reactions and hypersensitivities to various allergens. Key Features Improved Workflow: n Higher sensitivity and specificity with BAT compared to standard skin prick tests nDetecting the CCR3 receptor with a PE-fluorescence labelled monoclonal antibody eliminates the need for labour intense leukocyte isolation nResults are typically available within 60 minutes nSamples can be analysed up to 5 days after processing Confidence in quality: n IVDR certified nImproved wash buffer with stabiliser extends the timeframe for sample stability before analysis Overall, the Flow CAST ® system marks a notable progression in basophil activation testing, enhancing both the accuracy and flexibility of allergy testing and making a substantial impact in the realm of in vitro research. Recent studies confirm the BAT as a useful tool in the in vitro diagnosis of food allergies. In one study, assessing cow’s milk allergy, BAT demonstrated a higher sensitivity (82.6%) and specificity (90.9%), compared to serum-specific IgE, which showed sensitivity and specificity of 55.1% and 80%, respectively (Schoos et al., 2021). BÜHLMANN Flow CAST® Product code Description Pack Size FK-CCR Basophil Activation Test Allergy in vitro blood assay 100 tests Food Additive Allergens Include: BAG2-C103 TARTRAZINE BAG2-CE123 AMARANTH BAG2-C111 SODIUM-BENZOATE BAG2-CE124 NEW COCCINE BAG2-C112 SODIUM-NITRITE BAG2-CE127 ERYTHROSINE BAG2-C113 POTASSIUM-METABISULFITE BAG2-CE131 PATENT BLUE V BAG2-C114 SODIUM-SALICYLATE BAG2-CE132 INDIGO CARMINE BAG2-CE104 QUINOLINE YELLOW BAG2-CE151 BRILLIANT BLACK BN BAG2-CE110 SUNSET YELLOW FCF BAG2-CE466 CARBOXYMETHYLCELLULOSE BAG2-CE122 CHROMOTROPE FB BAG2-CE621 GLUTAMATE Food Allergens Include: BAG-F1 EGG WHITE BAG-F75 EGG YOLK BAG-F2 COW MILK BAG-F10 SESAME BAG-F13 PEANUT An extensive range of over 150 standardised allergens spanning food, drug, insect venoms, inhalants and food additive allergies are available to purchase separately. All the allergens are optimised for in vitro use in BÜHLMANN cellular allergy assays. Visit www.alphalabs.co.uk/allergens for the full range of available allergens. Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) curves comparing the diagnostic performance of the Basophil Activation Test (BAT), Skin Prick Test (SPT), Peanut-specific IgE (P-sIgE), and Ara h 2-specific IgE (sIgE to Ara h 2) in the study population (n = 92). (Santos et al., 2014). Additionally, another study examining food allergies to apple, carrot, celery, and hazelnut reported BAT sensitivity of 85-90% and a specificity of 80-90%, further supporting its effectiveness in food allergy diagnostics (Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 2011).
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