In vitro Tests: Basophil Activation Tests

In recent years, the quantification of basophil activation by flow cytometry (basophil activation test, BAT) has proven to be a useful tool for the assessment of immediate-type responses to allergens mediated by IgE or other mechanisms in drug-allergic patients. To date, most BAT studies reported in the literature have used CD69 or CD203c as markers to quantify basophil activation after antigen-specific stimulation. Technical variations, such as the use of whole blood or isolated leukocytes, the addition of IL-3, the conditions of storage of the blood sample, the time of incubation with allergens and their concentration, can affect the results of the BATs. The BAT is more sensitive and specific than other in vitro diagnostic techniques in drug allergy. In various studies, its sensitivity in allergy to musclerelaxant drugs ranges between 36 and 97.7%, with a specificity of around 95%. For -lactam antibiotics, BAT sensitivity is 50% and its specificity 90%. For NSAIDs, sensitivity varies between 66 and 75%; specificity is about 93%. BAT is also a useful technique in the diagnosis of isolated cases of hypersensitivity to various other drugs and substances used in some therapeutic and diagnostic procedures. Copyright © 2007 S. Karger AG, Basel