The latest in vitro allergy testing
Adverse reactions to allergens—from inhalants or food—may range in severity from mild symptoms to life-threatening anaphylactic shock, and include reactions such as asthma, eczema, and irritable bowels. It is vital for sufferers to identify and learn to avoid the allergen triggers. Until recently, this could only be accomplished with a time-consuming skin prick test that is not only inconvenient for patients, but also evades standardization and may even cause serious reactions.
A simple blood test to identify allergens
Now there is a much simpler way. The key to identifying the allergens to which a patient reacts is to detect the type of immunoglobulin (Ig) present in his or her blood. At the AACC/ASCLS ClinLab Expo workshop, attendees heard how the principles of in vitro testing may be used to help diagnose and manage clinically significant sensitivities. Physicians talked about their first-hand experience with this new allergy testing paradigm, where hundreds of different allergens can be tested with just one simple blood sample. Test systems such as 3gAllergy™ can perform tests on a patient’s sample from an expanding menu that includes over 350 specific allergens and allergy panels.*
How in vitro allergy screening works
The most common types of immunoglobulins are IgG in chronic food allergies and IgE-mediated immediate hypersensitivity reactions. Both can be correctly measured and precisely quantified with 3gAllergy and the IMMULITE® analyzer systems based on enzyme-enhanced chemiluminescent technology for greater accuracy and sensitivity.
“As a laboratory director, the one thing that you pay homage to is cost effectiveness. The IMMULITE 2000 gives us that advantage of having one platform for IgE inhalants and foods” says Dr. Amy Pearce-Brewer Genova Diagnostics Ashville,NC..
IMMULITE Systems
Complete offering covers first-time diagnosis, monitoring, and research
In addition to specific allergens and panels, Siemens’ extensive offering for allergy screening includes Total IgE for initial diagnosis; AlaTOP® Inhalant Allergy Screen—which covers 95% of all inhalant allergies, specifically IgG and IgG4. From the laboratory’s point of view, 3gAllergy is just another immunoassay test that may be run on any IMMULITE 2000 or 2500 system. It is the most cost-effective way for laboratories to offer excellent allergy testing services without the need for extra resources.
Key benefits of third-generation allergy testing with 3gAllergy:
- Correctly identifies inhalant and food allergens
- Enzyme-enhanced chemiluminescent signal detection provides increased sensitivity
- Truly quantitative test with detection limit of 0.1 kU/L enables accurate management of disease progression and therapy response
* Not all allergens are available in all countries.
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