Allergy testing with small whole blood samples

A team of Stanford researchers has developed a FACS-based method to quickly and safely determine allergic reactions using white blood cell analysis. This technique involves combining a small (1-2 drops) sample of a patient's blood with a test allergen and then determining the profile of relevant granulocyte (basophil and eosinophil) markers. This granulocyte signature can be used to to establish the patient's allergic status and monitor responsiveness to ongoing allergy treatment. This ex vivo approach is much safer than skin tests because it does not expose the patient directly to the allergen.

Related Technology
A related FACS-based invention for determining granulocyte populations in whole blood is described in Stanford Docket S08-347.

Ongoing Research
The inventors are continuing their research on basophils and eosinophils, to characterize their priming and their activation during allergy and stimulation with antigens.