Beckman Coulter Life Sciences Basophil Activation Test (BAT) for food allergy research

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences introduces its next-generation Basophil Activation Test (BAT) to more effectively characterise food allergies without exposure to potentially harmful allergens.

Most food allergies and treatment efficacies are currently determined through an oral food challenge (OFC), exposing a patient to gradual amounts of foods to determine if they have a reaction, which could include anaphylaxis in some situations. The BAT is designed to eliminate that risk, testing for multiple allergens at once through a blood draw — saving hours of food testing and exposure to potentially harmful reactions. It thus removes patient obstacles and reduces ethical concerns associated with direct allergen exposure in vulnerable participants, unlocking an opportunity to expand food allergy drug development and research.

BATs are functional assays measuring basophil activation in response to specific allergens or other stimuli. By leveraging dry technology to overcome traditional BAT challenges, standardisation is enabled with conjugated antibodies and allergens pre-mixed and dried down together in a single tube with only four pipetting steps. Negative and positive controls can also be included, all without the need for compensation or centrifugation, and the test is compatible with any flow cytometer.

While BATs have been around for more than 30 years and provide valuable insights in the study of allergies, their adoption has been limited due to the perceived complexity and lack of reproducibility associated with the assay. The use of dry reagents helps to overcome these challenges. The next-generation test thus offers high levels of flexibility, with customisable dried down allergens, antibodies and concentrations available through Custom Design Service from Beckman Coulter Life Sciences.

For research use only. Not for use in diagnostic procedures.