Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, a global leader in laboratory automation and innovation, has introduced the Next-Generation Basophil Activation Test (BAT) for research use. This groundbreaking test is designed to enhance food allergy research by enabling more effective characterization of food allergies without exposing patients to potentially harmful allergens.
Currently, food allergies affect approximately 220 million people worldwide. Traditional testing methods, such as the Oral Food Challenge (OFC), involve gradually exposing patients to specific foods to determine whether they experience allergic reactions, including severe ones like anaphylaxis. However, this process poses significant risks. The new BAT test, in contrast, utilizes a blood draw to detect reactions to multiple allergens simultaneously, eliminating the need for food exposure and the associated risks. This approach saves time, prevents harmful reactions, and reduces the ethical concerns tied to direct allergen exposure in vulnerable participants.
Jean-Marc Busnel, PhD, Principal Investigator and Senior Staff Research Scientist at Beckman Coulter Life Sciences, emphasized the significance of this innovation: “This offers a groundbreaking alternative in allergy testing, removing patient obstacles and reducing ethical concerns associated with direct allergen exposure in vulnerable participants. For too long, these concerns have limited critical advancements, putting people at risk of not having access to life-saving treatment options should an allergic reaction occur.”
The development of this next-generation BAT test follows Beckman Coulter Life Sciences’ receipt of the 2022 FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) Innovation Award Diagnostic Challenge. The $1 million award supports the advancement of safer, more effective testing methods in food allergy research.
Sung Poblete, PhD, RN, CEO of FARE, expressed excitement about the potential of the new BAT test: “At FARE, we have prioritized supporting the development of safer alternatives to oral food challenges. The introduction of this next-generation Basophil Activation Test marks a significant advancement, moving diagnostic innovation from the bench toward future clinical application.”
The BAT test measures basophil activation in response to specific allergens, providing valuable insights for allergy research. By leveraging dry technology, Beckman Coulter has overcome challenges that traditionally limited BAT’s adoption. The new system offers standardization, simplifying the process with pre-mixed and dried allergens and antibodies, reducing the complexity of the assay while ensuring reproducibility. The test is compatible with any flow cytometer, and Beckman Coulter Life Sciences also offers customizable dried-down allergens and antibodies through their Custom Design Service.
This innovation opens up new possibilities for food allergy drug development and research, enabling safer and more accessible testing while advancing the field of allergy diagnostics. Beckman Coulter Life Sciences continues to lead the way in transforming how food allergies are studied and treated, contributing to faster, safer advancements in allergy research.
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