Publication
Title
Mast cell versus basophil activation test in allergy : current status
Author
Abstract
In the past two decades, we witnessed the evolution of the basophil activation test (BAT) from mainly research applications to a potential complementary diagnostic tool to document IgE‐dependent allergies. However, BAT presents some technical weaknesses. Around 10%–15% of tested patients are non‐responders, BAT can be negative immediately post‐reaction and the use of fresh basophils, ideally analysed within 4 h of collection, restricts the number of tests that can be performed per sample. The need for fresh basophils is especially limiting when conducting batch analyses and interlaboratory comparisons to harmonize BAT methodology. These limitations significantly hinder the wider application of BAT and urge the development of alternative testing, such as the mast cell activation test (MAT). The essential difference between BAT and MAT is the heterogeneity of the starting material used to perform the assays. Mast cells are tissue‐resident, so cannot be easily accessed. Current alternative sources for functional studies are generating primary human mast cells, differentiated from donor progenitor cells, or using immortalized mast cell lines. Hence, the methodological approaches for MAT are not only vastly different from BAT, but also different among MAT protocols. This review summarizes the advantages and disadvantages of BAT and MAT assays, dedicating special attention to elucidating the key differences between the cellular sources used and provides an overview of studies hitherto performed comparing BAT and MAT in the diagnosis of IgE‐mediated food and drug allergies.
Language
English
Source (journal)
Clinical and experimental allergy. - Oxford
Publication
Oxford : 2024
ISSN
0954-7894
DOI
10.1111/CEA.14487
Volume/pages
54 :6 (2024) , p. 378-387
ISI
001214697300001
Pubmed ID
38686464
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
Full text (open access)
Full text (publisher's version - intranet only)
UAntwerpen
Faculty/Department
Research group
Project info
Can behaviour analysis of individual mast cells and basophils lift the veil of anaphylaxis in mastocytosis?
Role of inhibitory receptors in piecemeal and anaphylactic degranulation of basophils and mast cells.
Publication type
Subject
Affiliation
Publications with a UAntwerp address
External links
Web of Science
Record
Identifier
Creation 02.05.2024
Last edited 09.12.2024
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