Basofiilactivationtesti

Basophil activation test (BAT), also known as the basophil activation assay, is an in vitro diagnostic procedure used to evaluate whether basophils respond to a given allergen or stimulus. In the test, blood samples are exposed to the suspected allergen or drug, and basophil activation is assessed by flow cytometry by measuring upregulation of activation markers such as CD63 and CD203c on the basophil population. The assay can be performed on whole blood or isolated leukocytes, with unstimulated controls and reference stimuli included to gauge responsiveness.

Interpretation of BAT results centers on the percentage of activated basophils or changes in marker expression relative to controls. A positive result suggests sensitization to the tested agent and supports IgE-mediated reactivity, but it does not by itself prove clinical allergy. BAT results must be integrated with clinical history and other investigations. False negatives can occur due to recent medication use (e.g., antihistamines, corticosteroids), timing relative to exposure, or inherently low basophil responsiveness. False positives are less common but can occur due to non-specific activation.

Clinical applications include evaluation of suspected immediate-type hypersensitivity to foods, venoms, and drugs, particularly when skin tests are contraindicated or results are inconclusive, or when specific IgE testing is unavailable or inconclusive. BAT is a valuable adjunct in the diagnostic workup but is not universally standardized; results may vary between laboratories and require specialized flow cytometry expertise and fresh samples, typically analyzed within 24 hours of collection.