title: Comparision of two-flow cytometry methods for basophil degranulation in patients sensitized to grass pollen.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Two-flow cytometry methods for quantification of degranulated basophil after allergen-specific activation were discussed. The methods are discerned by used membrane receptors--FcepsilonRI or IL-3Ralpha Our goal was to evaluate the diagnostic potential of the methods and to correlate them to allergen-specific IgE detection and skin prick test (SPT).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patient's and control's groups were studied with Bulgarian grass pollen allergen B1 simultaneously by flow cytometry kits: Basotest and BD FastImmune test. Allergy diagnosis was based on clinical history and SPT. The determination of specific IgE was performed by ELISA--RIDASCREEN.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were no significant differences between the patient's results from Basotest and FastImmune (P>0.05). A significant correlation between values, analyzed by Basotest and by FastImmune was found (r=0.88). The sensitivity and specificity of the Basotest, FastImmune, specific IgE and SPT were 85%, 72%, 92% and 92% sensitivity and 100%, 92%, 100% and 85% specificity respectively. The efficiency was between 82% and 97%. There were a significant correlation between the specific IgE and flow cytometry tests: tau=0.92 (Basotest) and tau=0.71 (FastImmune) and a moderate significant correlation between the SPT and the in vitro tests: tau=0.26 (Basotest) and tau=0.31 (FastImmune).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The successful use of the Bulgarian grass pollen allergen B1 and both flow cytometry tests was presented. These methods could be as specific tools for IgE-mediated diagnosis especially FastImmune in the case of low IgE receptor expression.
authors.affiliation: Central Laboratory of Immunology, National Center of Infectious and Parasitic Diseases, Sofia, Bulgaria.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Michova
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abugalia
authors.forename: Ts
authors.initials: Ts
authors.lastname: Ivanova
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nikolov
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Taskov
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Petrunov
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015549:Basophil Degranulation Test / Q000379:methods; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D015550:Cell Degranulation / Q000276:immunology*; D002469:Cell Separation; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D006109:Poaceae / Q000276:immunology*; D011058:Pollen / Q000276:immunology*