title: Update on the performance and application of basophil activation tests.
abstract: The basophil activation test (BAT) is a flow-cytometry-based functional assay that assesses the degree of cell activation after exposure to a stimuli. Though no standardized technique currently exists, recent advances have improved the performance of this assay, including identification of new basophil-specific markers and comparisons of the expression of CD63 to CD203c during activation. The basophil activation test has also been validated for many IgE-mediated disease conditions, which have been extensively reviewed elsewhere. This review focuses on the most recent applications of this test to the diagnosis of allergy to drugs, foods, venoms, and pollens, and the evolving role of the BAT in monitoring immunotherapy.
authors.affiliation: Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Johns Hopkins Asthma and Allergy Center, 5501 Hopkins Bayview Circle, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA. emcgowa4@jhmi.edu
authors.forename: Emily C
authors.initials: EC
authors.lastname: McGowan
authors.forename: Sarbjit
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Saini
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D001491:Basophils / Q000276:immunology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D005434:Flow Cytometry / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D006969:Hypersensitivity, Immediate / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000276:immunology; D007159:Immunologic Tests; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases / Q000378:metabolism; D011755:Pyrophosphatases / Q000378:metabolism; D060149:Tetraspanin 30 / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D015415:Biomarkers; C554586:CD63 protein, human; C427944:ENPP3 protein, human; D060149:Tetraspanin 30; D010727:Phosphoric Diester Hydrolases; D011755:Pyrophosphatases