In allergy diagnostics, flow cytometry has revolutionized the detection and study of allergic reactions. Among these innovations, Immunostep’s BasoStep kit plays a key role in evaluating IgE-mediated disorders by analyzing basophil activation.
What is BasoStep?
BasoStep is an in vitro diagnostic kit that detects basophil activation in heparinized whole blood samples. It identifies the CD63 marker, a membrane protein expressed on the surface of activated basophils after an allergen blast.
This test makes it possible to determine the response of basophils to different stimuli, providing a highly specific and sensitive alternative to traditional methods such as skin tests and measurement of specific IgE in serum.
Why is it important to measure basophil activation?
Basophils play a key role in immediate allergic responses. When an allergen comes into contact with specific IgE bound to basophil membrane receptors, cellular activation occurs, leading to the release of inflammatory mediators. During this process, the CD63 antigen is expressed, a marker that indicates cellular activation and thus the patient’s sensitivity to the allergen in question.
Benefits of using BasoStep in allergy diagnosis
The BasoStep test provides significant advantages in the evaluation of IgE-mediated allergies:
-In vitro test without risk to the patient: Unlike skin tests, BasoStep does not require direct patient exposure to the allergen, reducing the risk of adverse reactions.
-High sensitivity and specificity: Flow cytometry allows detection of low levels of basophilic activation with high accuracy.
-Rapid and reproducible results: BasoStep’s methodology delivers reliable results within a few hours.
-Applicable to different allergens: It enables the study of multiple sensitizations in a single sample.
-Useful for monitoring treatments: Allows to evaluate the evolution of the immune response in patients undergoing allergic immunotherapy.
What does the BasoStep kit include?
The BasoStep kit contains all the reagents for the evaluation of basophilic activation:
-Calcium, heparin and IL-3 stimulation buffer.
-Positive control with fMLP and anti-IgE.
-Staining reagent with monoclonal antibodies CD63 FITC, CD203c PE, HLA-DR PerCP and CD123 APC.
-Positive and negative controls in lyophilized tubes for ease of use and accuracy.
BasoStep test procedure
The BasoStep protocol follows an optimized workflow to ensure maximum reliability:
- Sample collection: The process begins by using heparinized whole blood.
- Basophil stimulation: The sample undergoes exposure to different allergens to induce cell activation.
- Staining with specific antibodies: Reagents are added to label the cells of interest.
- Flow cytometry analysis: CD63 expression is evaluated to determine the degree of basophil activation.
BasoStep clinical applications
BasoStep is a useful tool for various applications in immunology and allergology:
-Diagnosis of IgE-mediated allergies: it allows to identify specific sensitizations to different allergens.
Assessment of cross-reactivity: It is useful to determine the response to similar structural allergens.
Monitoring of immunotherapy treatments: It facilitates the follow-up of patients under desensitizing treatment.
-Immunology and allergy research: Its accuracy makes it ideal for clinical and laboratory studies.
Conclusion
Our BasoStep kit represents a breakthrough in allergy diagnostics by providing a reliable, safe and highly specific tool for the assessment of basophilic activation. Thanks to its flow cytometry-based approach and CD63 antigen detection, BasoStep offers an innovative alternative to traditional tests, with no risk to the patient and highly reproducible results.
For more information on BasoStep and its application in allergy diagnosis, please visit our website: www.immunostep.com