The Basophil Activation Test (BAT) is an in vitro assay that assesses the degree of cell activation after exposure to allergens. It gained importance as a routine diagnostic test in the field of allergy in recent years. In order to ensure external quality control, INSTAND e.V., an External Quality Assessment (EQA) scheme provider based in Germany, introduced an EQA for BAT.
A successful EQA is not only the key step for laboratories to have access to reimbursement in the respective health system but also represents a step forward in the establishment and recognition of BAT as a complete standardized diagnostic test in routine.
INSTAND is providing non-stabilized EDTA whole blood material from normal blood donors and bee/wasp allergic patients, that can be easily assessed by combination of the Flow CAST® kit for Basophil Activation Testing (BAT; FKCCR), or the CAST® ELISA (EK-CAST) and the specific CAST® allergens for bee and wasp (BAG2-I1 honey bee venom and BAG2-I3 yellow jacket venom).
We had the opportunity to talk to Prof. Dr. Ulrich Sack, Head of the Immune Diagnostics, Institute of Immunology, University Hospital Leipzig about the introduction of the EQA scheme for BAT in the field of allergy.
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