IgE Antibodies to Allergens Measured in Blood

New diagnostic technology characterizes, at the molecular level, a person's sensitization pattern to outdoor, indoor, and food allergens in a small sample of blood.

Designed for use by clinicians, investigators, and specialists in the field of immunology, ImmunoCAP technology was cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA; Rockville, MD, USA) as a quantitative test for pinpointing allergens. Allergy blood testing is recognized by the National Institutes of Health (Bethesda, MD, USA) as an important tool in everyday management of patients with asthma.

The original ImmunoCAP Specific IgE blood test technology was introduced by Phadia (Uppsala, Sweden), which unveiled the Phadia Immunology Reference Laboratory (PiRL) and its web site at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, held in Washington, DC (USA), March 13-17, 2009. Phadia and National Jewish Health agreed to collaborate in the areas of education and research. This collaboration will support and advance the understanding of immunology by providing component-resolved diagnostics (CRD) at the molecular level utilizing ImmunoCAP technology.

PiRL is housed at Phadia's Portage facility (MI, USA), and headed by medical director Henry Homburger, MD.

Phadia has announced that the ImmunoCAP Rapid received clearance by the United States Food and Drug Administration as a point-of-care test to assist in the diagnosis of allergy in the physician's office. ImmunoCAP Rapid is the next evolution of the proven ImmunoCAP technology and needs only a small sample of whole blood taken from the fingertip. The single-use, disposable device provides a first look at the IgE profile for patients based on the 10 most common inhaled allergens in the US.

According to Michael Land, president of Phadia US, this is a significant step in the company's mission to make ImmunoCAP testing available to all clinicians managing patients with allergic disease, including asthma and rhinitis. The prevalence of allergy and asthma is described by many as an epidemic; ImmunoCAP Rapid gives physicians access to additional clinical information that can help them arrive at a definitive diagnosis. They can also inform patients about the presence or absence of allergic disease while they are still in the office. In addition, physicians will have the opportunity to discuss with the patient appropriate treatments including targeted exposure reduction.

Related Links:
US Food and Drug Administration
National Institutes of Health
Phadia
Phadia Immunology Reference Laboratory