Bayer tests to identify summer allergies

The use of Bayer Diagnostics' ADVIA Centaur immunoassay system to automate the process of in vitro allergy testing is helping clinical laboratories to meet the seasonal increase in test requests.

The use of Bayer Diagnostics' ADVIA Centaur immunoassay system to automate the process of in vitro allergy testing is helping clinical laboratories to meet the usual seasonal increase in test requests.

Each summer as people take to the outdoors, those of all ages can suffer with allergies ranging from stings caused by honeybees, wasps and hornets to allergic reactions to foodstuffs such as salmon, kiwi fruit and strawberries, says the company.

New additions to the allergy menu for the ADVIA Centaur include assays for blue mussel, common millet, curry, mustard, rainbow trout, sunflower seeds as well as an additional food mix and two tree mixes.

All these assays have been co-developed with the Danish allergy immunotherapy and in vitro test manufacturer ALK-Abello.

The incidence of allergy has increased two-fold to three-fold over the past 20 years, with approximately one quarter of the population in the industrialised world now estimated to suffer from some form of the condition, says Bayer.

Allergic response to insect venom can range from severe local skin reactions to exhaustion, dizziness, hypotension, swelling of the throat and anaphylaxis, which may result in death.

Grass, tree and weed pollen are commonly associated with allergic respiratory symptoms such as hay fever (rhinitis) and asthma.

Common symptoms presented by an allergic reaction to foodstuffs include skin rash, hives, bursitis, asthma and gastrointestinal disturbances.

All the allergy assays available for the ADVIA Centaur are two-stage tests which are processed on the analyser in 47 minutes, without disruption to overall routine workflow, says the company.

All assay steps are carried out automatically on board the system, eliminating the need for manual transfers.

The tests are highly specific, complementing the very sensitive in vivo skin prick tests which are carried out in the doctor's surgery.

Use of the ADVIA Centaur tests enables clinicians to obtain accurate diagnoses quickly so that appropriate treatment may be prescribed without delay.

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