Beckman Coulter Life Sciences has unveiled a new next-generation Basophil Activation Test (BAT) to support allergy research without putting patients at risk of exposure to allergens. Designed for research use only, the innovation enables characterisation of food allergies through a simple blood draw—eliminating the need for direct allergen contact in test subjects.

The announcement follows the company’s receipt of the $1 million FARE (Food Allergy Research and Education) Innovation Award Diagnostic Challenge, awarded in 2022 to foster safer and more effective food allergy testing methods.

Addressing global allergy challenges

An estimated 220 million people worldwide live with at least one food allergy. Until now, many diagnoses and assessments of treatment efficacy have relied on the Oral Food Challenge (OFC)—a time-consuming and often stressful process that can pose serious health risks, including anaphylaxis.

Beckman Coulter Life Sciences’ new test removes those concerns. It can identify reactions to multiple allergens simultaneously, through blood analysis, significantly streamlining allergy research.

“This offers a groundbreaking alternative in allergy testing, removing patient obstacles and reducing ethical concerns associated with direct allergen exposure in vulnerable participants,” said Jean-Marc Busnel, PhD, Principal Investigator and Senior Staff Research Scientist at Beckman Coulter Life Sciences.

“By removing these barriers, this test unlocks an opportunity to finally expand food allergy drug development and research.”

Safer research, faster results

The Basophil Activation Test works by measuring basophil response to allergens in blood samples. The test utilises dry technology, meaning antibodies and allergens are pre-mixed and dried in a single tube, reducing handling steps to just four pipetting actions. The system also allows for negative and positive controls, without the need for centrifugation or compensation, and is compatible with any flow cytometer.

This approach addresses long-standing issues with BAT, which despite being in use for over 30 years, has faced limited uptake due to perceived complexity and lack of standardisation.

“At FARE, we have prioritised supporting the development of safer alternatives to oral food challenges that can expose patients to risk and induce anxiety,” said Sung Poblete, PhD, RN, CEO of FARE.

“The introduction of this next-generation Basophil Activation Test marks a significant advancement… paving the way for safer, more accessible food allergy research while offering the opportunity to stimulate progress.”

Customisation for advanced research

The new BAT also provides customisation options through the Custom Design Service from Beckman Coulter Life Sciences. Researchers can specify allergens, antibodies and concentrations according to their needs.

Note: This product is for research use only and not for use in diagnostic procedures.

To learn more, visit Beckman Coulter Life Sciences.