Flow cytometry for basophil activation markers: the measurement of CD203c up-regulation is as reliable as CD63 expression in the diagnosis of cat allergy.

The flow cytometric basophil activation test (BAT), based on the detection of allergen-induced CD63 expression, has been proved effective in the diagnosis of various IgE-mediated allergies. However, there is not yet consensus about the suitability of CD203c expression as a specific basophil activation marker and its diagnostic reliability. The goal of the present study was to compare measurement of CD63 and CD203c expression using BAT in a model of cat allergy and to determine optimal experimental conditions for both markers.

IL-4 and IL-13 mRNA real-time PCR quantification on whole blood to assess allergic response.

Although routinely used in clinical practice, skin prick tests and serum specific IgE often fail to distinguish between IgE-sensitization and symptomatic IgE-mediated allergy. There is therefore a need for new laboratory tests relating allergic symptoms to the offending agent. In this way, we evaluated the diagnostic reliability of a new whole blood quantitative real-time PCR assay for IL-4 and IL-13 mRNAs.