Tweeted by @MatthewBowdish
"The basophil activation test diagnoses peanut allergy with high accuracy"
http://www.aaaai.org/global/latest-research-summaries/Current-JACI-Research/basophil-activation-test.aspx (http://www.aaaai.org/global/latest-research-summaries/Current-JACI-Research/basophil-activation-test.aspx)
QuoteBAT made an accurate diagnosis of peanut allergy or tolerance in 97% of cases. It showed 98% sensitivity, 96% specificity, 95% positive predictive value and 98% negative predictive value in the primary study population and 83% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value and 90% negative predictive value in the validation population.
QuoteSantos and colleagues concluded that BAT to peanut can be performed in cases where conventional allergy tests are inconclusive before deciding to refer a patient for an OFC.
Hmmmm--
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/532237_1 (http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/532237_1)
And I think that Dr. Scheffler's remarks on this (http://www.aaaai.org/ask-the-expert/validity-of-testing-for-food-allergy-using-ALCAT-o.aspx) are still in keeping with the results reported above.
It's a useful add-on to a regular allopathic workup when in the hands of a competent allergy care professional... but as a fishing expedition it's probably no better than any of the other stuff out there. Well. Maybe better than kinesiology or something. But not by a lot, probably.
I thought you might comment on that one.
:)
Thanks.