Medicine Method from the University of Bern improves the diagnosis of allergies

Researchers at the University of Bern, Inselspital and Bern University Hospital have developed a test to simplify the diagnosis of allergies. Its effectiveness has been confirmed by studies on children and adolescents with a peanut allergy.

The test has a higher diagnostic accuracy than previously used methods, the University of Bern announced on Tuesday. It mimics the allergic reaction in a test tube and therefore offers an attractive alternative.

The new method works by activating mast cells. These are specific receptors with antibodies. The mast cells are stimulated with the allergens to be tested. The amount of activated mast cells indicates how allergic a person is to the tested allergen without them having to ingest the food. The mast cell activation test can also be used for other allergies.

According to the university, previous methods, such as the oral provocation test, in which the affected person takes the allergen under supervision in order to test the allergic reaction, are currently still considered the standard in diagnostics. The allergen prick skin test and the blood test are also often inaccurate and lead to misdiagnosis and unnecessary food avoidance.

SDA