The use of Basophil Activation Testing in Peri-Operative Anaphylaxis
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Role of the Basophil Activation Test (BAT) for defining further investigation in peri-operative anaphylaxis.
IRAS ID
186961
Contact name
Linda Nel
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University Hospital Southampton NHS FT
Duration of Study in the UK
0 years, 3 months, 18 days
Research summary
This project will focus on the use of Neuromuscular Blocking Agents (NMBAs) in anaesthetics (drugs used to ‘paralyse’ the patient’s muscles during surgery) and the risk they pose for peri-operative anaphylaxis (a potentially fatal allergic reaction during/after surgery). It will also determine whether the Basophil Activation Test (BAT – A test used to identify a certain type of white blood cell called ‘basophils’ which are often seen in allergic reactions) proves useful for clinical practice and whether the use of a less expensive BAT proves more cost effective in comparison to other commercial BAT tests available. Comparisons will also be made between BAT vs. SPT (Skin testing)/IDT (Intradermal testing).
Skin testing and intradermal testing (in between some of the skin layers) are the current best (i.e. gold standard) clinical tests used for diagnosing allergies to NMBAs. During the course of the project, twelve patients will be sampled who will have already had skin tests in clinic and require further testing after their positive results. The BAT test in the study will be running parallel to the current gold standard test for allergy in peri-operative anaphylaxis and therefore the patient won’t need to know about the results, as they will already have a confirmed diagnosis of allergy to NMBAs.
The BAT may prove useful clinically, as patients who were positive after SPT may then be eligible for further testing with an intravenous challenge if the BAT gives a weak positive result. An intravenous challenge is administering a drug through a vein and then observing any response(s) to that drug – this is a possible future study and will not be included within this study.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
15/NW/0664
Date of REC Opinion
1 Sep 2015
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion