In cases of suspected occupational asthma to various industrial chemicals, there is an unmet need for new immunological diagnostics; here, we investigate the basophil activation test (BAT), a potential alternative to the identification of particular IgE antibodies. BAT is commonly used in general allergy services, and there is growing evidence that it can be used to diagnose occupational allergies to low molecular weight agents and chemicals such as wood dusts, persulfates, antibiotics, and latex.
BAT has the potential to be a useful tool in the clinical examination of occupational asthma and its processes, as well as to be included in a Bayesian-based diagnostic algorithm. Further development will take place only if expert centres with appropriate facilities, ideally in collaboration, consider its use.
