Facility Allows Immunology Specialists Access to Diagnostic Technology

Designed for use by clinical investigators and specialists in the field of immunology, new diagnostic technology characterizes a person's sensitization pattern at the molecular level.

The formal unveiling of the Phadia Immunology Reference Laboratory (PiRL) and its web site occurred at the Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, held in Washington, DC (USA) from March 13-17, 2009. Phadia and National Jewish Health agreed to collaborate in the areas of education and research. This collaboration will support and advance the understanding of immunology by providing component-resolved diagnostics (CRD) at the molecular level utilizing ImmunoCAP technology.

ImmunoCAP technology was the first allergy test to be cleared by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA; Rockville, MD, USA) as a truly quantitative test for pinpointing allergens. Allergy blood testing is recognized by the National Institutes of Health as an important tool in the everyday management of patients with asthma. ImmunoCAP technology measures IgE antibodies to outdoor, indoor, and food allergens in a small sample of blood. Specific IgE is produced as a result of sensitization to an allergen and increases with exposure to that substance.

"We are excited about the opportunity for Phadia and National Jewish Health to collaborate in the areas of education and research through the introduction of this new reference laboratory," said Michael Land, president of Phadia US. "By providing such advanced diagnostic services today for personalized patient care, we will one day be able to extend this understanding to a broader universe of clinicians, researchers, and patients."

PiRL is housed at Phadia's Portage, MI facility (UAS), and headed by medical director Henry Homburger, MD, who brings to PiRL a reputation for excellence in precision assay technology that optimizes diagnosis that enhances patient care.

Phadia AB, headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden, is the world leader in in-vitro IgE diagnostic research and product development.

Related Links:
Phadia Immunology Reference Laboratory
US Food and Drug Administration
Phadia