Strategic Alliance for Allergy Testing

A newly formed strategic partnership will enable ImmuneTech, Inc. (Menlo Park, CA, USA) to develop and commercialize a line of allergy tests based on the LabMAP multi-analyte profiling technology of Luminex Corp. (Austin, TX, USA).

ImmuneTech plans to launch its line, called MyAllergyTest, in a wide variety of venues, including clinical laboratories. The first product will offer quantitative diagnostic data on a multitude of allergens while using only a single drop of fingerstick blood. Follow-on products will include panels for food allergies, life-threatening anaphylactic sensitivity, and a panel for the diagnosis of triggers of allergic disorders such as asthma. ImmuneTech develops and markets in vitro diagnostic panels that it states are more patient-friendly and cost-effective than current skin prick testing.

The Luminex LabMAP technology is based on microspheres internally labeled with two different fluorophores. Different antigens, antibodies, or nucleotide probes can be attached to these labeled beads and a third fluorophore can be used to detect and quantitate the antibodies, microbial antigens, or RNA or DNA in a patient sample. The technology allows up to 100 different substances to be quantitated within a single assay.

"ImmuneTech is pleased to utilize the enabling LabMAP technology, which will help us to expand the in vitro diagnostic market for allergy by lowering costs and by making testing easily accessible to specialists, primary care physicians, and consumers,” said Jerry McLaughlin, vice president of business development at ImmuneTech.




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