NEWS Advances in allergy research
Beckman Coulter Life Sciences has launched the next-generation Basophil Activation Test (BAT) for research use only to more effectively characterise food allergies without exposure to potentially harmful allergens. Approximately 220 million people globally suffer from at least one food allergy. Most food allergies and treatment efficacies are currently determined through a dated and rigorous oral food challenge (OFC), exposing a patient to gradual amounts of foods to determine if they have a reaction, which could include anaphylaxis in some situations. The new BAT test eliminates that risk, testing for multiple allergens at once through a blood draw – saving hours of food testing and exposure to potentially harmful reactions.
Efficient slide scanning
Imaging technology firm Hamamatsu Photonics has announced the release of the new NanoZoomer S540MD slide scanner system.
This new system is designed to meet the evolving demands of clinical pathology laboratories, offering advanced workflow optimisation, seamless integration, and exceptional image quality.
The S540MD builds on Hamamatsu’s legacy of innovation, delivering a high- throughput solution for large-scale digital pathology operations. With the capacity to scan up to 540 slides in a single run and the continuous loading functionality to keep adding cassettes without interruption, the S540MD maximises efficiency and reduces turnaround times in high-volume laboratories without compromising image quality. Equipped with a touchscreen interface and compatible with industry-standard slide racks, including Leica and Sakura, the S540MD integrates seamlessly into existing laboratory environments.
Using Hamamatsu’s NZAcquireMD image
acquisition software and NZViewMD image viewing platform the new scanner is able to efficiently manage, review, and quality-check whole slide images. Optional centralised multi-scanner control is also available via the company’s newly launched NZConnectMD Scan software.
WWW.PATHOLOGYINPRACTICE.COM MAY 2025
ANZ_Pathology_and_Practice_Magazine_Go_for_Gold_120x168_0724.indd 2 10.07.2024 09:35:22 11 “This offers a groundbreaking alternative
in allergy testing, removing patient obstacles and reducing ethical concerns associated with direct allergen exposure in vulnerable participants,” said Jean-Marc Busnel PhD, Principal Investigator and Senior Staff Research Scientist. “For too long these concerns have limited critical advancements, putting people at risk of not having access to life-saving treatment options should an allergic reaction occur. By removing these barriers, this test unlocks an opportunity to finally expand food allergy drug development and research. This reinforces our mission at Beckman Coulter Life Sciences to deliver tools that empower clinicians and improve patient outcomes. The innovation follows the Food Allergy
Research and Education (FARE) Innovation Award Diagnostic Challenge which Beckman Coulter Life Sciences received in 2022. The $1 million award helps foster the development of improved testing methods. BAT are functional assays measuring basophil activation in response to specific allergens or other stimuli. By leveraging dry technology to overcome traditional BAT challenges, standardisation is enabled with conjugated antibodies and allergens pre- mixed and dried down together in a single tube with only four pipetting steps.
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