The IgE-facilitated allergen binding (FAB) assay: validation of a novel flow-cytometric based method for the detection of inhibitory antibody responses

摘要

The IgE-Facilitated Allergen Binding (IgE-FAB) assay represents an in vitro model of facilitated allergen presentation. Allergen-IgE complexes are incubated with an EBV-transformed B-cell line and complexes bound to CD23 on the surface of cells are detected by flow cytometry. Addition of serum from patients who have received allergen-specific immunotherapy has been shown previously to inhibit allergen-IgE complex binding to CD23 on B cells.In this study, we describe the characterisation and analytical validation of the grass pollen-specific IgE-FAB assay according to guidelines from the International Conference on Harmonisation. We established the intra and inter -assay variability of IgE-FAB and have defined the detection limits of this assay. We have also demonstrated assay linearity and robustness. Using results from a randomised double-blind placebo controlled trial of grass pollen immunotherapy (n=33), we have defined the clinical sensitivity and specificity of the IgE-FAB assay using ROC curve analysis.In conclusion, the IgE-FAB assay is reproducible, robust, sensitive and specific method suitable as a tool for monitoring inhibitory antibody function from patients receiving allergen immunotherapy.