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news.IBT Laboratories, a clinical-diagnostics and biomedical-research laboratory, has launched two new tests, the T Cell FxTM test and the Mannan Binding Lectin pathway function test, to evaluate the response of patients whose immune systems may be compromised due to a primary immunodeficiency disorder, chemotherapy drugs, or because they are taking immuno-suppressing drugs to prevent rejection of a transplant.
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The Mannan Binding Lectin (MBL) pathway is one of the most important components of the innate immune system. IBT has said that it has developed a unique and quantitative serum test (MBL Pathway Function test) to evaluate the effectiveness of this pathway.
This test will be particularly useful to assess children with persistent, recurrent infections to determine whether their innate immune system is compromised. It will also help physicians to better manage transplant and oncology patients by identifying when prophylactic measures are appropriate, the company said.
T cells are a critical part of the patient’s adaptive immune system and IBT’s new T Cell FxTM test is said to provide a complete evaluation of the ability of a patient’s T cells to protect from viruses, yeast, and bacteria. The test, which looks at peripheral blood mononuclear cells from whole blood, will help physicians identify primary immunodeficiency in children with recurrent infections. For transplant populations, physicians can use the test to help monitor and manage the level of immuno-suppressing drugs.
According to IBT founder and CEO, John Halsey, these two tests provide physicians with much greater insight into a patient’s immunology profile than was possible before. These new test offerings are also expected to add to IBT’s menu of tests that are available to assist physicians in the evaluation of patients with suspected immune deficiency.