EAACI task force report: A consensus protocol for the basophil activation test for collaboration and external quality assurance.

The article discusses the basophil activation test (BAT) as a diagnostic tool for managing patients with IgE-mediated allergies. The authors emphasize the need for standardization and external quality assurance (EQA) of laboratory protocols and results interpretation. A task force was created to develop a consensus protocol for BAT-EQA, and round robin tests were conducted to train participating laboratories. The article presents a proposed standard operating protocol for BAT and highlights the importance of EQA for routine implementation of the assay. The authors conclude that the consensus protocol provides acceptable inter- and intralaboratory variability and can be implemented across Europe. [Extracted from the article]