 |
|
 |
MELISA® is performed under license by 10 laboratories world-wide. The technology is protected by trademark and patent to ensure that all the tests are performed with the same technique and high quality.
Even though it is possible to send blood to an existing laboratory from most parts of the world, we are looking for new partners who can spread the knowledge about metal allergy and make the test more accessible to patients.
At the moment, MELISA® is mainly used for the diagnosis of metal allergy, but the test is also developed for drugs, chemicals and infectious agents. Some laboratories routinly test for allergy to gluten, candida and molds.
In Germany, MELISA® is used to diagnose active Lyme Borreliosis, and which to be a more accurate test for active Lyme diease that standard tests (Western Blot, PCR). For more information see our Lyme page. We work together with certified laboratories and do not sell any kits.
We license the know-how of the MELISA® technology. MELISA® is an optimized lymphocyte transformation test, and therefore uses radioactivity. A potential MELISA® laboratory must have permission to used radioactivity.
We are very interested in developing the test for other substances such as bacteria and food. This can be done in connection with standard commercial testing.
Below is a short description of how MELISA® works. More details can be found in our published articles, most notably in MELISA® – and in vitro tool for the diagnosis of metal allergy from 1994.
Blood in citrate tubes should arrive to the laboratory optimally within 24 hours after the blood has been drawn, and maximally within 48 hours. Lymphocytes are isolated and tested against allergens chosen accordingly to the patient’s anamnesis, dental and occupational history. The blood is incubated for five days and the lymphocyte reaction is measured by two separate technologies: one based on the uptake of radioisotope by dividing lymphocytes; the other by evaluation by microscopy. The level of reactivity is measured as a Stimulation Index (SI). A value over 3 indicates a positive reaction to a given allergen. A report with all values is given to the referring physician.
|
Printer Friendly Version.
|
 |
