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MRT Laboratories, Inc.

50 Johnson Ave.
Hackensack, NJ 07601
201-342-5400
800-631-1379
FAX 201-342-1123
Email

Services

...convenient, cost-effective allergy screening with no patient risk and a low incidence of false-positive results.

MRT Laboratories, Inc. provides a broad range of in-vitro diagnostic tests performed on human serum for the diagnosis of allergic and immune deficiency diseases. The most useful and generally applicable tests relate to the diagnosis and therapy of IgE mediated upper respiratory allergic responses to inhaled allergens. The technique of the test and the system of scoring the test enable this lab to offer the clinician not only a positive or negative result, but a quantification of the result.

The negative result, which is based on the lack of the presence of a significant amount of allergen specific IgE in the serum, allows the clinician to conclude that specific immunotherapy (i.e. the injection of that antigen; Ragweed, June Grass, etc.) will be of no value to the patient. In Vitro testing for specific IgE, is more specific than the skin test, and can thus be used with greater confidence in the exclusion of the presence of IgE mediated allergy. The skin test may provoke reactions in many patients on a non-specific basis by triggering mast cell release of mediators without a specific IgE reaction. This will lead to false positive results and might commit the clinician to initiate a useless course of immunotherapy.

A positive result is reported in a quantified manner utilizing a range of classes, as an indication of equivocal to highly reactive results. The inherent sensitivity of immunoassay is ultilized by the scoring system to detect minimal quantities of allergen specific IgE. The ultization of the quantitative analysis of the result allows the clinician to select an initial concentration of antigen for immunotherapy which is least likely to provoke an adverse reaction in a patient and most likely to be at a level that will result in an alteration of the patient's immunological response and alleviation of symptoms.

Adverse reactions to foods may be mediated by the IgE mechanism. immunoassay can identify foods that are causing such reactions. Insect venom testing is available, as well as Immunoglobulin profiles and subclasses of IgE.

These tests can be performed on sera of patients who are concurrently taking antihistamines or steriods. Testing of children or of patients with eczema, dermographia, pigmented skin, or other skin disorders is facilitated by in-vitro testing of the patient's serum rather than in-vivo skin testing.

The possibility of severe allergic reactions occuring during in-vivo skin testing with allergen extracts is avoided by simply drawing a serum sample by venipuncture.

Consultants:

Richard G. Fadal, M.D.
Donald J. Nalebuff, M.D.
Barbara G. Cordes, R.N

More information...

Why test for allergy? Click Here
Why use blood tests? Click Here
Tell me about In Vitro Tests
Newsletter: "Advantages of In Vitro Testing"
Learn more about Our Services
To view a sample Allergy Testing Results report, Click Here