Metals Allergy Testing Program Make an Appointment Refer a Patient Ask a Question Make an Appointment Refer a Patient Ask a Question Up to 10% of joint replacements will fail, causing pain, swelling and/or instability. The MetALLs Allergy program at National Jewish Health was developed to evaluate allergy to the metal and bone cement components used in joint replacements as a potential cause of failure. The MetALLs program offers individualized evaluation that can help guide the selection of hardware, minimize failure due to allergy and reduce the need for surgical revision in joint replacement patients. Who should be referred for MetALLs allergy evaluation? After joint replacement (post-op): patients with persistent pain, swelling and/or loosening should be referred after infection and biomedical mis-match have been excluded as a cause. Before joint replacement (pre-op): patients with a history of allergy or sensitivity to metals or artificial nails. What MetALLs evaluations are available? We currently offer two options for assessing joint replacement patients for allergies: We offer patch testing at our clinic in Denver, CO. Our customized, comprehensive patch test panel evaluates sensitivity to multiple components used in joint replacements, including nickel, cobalt, chromium, titanium, benzoyl peroxide, and bone cement itself. Testing involves three visits to our clinic in a 4-5 day period. We also offer the nickel lymphocyte proliferation test (NiLPT). The NiLPT is a simple blood assay that has been validated by patch testing, which detects nickel sensitization. This is an ideal test for patients who cannot travel to Denver for our comprehensive medical evaluation but who are concerned that they might be allergic to nickel. Order a test. Tests We Offer Allergy MetALLs Nickel Lymphocyte Proliferation (NiLPT) Testing The nickel lymphocyte proliferation test (NiLPT) is a simple blood test for nickel allergy that measures the proliferation of lymphocytes (white blood cells) when presented with a challenge agent. The NiLPT offers physicians the ability to diagnose nickel allergy if patch testing is unavailable. It also can be used when patch test results are inconclusive. Thirty milliliters (or three tubes) of blood are drawn at the physician’s office and sent by overnight courier to the Advanced Diagnostics Laboratory (ADx) at National Jewish Health. Results typically will be available within 14 days. The NiLPT has been validated against patch testing and demonstrated to have a specificity of 98% and sensitivity of 68%. Development of a validated blood test for nickel sensitization. Pacheco K, Barker L, Maier L, Erb S, Sills M, Knight V. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2013 Sep;132(3):767-9. If you are interested in having an NiLPT performed, please contact the MetALLs Allergy Program at 800.423.8891 ext. 1723 or via e-mail at barkerl@njhealth.org. Clinical Trials Atopic Dermatitis & Skin Infections Healthy Adults Needed for Beryllium Disease Study Immune Pathways & Development of Sarcoidosis Lung Injury from Military Deployment Mineral Dust & Lung Disease Silicosis Registry Understanding Allergy Development in Infants Reasons to Choose National Jewish Health The leading respiratory hospital in the nation and the only one devoted fully to the treatment of respiratory and related illnesses Ranked #1 or #2 in Pulmonology by U.S. News & World Report for 26 consecutive years Ranked in the top 5% of hospitals in the nation by HCAHPS Physicians consistently recognized among the best in the nation by multiple services, including Best Doctors in America and Castle Connolly Among the top 6% of organizations funded for research by the NIH, providing patients access to hundreds of active clinical trials 124-year history of focus on care, research and education serving patients from around the world with lung, heart, immune and related disorders Make an Appointment Searching For Answers The second time Lillian Downs got COVID-19, she came to National Jewish Health. When infectious disease expert Jared Eddy, MD, saw Lillian before an antibody infusion, he realized that she needed a more extensive evaluation. Read More View All Patient Stories
Reasons to Choose National Jewish Health The leading respiratory hospital in the nation and the only one devoted fully to the treatment of respiratory and related illnesses Ranked #1 or #2 in Pulmonology by U.S. News & World Report for 26 consecutive years Ranked in the top 5% of hospitals in the nation by HCAHPS Physicians consistently recognized among the best in the nation by multiple services, including Best Doctors in America and Castle Connolly Among the top 6% of organizations funded for research by the NIH, providing patients access to hundreds of active clinical trials 124-year history of focus on care, research and education serving patients from around the world with lung, heart, immune and related disorders Make an Appointment
Searching For Answers The second time Lillian Downs got COVID-19, she came to National Jewish Health. When infectious disease expert Jared Eddy, MD, saw Lillian before an antibody infusion, he realized that she needed a more extensive evaluation. Read More View All Patient Stories