Metal hypersensitivity is a cell-mediated immune response that can lead to various diseases, including the granulomatous lung disease called Chronic Beryllium Disease. Hypersensitivity to metals also is increasingly recognized as one of the causes of joint replacement failure.
National Jewish Health Advanced Diagnostic Laboratories has more than two decades of experience in developing and performing Lymphocyte Proliferation Tests (LPT) to measure cell-mediated immune response to metals.
Developed the first diagnostic blood test for beryllium sensitization called the Beryllium Lymphocyte Proliferation Test (BeLPT) in the 1990s
Performs more than 12,000 BeLPTs annually and is the leading beryllium sensitization testing laboratory in the United States
Introduced a nickel lymphocyte proliferation test (NiLPT) to detect nickel sensitization in 2012
Our hypersensitivity assays are developed collaboratively with National Jewish Health physicians, supported by research publications and performed in our CLIA-certified lab.
The lymphocyte proliferation test (LPT) is an in vitro test that measures the antigen-specific T cell response to a suspected antigen or metal in culture. LPTs can be performed alone or in conjunction with skin patch testing to demonstrate allergic or hypersensitivity responses.
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Ronald Joseph Harbeck, PhD, is a researcher at National Jewish Health. Dr. Harbeck is in the Division of Pathology and Department of Medicine.