ARUP's Laboratory Test Directory

Urticaria-Inducing Activity : 2005413
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Additional Technical Information
  


Mnemonic: UIA

Methodology: Semi-Quantitative Ex Vivo Challenge/Cell Culture/Quantitative Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
Performed: Mon, Fri
Reported: 2-6 days
Specimen Required: Patient Prep: Patients taking calcineurin inhibitors should stop their medication for 72 hours prior to draw. Patients on prednisone should be off medication for 2 weeks prior to draw.

Collect: Plain red.

Specimen Preparation: Separate serum from cells ASAP or within 2 hours of collection. Transfer 1 mL serum to an ARUP Standard Transport Tube and freeze immediately. (Min: 0.5 mL)

Storage/Transport Temperature: CRITICAL FROZEN. Separate specimens must be submitted when multiple tests are ordered.

Unacceptable Conditions: Specimens other than serum. Contaminated, grossly hemolyzed, or lipemic specimens.

Stability (collection to initiation of testing): After separation from cells: Ambient: 30 minutes; Refrigerated: Unacceptable; Frozen: 1 year (avoid repeated freeze/thaw cycles)
Reference Interval:
Effective November 14, 2011

10 Units or less
Interpretive Data: A value of greater than 10 Units suggests the presence of basophil stimulating antibodies (or other serum factors).

Refer to Statement B under Testing Information at http://www.aruplab.com.

Note: 1) Chronic urticaria (CU) is a common and complex dermatological condition that is suspected when patients experience persistent hives for over 6 weeks. No published evidence of an exogenous allergen as the cause of this disorder exists. About 45 percent of cases have autoantibodies directed against either basophil or mast cell-associated IgE or the high affinity IgE-Fc receptor (Fc epsilon R1 alpha) (Clin Exp Allergy  2009; 39: 777-87). 

2) The presence of histamine releasing factors (including but not limited to IgE and Fc epsilon R1 alpha-specific autoantibodies) in the patient serum can be indirectly determined by evaluating basophil/mast cell activation status using histamine release assays, autologous serum-skin test, and flow cytometric measurement of the basophil and mast cell-specific marker CD203c.  Serum from CU patients can activate donor basophils, which induces histamine release and CD203c upregulation (J Allergy Clin Immunol 2006; 117: 1430-4).
CPT Code(s): 86352
Cross References: Chronic Urticaria (Urticaria-Inducing Activity)