Newborn Blood Test Predicts Allergy Risk

Filed in archive Allergy: Diagnostics and Treatment , Allergy: Research and Development on May 23, 2010

© teadrinker

Blood test for newborns can now predict their risk of developing allergies. The test looks for a protein marker called kinase C-zeta, which is a lot lower in children prone to allergic reactions.

It took seven years of research by university researchers in South Australia and Western Australia to achieve this breakthrough.

According to University of Adelaide immunology Professor Tony Ferrante:

"I think it alleviates that (parental) worry to some degree, if we can say with 75 to 80 per cent accuracy whether their child is going to develop allergy or not".

The said test will be readily available in the next two or three years with the help of funding from the National Health and Medical Research Council. When that happens, the test can be used on a routine basis in hospitals throughout Australia.