Use of automatic counting of basophil leukocytes: correlation of basophil degranulation with histamine release.

The sensitivity of leukocytes from allergic donors towards specific allergen was studied using the basophil degranulation test. In this test, basophil leukocytes were counted with the Technicon Hemalog D. A good correlation was found between the results of the basophil degranulation test and the results of the histamine release test on leukocytes of the same patient. The basophil degranulation test, using the Hemalog D, was found to be a simple method for in vitro assessment of the sensitivity of allergic patients to specific allergen.