News Archive

3/21/2000
Thirty New Allergy Tests Cleared for Marketing
(Kalamazoo, Mich., March 21, 2000) - Pharmacia Diagnostics announced today it has received U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) clearance to market 30 new allergens for use with its ImmunoCAP Specific IgE Blood Test. The total number of FDA-cleared tests for allergens using the ImmunoCAP Specific IgE Blood Test is now 316, and Pharmacia & Upjohn continues to lead in FDA clearances for allergens.

The ImmunoCAP Specific IgE Blood Test can assist physicians with detection of IgE-mediated allergy with greater accuracy and precision than other technologies, such as RAST. Such detection of specific IgE antibodies allows the physician to more fully understand the underlying etiology of the patient presentation and get the patient on the proper treatment path sooner. Avoidance strategies, the first line of treatment, as well as proper drug therapies all depend on confirming the suspected allergic condition and determining exactly what the patient is allergic to. Unlike allergy testing that requires one or more suspected allergens to be injected into a patient's skin, the ImmunoCAP Specific IgE Blood Test is conducted in a laboratory, using a small sample of the patient's blood to test for sensitivity.

"ImmunoCAP, already the broadest line of FDA-cleared laboratory tests for allergy, may now be used to safely test for even more allergens by offering physicians a safe and reliable alternative to skin testing," said Michael Land, vice president and general manager, Pharmacia & Upjohn U.S. Diagnostics. "Because the test is conducted on a blood sample, it may be used by primary care physicians to improve allergy diagnostic accuracy and overall patient management," added Land.

Physicians interested in learning how to order allergy testing using the ImmunoCAP Specific IgE Blood Test may call 1-877-862-4947.

Pharmacia & Upjohn's Diagnostics business, headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden, is a world leader in in vitro diagnostic research and product innovation.

Pharmacia & Upjohn is a global, innovation-driven pharmaceutical and health care company. Pharmacia & Upjohn's products, services and employees demonstrate its commitment to improving wellness and quality of life for people around the world.

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