Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara has joined a select group of Spanish hospitals that routinely use the Basophil Activation Test (BAT) to assess severe allergic reactions. The blood-based assay exposes basophils, a type of white blood cell, to a suspected allergen in the laboratory and measures activation markers. This lets clinicians evaluate cellular reactivity without administering the suspected drug or venom as part of the test. Since its introduction, 59 patients with suspected drug or venom allergies have been evaluated using the method, with samples processed in less than 24 hours at the hospital's day unit.
BAT can reduce the need for some high-risk exposure tests. It supplements clinical assessment, which may include patient history and skin testing, as well as specific-IgE testing or supervised drug provocation when appropriate. A negative blood-test result does not establish that a patient tolerates a suspected medication. Penicillin evaluation, for example, may still require risk assessment followed by a supervised challenge under specialist care.
The adoption of BAT is part of a broader change at the hospital’s Allergology Day Unit, following a major expansion and renovation completed in June 2025. The new facilities have enabled a impressive increase in high-risk diagnostic procedures: controlled drug exposure tests rose by 18%, while food allergy tests increased by nearly 17%. The hospital has also introduced separate risk circuits and specialized beds to manage severe reactions, plus dedicated spaces for immunotherapy and biological treatments.
Since the upgrade, the Allergology Day Unit has carried out 4,645 medical procedures, not counting outpatient consultations. These include 761 high-risk drug allergy tests and 285 food allergy tests. The unit also performed 148 oral immunotherapy procedures, alongside 103 drug desensitizations. It has administered 290 doses of biological treatments, mainly to patients with chronic urticaria or severe asthma. Also, it has delivered 1,645 doses of immunotherapy for airborne allergens and 1,213 for hymenoptera venoms. The unit also recorded 168 hospital consultations, most related to adverse drug reactions.
The hospital’s commitment to new idea and patient safety was recognized in November 2025, when its Immunotherapy Unit received the Excellence accreditation from the Sociedad Española de Alergología e Inmunología Clínica (SEAIC). The distinction recognizes standards for patient safety and procedure quality, along with protocol updates. It also covers ongoing staff training, treatment monitoring and responses to adverse reactions. The hospital’s management says the accreditation guarantees quality and safety for patients undergoing these treatments.
SEAIC’s guidance on suspected allergy to hymenoptera venom calls for specialist assessment by an Allergy service after a person has experienced a reaction. It does not recommend population-wide screening to predict future allergy. After evaluation, clinicians can consider whether venom-specific immunotherapy is appropriate. This specialist pathway provides clinical context for the hospital’s use of BAT in suspected venom allergy.
Hospital Universitario de Guadalajara’s approach reflects a wider trend in Spanish healthcare, where diagnostic technologies are entering routine practice to improve care and reduce risks. Its use of BAT in direct patient care, not solely for research, sets the hospital apart nationally. This shift forms part of a broader movement in Spain to modernize medical infrastructure and adopt safer diagnostic tools. In a related development, regional authorities elsewhere have also been reviewing healthcare strategies, including consideration of tolls on the AP-7 motorway to address congestion and safety, as reported in recent regional transport policy discussions.
The Basophil Activation Test measures how basophils respond to specific allergens in a laboratory setting. Because the assay uses a blood sample, it can provide information about cellular reactivity without directly re-exposing a patient to the suspected substance. Its role alongside other diagnostic methods depends on the suspected allergen and the patient’s clinical history. The hospital’s experience illustrates how investment in facilities and diagnostic services can support patient safety and care as allergy units integrate testing with specialist treatment and monitoring in everyday clinical practice.
