MCH to be first govt hosp to start allergy detection tests
Times of India | 30 April 2025
123 Kolkata: The state-run Medical College and Hospital will be the first govt healthcare facility in Bengal to introduce two tests—skin prick allergy test and Radioallergosorbent Test (RAST)—to detect allergens.
The tests will initially be part of a research, with plans to expand the service to patients subsequently. Each of these tests costs around Rs 2,000-Rs 2,500 in the private sector.
The skin prick allergy test, also known as the scratch test, can detect allergens by exposing the skin to small amounts of potential allergens. The results are visible in about 20 minutes. The Radioallergosorbent Test (RAST) is a blood test used to identify specific IgE antibodies produced in response to allergens, helping to diagnose allergies. It uses radioimmunoassay techniques to measure the levels of antibodies. Eighty patients will undergo each test under the research module. The results will be analysed and ratified before extending the tests to patients after about three months.
"We are starting these two tests on a trial basis to accurately identify the cause of a patient's allergy. It's somewhat costly and unavailable at state-run hospital here. This should help patients who can't afford the tests outside," said Diptansu Mukherjee, ENT associate professor, MCH.
The initiative was announced at an inter-departmental clinical meet on allergy and childhood deafness at MCH, aimed at discussions on prevention, early detection and timely medical intervention. "Allergy-associated diseases in children are on the rise, mainly due to pollens, dust and other polluting agents. With a definite clinical history, tests, such as the skin prick one, can confirm the allergens, which a patient can then avoid, and treatment can be given if the disease has onset," said paediatrics professor Mihir Sarkar.
The seminar was hosted by the ENT department and was attended by minister and member of the hospital's patient welfare committee, Shashi Panja, principal Indranil Biswas and MSVP Anjan Adhikari among other officials. The hospital enlisted senior doctors from departments of community medicine, ENT, respiratory medicine, pharmacology and paediatrics for better coordination in treating diseases caused by allergies.