The functioning of the immune system can be determined from a single drop of blood using an innovative method developed at the University of Pécs, according to a statement by the higher education institution.

In a statement, the institution wrote that experts from the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Pécs achieved a breakthrough in the field of immunological research with their work at the János Szentágothai Research Centre of the university. With the newly developed procedure and equipment provided by US biotechnology company Thermo Fisher, it can be quickly and reliably determined whether someone has innate or acquired immunodeficiency, the statement emphasised. It pointed out that although the examination of the immune system is crucial for the prevention and treatment of various diseases, the currently available methods are costly and complicated, making it difficult to reliably assess the state of the immune system.

Thanks to the new procedure, within 24 hours, it is possible to detect and evaluate the by-products of the development of B-cells from the bone marrow and T-cells from the thymus with complete safety from the patient’s blood. In other words, it can be determined how well the immune system of the individuals being examined is functioning. Determining whether a patient has innate or acquired immunodeficiency is important because newborns may suffer from a rare, but severe, potentially fatal combined immunodeficiency. Early recognition of this condition is essential for the protection of the affected children, according to the statement.

It was also highlighted that the new examination can be highly beneficial for monitoring the health of top athletes, immunosuppressed individuals such as organ transplant recipients, certain cancer patients, and HIV-infected individuals. The development provides an opportunity to establish a diagnostic centre for newborn children operating within a laboratory specialised in immunological measurements. From 2024, the experts at the University of Pécs would operate this centre as a regional screening centre, as stated in the press release.