MDS makes quantitative allergy blood test available across Canada

Toronto, CANADA -- July 5, 2001 -- An allergy test, now available across Canada through MDS Inc. (TSE: MDS; NYSE: MDZ), can help determine when children have outgrown allergies to peanuts, milk or eggs. The ImmunoCap® allergy test, developed by Pharmacia Diagnostics, detects the full range of food, inhalant and occupational allergies. In fact, the new blood test can identify more than 500 different allergens. The ImmunoCap allergy test is done on a person’s blood sample, whereas traditional allergy skin tests involve needle pricks to insert the allergen under the skin.
'When children have an allergy to food or anything else, their body produces distinctive IgE antibodies,' explains Dr. Bruce Mazer, a pediatric allergist at the Montreal Children’s Hospital. 'Those antibodies may remain long after the child has outgrown their reactions to allergens and so skin tests can continue to give a positive reaction even though the person might no longer have symptoms if exposed to the food in question. Because the ImmunoCap test is quantitative, we can use it to determine if the concentration of IgE left is significant.'

While it has been known for some time that children often outgrow milk and egg allergies, a recent study from John Hopkins University in Baltimore Maryland, using the ImmunoCap test, showed that up to 20 per cent of patients also outgrow peanut allergies. 'This can be very encouraging for children who have been on restrictive diets and for parents worrying that their children might accidentally be exposed to peanuts,' continues Dr. Mazer.

Until recently this highly sensitive test was available on a limited basis to allergy specialists in some provinces. MDS is now offering access to the ImmunoCap test to all physicians across Canada as part of the company’s growing commitment to offer new, high quality diagnostic tests to all Canadians. 'We expect family physicians will make great use of the test to determine whether a child’s chronic runny nose, or other rhinitis symptoms, are a result of allergies to pets or dust, or due to an infection,' says Dr. Brian Sheridan, Vice President, Medical Affairs, MDS Laboratory Services, Canada.

Dr. Sheridan explains that the ImmunoCap system is different from previous allergy blood tests because it measures not just the presence of IgE antibodies, but also the amount. 'It is the first quantitative test for IgE antibodies approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The ImmunoCap allergy test is calibrated using the World Health Organization (WHO) standards.' Physicians also prefer to use a quantitative blood test if the patient is likely to have a severe, anaphylactic reaction to direct exposure to the allergen or if the patient has eczema or extensive skin rashes as a result of exposure to allergens, such as latex. Blood testing is also preferable for patients already on antihistamines, as they would not react reliably to the skin prick test.

MDS is the largest provider of routine and specialty diagnostic services in Canada. MDS provides national access to a comprehensive menu of diagnostic laboratory tests. These diagnostic tests range from routine tests such as glucose testing for diabetes, to more complex testing such as hepatitis or H. pylori testing, and then on to new, highly specialized tests, for example, the patented genetic predisposition testing for cancers. The MDS COL•LAB•ORATE(tm) program provides health care providers and consumers with access to diagnostic testing information. For more information, visit www.mdscollaborate.com.

The MDS Diagnostic Sector (www.mdsdx.com) is a leading provider of diagnostic services in North America and a part of MDS Inc. (TSE: MDS; NYSE: MDZ), an international health and life sciences company. The MDS focus is on using science to advance health, to fight disease. It does this by providing: laboratory testing, imaging agents for nuclear medicine testing, sterilization systems for medical and consumer products, research services to speed discovery and development of new drugs, therapy systems for planning and delivery of cancer treatment, analytical instruments to assist in the development of new drugs, and medical / surgical supplies. MDS employs more than 10,000 highly skilled people at its global operations on five continents. Detailed information about the company is available at the MDS Web site at www.mdsintl.com or by calling 1-888-MDS-7222, 24 hours a day.

Contact:

Patricia Everitt
Director of External Communications
MDS Diagnostic Sector
416-213-4258
peveritt@mdsintl.com