Medical Immunology
Medical immunology specializes in the diagnosis of diseases of the immune system. The field includes autoimmune diseases, immunodeficiencies, gammopathies and inflammatory diseases of the central nervous system.
Our range of tests is used by the University Hospital Basel as well as other hospitals, medical practices and other clinical laboratories throughout Switzerland. There is close collaboration with the clinical immunology team at the University Hospital Basel.
We are at your disposal for the selection of diagnostic tests and the interpretation of results.
Address and contact
University Hospital Basel
Medical Immunology
Petersgraben 4
CH-4031 Basel
Phone +41 61 265 42 20
Fax +41 61 265 46 00
Secretariat: Barbara Grüter
Phone +41 61 265 42 03
Opening hours
Monday-Friday: 8.00-17.00 hrs
Saturday and Sunday 10.00-16.00 (emergency on-call service, by appointment only)
Management
Academic management
Team leader
Autoimmune diseases
The diagnosis and monitoring of systemic and organ-specific autoimmune diseases includes the detection and quantification of autoantibodies and other components of the immune system.
Our diagnostic methods include
- Digital immunofluorescence microscopy
- Enzyme immunoassays (ELISA, chemiluminescence, line/dot immunoblot)
- Immunophenotyping
Allergies
For the diagnosis of allergic diseases in children and adults, we offer a variety of modern methods to detect sensitization:
- Determination of specific IgE against a broad spectrum of allergen extracts
- Component-based molecular allergy diagnostics, as a single determination or using multiplex methods
- Functional cellular allergy diagnostics
Immunodeficiencies
For patients with suspected primary or secondary immunodeficiencies, we offer a wide range of methods that are suitable for the detection or functional determination of various components of the immune system. Both soluble molecules and cellular components can be examined:
- Immunoglobulins, complement factors and cytokines
- Lymphocyte subpopulations and granulocytes
Gammopathies
The presence of monoclonal immunoglobulins (M proteins) is characteristic of the presence of a monoclonal gammopathy, which can be an expression of malignant clonal proliferation of B cells or plasma cells.
We use immunofixation electrophoresis to detect an M protein in serum or urine. If an M protein is present, the concentration of the M protein is determined and reported in addition to the isotype. In addition, we offer the quantification of free light chains in serum, which are determined in serum using the Freelite® test in accordance with international recommendations.
Inflammatory diseases of the nervous system
The parallel examination of cerebrospinal fluid and serum can be indicative for the diagnosis of neurological pathologies (blood/brain barrier function) as well as acute and chronic inflammatory processes in the CNS. We offer the following tests for this diagnosis:
- Quantification of albumin and the immunoglobulins in serum and cerebrospinal fluid. Assessment of cerebrospinal fluid proteins according to Reiber
- Isoelectric focusing for the detection of CSF-specific oligoclonal bands. Assessment of isoelectric focusing according to Andersson