EP16 - Orthopedic Analysis - Metal Allergy LTT Testing: Lymphocyte Transformation Assays as an Alternative to Patch Testing

Dr. Nadim Hallab is the CEO of Orthopedic Analysis and a professor at Rush University Medical Center in the department of Orthopedic Surgery. Dr. Hallab is an expert in metal hypersensitivity and implant degradation, whose research encompasses immune reactions to implant debris, modular junctions, peri-implant cell toxicity, and material surfaces for controlling immune responses.

Over two decades, his group has made significant advancements in understanding implant debris interactions and improving implant performance. They've also developed renowned diagnostic methods for establishing metal sensitivity, especially as it relates to implanted hardware and medical devices.

Dr, Hallab is the author of over 100 PubMed articles on metal hypersensitivity in regards to orthopedics, has authored and published many other scientific journal articles and has spoken on these subjects nationally and internationally, also sitting as an expert for the FDA on device panel hearings and other meetings.

On this episode Dr. Hallab discusses the founding of Orthopedic Analysis, one of the world leaders in blood metal LTT allergy testing and the largest provider of this testing within the USA.

We delve into the medical community's views on metal hypersensitivity, Lymphocyte Transformation Testing's clinical validation, and why the "gold standard" patch test falls short in diagnosing metal sensitivity. We explore ongoing efforts to gain support from the FDA, NIH, and insurance providers for LTT testing.

We discuss differences between testing methodologies of the stateside Orthopedic Analysis lab, compared to overseas provider MELISA diagnostics and the overall provision and standards of LTT testing, as well as the different materials tested and tested against. Also concentration levels are better explained and a discussion on the shipping of biological samples occurs.

Further conversation ensues around the future of metal implants in healthcare, along with the options of coating implants with alternative shielding agents like titanium nitride and carbon fiber, to camouflage allergenic metals from identification by the immune system, which may be less ideal than previously considered.

The episode concludes with insights into the impact of COVID on the immune system and answers to questions from Metalhead followers.

~Links and Resources~

~ Check out the Orthopedic Analysis website https://www.orthopedicanalysis.com/

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~Access some of Dr. Hallab's scholarly and journal publications HERE:

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~To learn more visit ⁠HeavilyMetalled.com⁠.

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***Many WONDERFUL, supportive special-interest communities exist for metal allergies and diet, hardware issues, medical devices, etc., online and on social media. They have many resources and often act as a collective think-tank. I owe many parts of my recovery to knowledge obtained in such groups. Search keywords to join these groups and find your tribe!***