Autologous Serum Therapy (AST) and Autologous Serum Skin Test (ASST)

About this test

What Autologous Serum Therapy (AST) and Autologous Serum Skin Test (ASST) involves

Autologous Serum Therapy (AST) and Autologous Serum Skin Test (ASST) are approaches used in the evaluation and management of chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), particularly persistent or stubborn chronic hives. ASST is a simple in vivo test that uses a patient’s own blood serum, injected under the skin, to assess for serum factors that may trigger histamine release from mast cells, helping identify a possible autoimmune mechanism behind the hives and guiding further treatment. AST uses the patient’s own blood serum as an adjunctive treatment, with the aim of helping desensitize the immune system and potentially reducing symptoms and reliance on antihistamines. Both approaches may be considered as part of an individualized evaluation and treatment plan for selected patients with chronic urticaria.