- Title: R&E Diagnostics
- Content text:
The MELISA® test (MEmory Lymphocyte Immuno-Stimulation Assay) is a specialized blood test designed to detect Type IV (delayed-type) hypersensitivity reactions to metals. It works by measuring the immune system’s response to specific allergens through a refined version of the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT).
For whom is the MELISA® test suitable:MELISA® is primarily used for individuals in whom it is suspected that immune reactions to metals may be causing or worsening chronic health problems. These problems may include fatigue, fibromyalgia, depression, joint and muscle pain, dermatitis, burning mouth syndrome, or other unexplained inflammatory symptoms. The test is especially relevant for people with exposure to dental metals, orthopedic implants, surgical screws, pacemakers, or other metallic devices.
Standard allergy tests, such as skin patch testing, may fail to detect hypersensitivity to metals like titanium, which MELISA® can uncover.
Studies show that identifying and removing reactive metals based on MELISA® results can lead to substantial clinical improvement in many patients. The test is unique in its ability to differentiate immune hypersensitivity from mere toxic exposure, providing critical insights that can guide safer material choices in dentistry and surgery.
The test can also be used preoperatively to assess the risk of implant rejection or to screen individuals with occupational exposure to metals.
To order the test in Canada / in the US, please contact ... - possible to add "ORDER TESTING" button, or link to a separate page/contact page where orders could be made.
A range of testing panels tailored to different sources of exposure is offered, including dental amalgam materials, non-noble and noble metals used in crowns and bridges, and orthopedic implant alloys.Note that MELISA® can be affected by certain medications and some health conditions. Patients are advised to avoid immunosuppressive medications, such as steroids, for at least three weeks before testing. These could suppress immune responses and produce false negative results, or testing could be non-evaluable. More information on medication and health can be found HERE.
Access to the MELISA® test requires a referral from a licensed healthcare provider. Once a test is ordered, the patient receives a test kit and has blood drawn. Samples should be shipped at room temperature and delivered in 24 hours, or at the most in 48 hours of blood draw. Phlebotomy can also be performed directly at our laboratory in London, Ontario.
More information about the MELISA® test can be found on the MELISA Diagnostic website.
- Intro text editor:
The MELISA test (Memory Lymphocyte Immunostimulation Assay) is a specialized blood test designed to detect Type IV (delayed-type) hypersensitivity reactions to metals. It works by measuring the immune system’s response to specific allergens through a refined version of the lymphocyte transformation test (LTT). The test evaluates how white blood cells, responsible for Type IV sensitivity reactions, proliferate in response to various antigens. A positive result is indicated by dividing and enlarging lymphocytes to form lymphoblasts.
For whom is the MELISA test suitable:
MELISA is primarily used for individuals in whom it is suspected that immune reactions to metals may be causing or worsening chronic health problems. These problems may include fatigue, fibromyalgia, depression, joint and muscle pain, dermatitis, burning mouth syndrome, or other unexplained inflammatory symptoms. The test is especially relevant for people with exposure to dental metals, orthopedic implants, surgical screws, pacemakers, or other metallic devices.
Standard allergy tests, such as skin patch testing, may fail to detect hypersensitivity to metals like titanium, which MELISA can uncover. Studies show that identifying and removing reactive metals based on MELISA results can lead to substantial clinical improvement in many patients. The test is unique in its ability to differentiate immune hypersensitivity from mere toxic exposure, providing critical insights that can guide safer material choices in dentistry and surgery.MELISA offers a range of testing panels tailored to different sources of exposure. These include dental amalgam materials, non-noble and noble metals used in crowns and bridges, and orthopedic implant alloys.
The test can also be used preoperatively to assess the risk of implant rejection or to screen individuals with occupational exposure to metals.To order the test in Canada / in the US, please contact ... - possible to add "ORDER TESTING" button, or link to a separate page where orders could be made
MELISA can be affected by certain medications and some health conditions. Patients are advised to avoid immunosuppressive medications, such as steroids, for at least three weeks before testing. These could suppress immune responses and produce false negative results, or testing could be non-evaluable. More information on medication and health is available HERE.
Access to the MELISA test requires a referral from a licensed healthcare provider. Once a test is ordered, the patient receives a test kit and has blood drawn. Samples should be shipped at room temperature and delivered in 24 hours, or at the most in 48 hours of blood draw.
Phlebotomy can also be performed directly at our laboratory in London, Ontario.More information about the MELISA test can be found on the MELISA Diagnostic website.
- Title: Scoliosis research
- Subtitle: MELISA
- Content text:
Article by Rebecca Dutton: Scoliosis research update
As a team member of MELISA Diagnostics, I see many connections between heavy metals and illness. We asked for your help with on-going research into scoliosis and the possible link to heavy metals. The results of this research can be seen in the video "Scoliosis, Spinal Surgery and Metal Allergy" (available HERE).
You may want to know more about my own story. During the 1970‘s I was employed by a dentist as a practice manager and nurse for three years. I spent many hours each day mixing amalgam fillings in a rubber finger stall, exposed to mercury vapour from the action of rubbing silver alloy and mercury together. I had no personal protection equipment, gloves or mask and no ventilation system to filter the mercury. When I became pregnant during the latter part of my employment, my duties remained the same, apart from not being present when X-rays were taken. My daughter was diagnosed with a neurological condition and scoliosis at 16 years of age.
I firmly believe this was the result of her exposure to mercury in my womb. Her test results appear to support my theory, showing mercury on her DNA, a high sensitivity to mercury and displacement of essential minerals, necessary for the function of the cells. At 17 years of age, she underwent major spinal surgery to correct her curvature, which involved the removal of 6 intervertebral discs, a rib and the placement of a titanium rod in her spine. This caused many problems as the spine is designed to be flexible, not rigid. The psychological impact was huge, living with restricted movement and physical limitations. My daughter‘s experience made me determined to research the possible causes of scoliosis and to investigate alternative treatments which may prevent the need for surgery.
In 2008 I was asked to set up the website understandingscoliosis.org with the former Culture Correspondent of BBC Newsnight, Madeleine Holt. Our aim is to encourage people to investigate alternatives to surgery for spinal curvature, and to examine the possible causes of scoliosis. Madeleine developed scoliosis as a teenager (though she never had spinal rods) but now, after removing all heavy metals, is completely pain-free.
Scoliosis surgery has never been proven to eliminate spinal curvature, reduce pain, improve lung function or correct the deformity of the ribs and torso. The rate of complications may be higher than reported as may the long-term risks. Despite these facts, there is little or no interest in the orthopaedic community in finding methods of scoliosis treatment that do not involve scoliosis bracing or surgery.
I believe that there is a link between mercury and scoliosis, often as the "initial insult", and I have written a hypothesis on the connection. This was spurred partly by my observation that a pattern was emerging: many patients who contacted me with mercury sensitivity also had scoliosis. I contacted Professor Vera Stejskal, Associate Professor of Immunology and inventor of the MELISA test and asked if we could conduct a research study to see if mercury may be implicated in the development of scoliosis. She very kindly offered to put a questionnaire on my website. This was pioneering research, as yet not endorsed by the medical establishment, which hopefully, could play an important part in understanding why idiopathic scoliosis develops in the first place.
In 2014, I was appointed lead activist to represent the UK in the Global Minamata Treaty, to ban mercury pollution. One of the successful outcomes of this was the new EU regulation to ban dental amalgam use in children under 15 and pregnant and nursing women. This came into force in July 2018, in 28 EU countries including the UK.
In 2018, Dr Shideh Pouria, consultant Nephrologist, asked me to present at a conference in London: "Systemic Effects of Metal Exposure in Clinical Practice: Protecting Patients and Optimising Outcomes”. My presentation was on "Scoliosis, Spinal Surgery and Metal Allergy’" and included my research study on the link between mercury and scoliosis.
- Articles - Title: Metal hypersensitivity and pro-inflammatory cytokine production in patients with failed orthopedic implants
- Articles - Abstract:
Podzimek S, Himmlova L, Janatova T, Bjørklund G, Vrbova R, Janovska M, Peana M, Chasapis CT, Vinsu A, Prochazkova J, Duskova J. Clin Immunol. 2022 Dec; 245:109152.
Orthopedic implants heal well without complications in most patients but fail for unclear reasons in some individuals. This study determined the relevance of metal hypersensitivity in patients with failed orthopedic implants and those requiring orthopedic implant surgery. The study included 35 patients with failed orthopedic implants and 15 subjects scheduled for orthopedic implant surgery. The production of selected pro-inflammatory cytokines was measured in patients with failed orthopedic implants. Metal hypersensitivity was measured in all subjects using the MELISA® test. Of common metals in orthopedic alloys, the patients with failed orthopedic implants responded most frequently to nickel, chromium, titanium, iron, and molybdenum. Hypersensitivity to metals found in implants was measured in 40% of patients with failed implants. The study also showed that titanium exposure in patients with titanium hypersensitivity might lead to implant failure. Metal hypersensitivity testing should be offered to patients before surgery to minimize the risk of implant failure.
- Articles - Download: Metal-hypersensitivity-and-pro-inflammatory-cytokine-production-in-patients-with-failed-orthopedic-implants-1.pdf
- Articles - Title: Metal hypersensitivity in patients with failure of joint prosthesis treatment
- Articles - Abstract:
Bruna J, Prochazkova J, Podzimek S, Himmlova L, Janatova T, Vinsu A. J Immunol Res. 2025 Mar 10; 2025:4319686. doi: 10.1155/jimr/4319686.
The objective of this study is to measure lymphocyte responses to metal antigens using MELISA (memory lymphocyte immunostimulation assay) test–modified lymphocyte transformation test (mLTT) and to evaluate metal sensitization in patients with and without the need of prosthetic surgery. The patients in the study had known metal exposures, prior hypersensitivity reactions or implant-related complications. This study is a case-control retrospective survey. Authors retrospectively analyzed all patients from 2013 to 2018 who were referred to the Institute of Dental Medicine, General University Hospital in Prague, and First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, either following joint prosthesis-related complications or as a preoperative evaluation concerning metal hypersensitivity. For the control group, authors selected healthy adults from their database. A group of 127 patients aged 25–81 years was chosen, 92 of which were female and 35 were male. The patients completed a special questionnaire aimed at information regarding their health status and history of metal exposure. After clinical examination, their peripheral blood samples were taken to perform mLTT. By comparison of the study group and control group mLTT results, it can be stated that patients of the study group showed a higher level of lymphocyte reactivity to most of the tested metal antigens. The study has revealed that the patients with the need of prosthetic surgery exhibited an elevated lymphocyte response to metal antigens. This result supports a metal-specific adaptive immune response and suggests involvement of metal exposure as a trigger for their health problems. Routine in vitro hypersensitivity testing before total joint replacement in patients with a history of health problems associated with metal exposure should be considered. Authors suggest performing mLTT testing preoperatively, during implant service, and before/after revision in case of complications.
- Articles - Download: Metal Hypersensitivity in Patients With Failure of Joint Prosthesis Treatment.pdf
- Articles - Title: Titanium and other metal hypersensitivity diagnosed by MELISA® test: follow-up study
- Articles - Abstract:
Vrbova R, Podzimek S, Himmlova L, et al. BioMed Research International 2021
This study is aimed at proving the clinical benefit of the MELISA® test in the minimization or complete elimination of health problems in patients with confirmed hypersensitivity to metals used for tissue replacements. A group of 305 patients aged 20-75 years with previously proven metal hypersensitivity (initial MELISA® test), mainly to titanium and then to another fifteen metals, was chosen from the database at the Institute of Dental Medicine. From these patients, a final group of 42 patients agreed to participate in the study, 35 of which were female and 7 were male. The patients completed a special questionnaire aimed at information regarding change of health status from their last visit and determining whether the results of the initial MELISA® test and recommendations based on it were beneficial for patients or not. They were clinically examined, and peripheral blood samples were taken to perform follow-up MELISA® tests. Questionnaire data was processed, and the follow-up MELISA® test results were compared with the results of the initial MELISA® tests. For statistical analysis, the Fisher’s exact test and paired -test were used. Thirty-two patients reported that they followed the recommendations based on the results of the initial MELISA® tests, and of these, 30 patients (94%) confirmed significant health improvement. Six patients did not follow the recommendation, and from these, only one patient reported an improvement in his health problems. By comparison of the initial and follow-up MELISA® test results, it can be stated that the hypersensitivity to the given metal decreased or disappeared after the therapeutic interventions performed based on the initial MELISA® test results. The evaluation of the data obtained from patients in this study confirmed a significant clinical benefit of MELISA® test.
- Articles - Download: Titanium-and-other-metal-hypersensitivity-diagnosed-by-MELISA-test.pdf
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