Bruder Healthcare Expands Dry Eye Portfolio with Eye Care Distribution of AllerFocus Percutaneous Allergy Test

Bruder Healthcare announced an eye care industry distribution agreement with Tallahassee, Florida-based AllerFocus for its Percutaneous Allergy Test, a needle-free allergy screening for 78 of the most common airborne and environmental allergens.

Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. 

With dry eye disease being a multifactorial condition, Bruder stated it was looking to add diagnostic help for eye doctors. "AllerFocus marks a significant addition to Bruder's comprehensive line of eye care products, adding a crucial diagnostic solution for eye doctors in their treatment of patients," Brent Jones, General Manager of Bruder Healthcare and Global Head of Dry Eye at parent company Hilco Vision, said in a company news release.

"The chances are significant that some eye complications are caused by allergies. AllerFocus enables doctors to discover if pollen, animal dander, dust mites, grasses, mold spores or other environmental airborne antigens are to blame," said Mary Jackson, founder of AllerFocus.

AllerFocus relies exclusively on skin contact to identify which allergens cause skin reactions. Doctors receive a supply of the 78 allergens (shipped cold); dip well tray sets and storage containers; 10-prong sterile testing applicators; measurement tool; and documents, including an allergy health assessment form, test prep card for patients, test signature forms, and color-coded test report form, plus marketing materials in English and Spanish. An allergen description book and allergen test cart are also shipped in the first delivery to doctors. Each kit contains enough testing materials for 40 patients.

Once preparing the dip wells in the tray, and inserting the 10-prong applicators, four separate applicators are applied per arm to the patient. About 15 minutes later, eye care staff can measure the size of the flare or skin reaction among the 78 allergens compared against the two controls, indicating one of five levels of allergy. From there, doctors can advise on allergens to avoid, and patients may decide to seek treatment from an allergy doctor.