StArtBio is an innovative company in the field of Molecular Diagnostics and Biotechnology. We operate have 2 modern laboratories in Athens (23 Feidippidou, Ampelokipoi) and Peristeri (41 Sof. Venizelou), with experienced specialized staff (Doctors, Molecular Biologists, Medical Laboratory Technologists).

startbio lab cell culture DNA extraction room

Our goal is to provide specialized physicians with the tools to effectively diagnose diseases with high specificity, through innovative molecular and cellular analysis methods. We specialize in methods for diagnosing allergies and respiratory pathogens, but we have also expanded to diagnose genetic conditions, STDs / STIs, food intolerance, and we perform most general blood tests.

Some of the specialized diagnostic tests we offer:

ALEX test (ALEX2 Allergy Xplorer) is an advanced in vitro diagnostic multi-allergen test, simultaneously detecting specific IgE (sIgE) of almost 300 allergens, as well as total IgE (total serum IgE, tIgE), from a small amount of patient serum. It includes allergen extracts and molecular components, covering 99% of the usual diagnostic needs, it is ideal for cases of allergic polysensitization, with a low cost per allergen.

BAT test (Basophil Activation Test) is used to detect an immediate type of allergy, analyzing the stimulation of basophils in a blood sample of the patient, following contact with an allergen, using flow cytometry. The method can be used to detect allergies to drugs, foods, insect stings and inhalant allergens as well as to monitor allergic disease. Both allergen extracts and molecular components can be used. The BAT test is particularly useful in difficult cases, where other tests such as skin tests cannot be performed, or are not sufficient (inconclusive results from specific IgE measurements).

ImmunoCAP ISAC simultaneously detects specific IgE (sIgE) against 112 allergens from a very small amount of serum (30μl). It includes the most common molecular components (not extracts). It was the first established multi-allergen diagnostic test.

LTT test (Lymphocyte Transformation Test) is an ex vivo diagnostic tool for detecting delayed-type allergy to allergens (drugs, metals, etc.). Flow cytometry analyzes the stimulation of T lymphocytes, following contact with an allergen in culture, to assess sensitization.

Tryptase Genetic Testing (Hereditary Alpha-Tryptasemia HαT), we provide analysis with Droplet Digital Polymerase Chain Reaction (ddPCR), the most reliable method for diagnosing HαT, as it allows for the absolute quantification of copies of the TPSAB1 gene with high accuracy and detection sensitivity.

The company was founded by Dr. Stella Taka in 2017 as a spin-out of the Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens (NKUA). In 2016, it joined the EGG (Enter-Go-Grow) program, completing the cycle with its establishment in May 2017, and is a member of the national startup registry ‘Elevated Greece National Startup Point’

Dr. Dr Stella Taka is a molecular biologist with many years of research activity in the Laboratory of Allergology and Clinical Immunology of the 2nd Pediatric Clinic of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, and is an active member of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI). She has published over 70 scientific articles (h-index > 16) and has over 700 citations, and is one of the inventors of the patent “Detection of leishmania” (Application number 12001210.9). In recent years her main research activities have focused on the interaction between human respiratory pathogens (viruses and bacteria), and natural immunity in both healthy and allergic patients. She has participated as principal investigator in European projects NANOMYC, MIDAS, PREDICTA, iFaam, CURE.

StArtBio has participated in research programs in collaboration with Hospitals, Universities and other companies:

2020 – 2021: DIGI-B-CUBE Grant for the Provision of DIGI-B-CUBE Prototyping Voucher (Agreement: PV-D1-50_8522) Project title: Holistic digital CARDIOvascular diseases proGNOSIS at the point-of-need “CARDIOGNOSIS”, in collaboration with ThetaMetrisis S.A. and Software Competitiveness International GmbH
2019 – present: CLEAR – DAIRY GOAT CO-OPERATIVE: Proctocolitis natural history in collaboration with the Allergology Unit, 2nd Department of Allergy, NKUA
2018 – 2019: Basophil Activation Test In Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU), in collaboration with the Allergy Unit “D. Kalogeromitros” Attiko Hospital
2019: Molecular Allergology Seminar, in collaboration with the company Micro Array Diagnostics – MADx with the Allergology Unit, 2nd Department of Allergy, NKUA
2017 – 2018: A New Multiplex Diagnostic Test to identify the Appropriate Venom Immunotherapy., in collaboration with EUROIMMUN AG and MAGIRAS DIAGNOSTICS S.A.

Publications:

Fundamentals of laboratory diagnostics in allergology. Arsenis, C., Taka, S. & Skevaki, C. Allergo J Int 34, 21–30 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40629-025-00323-1
Patients With Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Have Impaired Antibody Production After Anti-SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination: Results From a Panhellenic Registry. Zacharopoulou E, Orfanoudaki E, .., Taka S, Panagiotopoulou K, Koutroubakis IE, Bamias G. Inflamm Bowel Dis. 2023 Feb 1;29(2):228-237. doi: 10.1093/ibd/izac068. PMID: 35394529; PMCID: PMC9051580
Case of Polyethylene Glycol Allergy Confirmed with Basophil Activation Test and Oral Challenge Successfully Immunized with SARS-CoV-2 Vaccine. Pasali M, Taka S, Chliva C, Katoulis A, Makris M. Iran J Allergy Asthma Immunol. 2023 Sep 3;22(4):409-412. doi: 10.18502/ijaai.v22i4.13615. PMID: 37767684
Milk Allergen Micro-Array (MAMA) for Refined Detection of Cow’s-Milk-Specific IgE Sensitization. Garib V, Trifonova D, Freidl R, Linhart B, Schlederer T, Douladiris N, Pampura A, Dolotova D, Lepeshkova T, Gotua M, Varlamov E, Beltyukov E, Naumova V, Taka S, Kiyamova A, Katsamaki S, Karaulov A, Valenta R. Nutrients. 2023 May 21;15(10):2401. doi: 10.3390/nu15102401. PMID: 37242284; PMCID: PMC10223406.
Development of a Point-of-Care System Based on White Light Reflectance Spectroscopy: Application in CRP Determination. Tsounidi, D.; Koukouvinos, G.; Christianidis, V.; Legaki, E.; Giogli, V.; Panagiotopoulou, K.; Taka, S.; Ekaterinidi, Z.; Kakabakos, S.; Raptis, I.; Petrou, P. Biosensors 2021, 11, 268. https://doi.org/10.3390/bios11080268
Evaluation of a new multifactorial test in the diagnosis of allergies – B. Giogli, N. Douladiris, N. Papadopoulos, S. Taka. STATE-OF-THE-ART 2020.
A New Multiplex Diagnostic Test to identify the Appropriate Venom Immunotherapy. Styliani Taka, Dimitris Mitsias, Panagiota Stefanopoulou, Nikolaos G. Papadopoulos. INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON MOLECULAR ALLERGOLOGY, ISMA, Luxembourg, 9-11 November 2017.
Basophil Activation Test In Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria (CSU). Taka S., Aggelidis X., Giogli V., Pasali M., Dakoula M., Papadopoulos N. G., Makris. M. European academy of allergy and clinical immunology (eaaci) congress 2019, Lisbon, Portugal

STARTBIO MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS AND BIOTECHNOLOGY SERVICES P.C. G.E.M.I. NUMBER: 1423622001000 ADDRESS: FIDIPIDOU 23, 11527 ADMINISTRATOR: TAKA STYLIANI