Allergy testing

A special POC food intolerance test (antigen-specific IgG test) has been prepared to account for an increasing incidence of food intolerance implied in different disease states. It can detect a total of 57 different antibodies. There are possibilities to analyze more than 150 different components or antigens from about 20 pL of sample using a biochip-based allergy test (ImmunoCAP IS AC) (Samson, 2001 Duran-Tauleria et al., 2004 Lidholm et al., 2006). 

Matsson, P. 2008. Allergy. The future of allergy testing New technologies and opportunities. Clin Lab Int 32(6) 26-28. 

Allergy testing is a very important prerequisite for specific allergy treatment. Proper diagnosis will allow the patient to receive the knowledge of the offending foods to avoid unnecessary dietary restrictions when a suspected food allergy is not present. 

Depending on the severity of his symptoms the patient can be referred to his GP for allergy testing with a view to desensitisation injections once the allergen has been identified. Mr JA should be advised to start his hay fever treatment four weeks before the start of the season, depending on which pollen type he is allergic to. 

Assem ELS, Symons IE. Anaphylaxis due to suxamethonium in a 7-year-old child a 14-year follow-up with allergy testing. Anaesthesia 1989 44(2) 121. ... 

Andersen KE, Hamann K. How sensitizing is chlorocresol Allergy tests in guinea pigs vs. the clinical experience. Contact Dermatitis 1984 11 11-20. 

There is one significant cloud on the horizon the allergy test itself can make a patient who was not previously allergic to resorcinol allergic. It is therefore not wholly predictive. 

Standard skin preparation increases the depth of penetration of Jessner s solution and improves the results - at the same time as increasing the risk of complications. An allergy test is essential, especially because of the resorcinol in the formula. 

In the allergy test, a small quantity of Unna s paste is applied to a patch of skin 2 cm x 2 cm behind the ear and left for 15 minutes. The test is read immediately and then again 48 hours and 5 days later - although Letessier recommends just one reading, after 4 days. 

It is recommended not to use EMLA as an anesthetic before doing epicutaneous allergy tests, as EMLA blocks the vasodilation induced by certain mediators, such as histamine and antigens. ... 

These are administered into the conium of the skin, usually in volumes of about a tenth of a milliliter. Common sites are the arm and back, where there is no hair. They are frequently done for diagnostic measures (tuberculin and allergy testing). 

The usage of this type of product consists of three steps the allergy test, the strand test, and application to the hair on the head. 

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