Specific IgE Blood Test Used in Large Allergy Study

A large allergy study using a specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) blood test included test results from over 2 million patients in the United States.

The widespread availability of blood-based allergy testing is changing clinical practice. Allergies are increasingly being diagnosed by pediatricians and other primary care physicians, whose use of the ImmunoCAP specific IgE blood test is increasing.

Each test result identified sensitization to 1 or more of 11 common allergens. Sensitization refers to a test result that indicates a patient has an allergen-specific IgE, which is important for diagnosing an allergy but may not by itself be sufficient to prompt symptoms. The allergens evaluated were foods (egg white, milk, peanut, soybean, and wheat), common ragweed, mold, two types of house dust mites, cat epithelia (skin), and dog dander.

The study found that about half of patients tested (5 in 9) did not show sensitization to at least one of 11 common allergens evaluated. While the investigators hypothesize that some of these patients had an allergy to an allergen not evaluated in the study, they also theorize that a large number may have presented to their physician with allergy-like symptoms caused by a nonallergy medical condition. The importance of identifying and ruling out an allergy is important in order to improve quality of life for many patients.

The ImmunoCAP Specific IgE blood test is a product of Phadia (Uppsala, Sweden), a leader of in vitro allergy diagnostics. The study was performed by Quest Diagnostics (Madison, NJ, USA), a provider of diagnostic testing, information, and services.

David Esposito, president and general manager of Phadia, said, "We commend Quest Diagnostics on their leadership role in spotlighting the impact of allergies in our nation. This data enables us to work together to support health care reform initiatives that call for better patient care at reduced costs. With full knowledge of their allergies and armed with an allergy or asthma action plan, patients can reduce unscheduled doctors' office and emergency room visits, lessen the need for medications including costly inhaled corticosteroid/long-acting beta agonist combination medications, and minimize sick days that cause missed school or work. Our hope is that this data is used by payers and policy makers to support and embrace the NIH Guidelines that recommend allergy testing for all patients with persistent asthma."

Phadia will utilize data from the Quest Health Trends Report to expand and extend the use of the ImmunoCAP Specific IgE blood test to support a guidelines-based approach to diagnosing and managing allergic diseases. Phadia and Quest Diagnostics have partnered to improve the diagnosis and assessment of allergic disease for over two decades.

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Quest Diagnostics