• Are more specific – for example, they will let you know which type or species of plant or food may be producing your allergy, if relevant
• Are more comprehensive – each test measures specific IgE against over 140 components from over 40 sources of allergens
• Require only a small pin-prick blood sample, so it is much easier to obtain the sample with less discomfort than skin prick tests or conventional blood tests – this is particularly important for children and babies

• Allow more accurate and precise diagnosis and management – more accurate information leads to a more specific diagnosis, and to the most appropriate management of your allergy and advice on any need for avoidance or therapies. These tests will also help differentiate between less serious reactions and life-threatening ones, which again will improve your management of your allergies. In some cases it may allow you to eat foods that you previously thought would cause you to have allergic reactions, for example

Why are we offering this test?

Different allergen sources contain extracts which are similar to allergens. These can cause cross-reactions lead to false diagnoses. Using recombinant allergens allows us to improve our diagnoses of allergy as the original origin of the allergy can be identified and the subsequent treatment can be improved.

An example may help. Let us say you feel you are allergic to peaches. Conventional blood tests may show a positive reaction to peaches. Using the component-resolved allergy tests to a panel of peach allergens allows us to say that you are strongly allergic to peaches and must avoid them at all times to avoid the risk of anaphylaxis, or that you are sensitive to peach profilin, and you are likely to have a mild, local reaction if you eat peaches, rather than a severe reaction. You can eat peaches without risk of anaphylaxis.

So, more specific allergen tests lead to more accurate diagnoses and better, individualised treatments which will be specific for each patient, and which will incorporate evidence-based, person-specific advice on avoidance and treatments.

Some patients may choose or will be advised to have skin prick tests instead of the component-resolved allergy tests. Occasionally additional laboratory tests may be required, and these samples can be taken at the same consultation.

OUR CLINIC

We can help any patient of any age who has or thinks they may have allergies. We can also provide information and advice on reducing the chances of a child or unborn baby of developing allergy.

We aim to provide an efficient and comprehensive diagnostic and management service. First we will take a full history of any allergies or possible allergies, and undertake relevant clinical examination. If needed, we can carry out breathing tests and tests for glue ears.

Asthma and Allergic Rhinitis (Hay Fever)

A review article looked at the relationship of asthma and hay fever.

There are definite links between the two disorders, and studies show an interaction between the inflammation in the lungs and in the nasal passages.

After allergen inhalation there is systemic immune activation (affecting the immune system in the body) and changes in both the tissues of the nasal airways and of the lungs. Hay fever and asthma are part of the global airway allergy syndrome. The emphasis on treating people with both conditions is the best possible control of each of them – good asthma control needs good hay fever control and vice versa. So if your asthma is troublesome, it is worth making sure your hay fever is as well controlled as possible, and again vice versa.

Upper and lower airway inflammation share common pathways, frequently co-exist and communicate via the circulation. Good control of one part of the airway inflammation is needed to gain good control of inflammation in the rest of the airway. So look after your nose and your lungs.
(Hellings PW, Hans G. Rhinosinusitis and the Lower Airways Immunol and All Clinics North America 2009;29-4:733-740)

Immunotherapy for Peanut Allergy

There are no current cures for peanut allergy. Over 3 millions people in the USA and several hundred thousand in the UK have peanut allergy and in less than a fifth of these does the allergy get better. Sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT – the use of small amounts of allergen placed under the tongue in an attempt to induce tolerance to that allergen) has been successfully used in the treatment of some cases of allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and occasionally in treating asthma.

Most attempts at using SLIT in managing food allergy result in an unacceptable rate of reactions. This small (18 subjects) double blind placebo controlled study in children aged 1-11 years used either placebo or SLIT therapy to see whether there was any increased tolerance to peanuts in this peanut-allergic groups of patients, over 21 months. There were no serious side-effects and no subject suffered an allergic reaction requiring adrenaline during the study. Children who received SLIT therapy were able to tolerate up to 20 times more peanuts orally than children in the placebo group by the end of the study. The children who received SLIT therapy had some lower allergic markers in their blood streams and smaller skin prick reactions to peanuts by the end of the study compared to children who received placebo. It appears from this small study that SLIT for peanuts can safely induce desensitisation in children with peanut allergy, but further studies are required to see whether these results are applicable to larger numbers, and to see whether continued SLIT is able to produce long-term tolerance.

I would strongly advise NOT to attempt any form of immunotherapy, including SLIT, unless you are under the direct supervision of hospital specialists. SLIT may become an accepted therapy for many food allergies in the future, but a lot more work is need first to establish its safety and efficacy.
(Kim E, Bird A, Kulis M, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol 2011)

For Previous News Items Click Here

Back to top ^