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Allergy Testing Resources

Labcorp is committed to making allergies easier to understand. From educational resources for providers and patients to allergy test interpretation, get the resources you need to find answers and take control of allergy symptoms.

Take charge of your health: Get answers about common allergy topics

Food sensitivities and allergies

Find the source of your food allergy, such as milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, fruits, vegetables, sesame seed, soy or wheat.

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Asthma and respiratory allergies

Identify and potentially reduce relevant allergens and irritants that increase symptoms.

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Pediatric allergies

Identify and potentially reduce relevant allergens and irritants that increase symptoms of asthma.

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Stinging insects

Identify allergic reactions to venom from stinging insects, such as honey bees and wasps.

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Allergy resources for providers

The September Asthma Epidemic: How to Prevent Fall Asthma Episodes (Contemporary Pediatrics Journal Supplement)

Allergen Encyclopedia

Allergy Test Menu

Allergy resources for patients

We Know Allergies and We're Here to Help

What is Asthma? 

Featured allergy terms

 

Component and reflex testing

Allergy component testing identifies specific components—small protein or molecule fragments of a whole allergen—that may trigger an allergic response.

If component testing identifies an allergen, such as the protein found in cow’s milk, then reflex testing can help narrow down the results, such as fresh milk versus cooked milk.

These tests can help healthcare providers make a more refined diagnosis and answer many relevant questions like:1

  • Can the patient tolerate baked egg?
  • If the patient has a positive peanut test result, are they at increased risk for systemic reactions, or only mild symptoms?
  • Is it the dog, cat, or both causing the symptoms?
  • Can a female dog be tolerated?
  • Is the bee, wasp, or both species of insects causing anaphylactic shock?
  • Is immunotherapy suitable or not; and to what allergen?

Understanding allergies on a component level can lead to better symptom management.

"Allergy March"

Clinical studies have shown that young children who develop eczema (atopic dermatitis)2,3 or allergic rhinitis2,4,5 have an increased tendency to develop asthma and/or other allergic conditions as they grow older.

The progressive development of increasingly debilitating disease as a child grows into adulthood has been referred to by some researchers as the “allergy march.”

Getting an early diagnosis of an allergy (along with an early intervention, such as a medicine or treatment) may help improve a child’s symptoms and may reduce the chances of developing asthma in the future.3,4,5

Additional Resources

 

References:

  1. ImmunoCAP Allergen Components. Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. https://www.thermofisher.com/phadia/us/en/our-solutions/immunocap-allergy-solutions/specific-ige-single-allergens/allergen-components.html Accessed 15 Sept. 2022.

  2. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. The Allergy Report. Milwaukee, WI: AAAI; 2000.

  3. Allergic factors associated with the development of asthma and the influence of cetirizine in a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial: First results of ETAC. Early Treatment of the Atopic Child. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 1998 Aug;9(3): 116-124

  4. Bousquest J, Van Cauwenberge P, Khaltaev N. World Health Organization. Allergic Rhinitis and its impact on asthma. ARIA Workshop Report. In collaboration with the World Health Organization. 7-10 December 199, Geneva, Switzerland. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2001:108(5Suppl):S147-334.

  5. Zheng T, Yu J, Oh MH, Zhu Z. The Atopic march: Progressions from Atopic Dermatitis to Allergic Rhinitis and Asthma. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2011 April;3(2):67-73.