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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
Understanding allergies on a component level can lead to better symptom management.
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
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology. The Allergy Report. Milwaukee, WI: AAAI; 2000.
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
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.
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.