Young girl with pink asthma inhaler

Avoid Serious Risks

Allergy Testing for Asthma and Respiratory Allergies

Allergies and asthma are often related. Allergic asthma, or allergy-induced asthma, is a type of asthma that is triggered or made worse by allergies.

Asthma allergy information for providers

Many asthmatic people are sensitized to multiple allergens and may be unaware of their specific triggers.

Coupled with history and a physical examination, allergy test results can help confirm a diagnosis and identify a patient’s allergic triggers and help create targeted avoidance measures.

Asthma allergy testing options

If a respiratory allergy is suspected, you can order a single respiratory profile with reflex components with a single blood draw for patients 3 months of age and older.

The Labcorp Regional Respiratory Allergen Profiles test for clinically relevant inhalant allergens such as pollen, mold, dust mites, insect emanation and furry animals.

To help enhance management strategies, these Regional Respiratory Allergen Profiles are also available with reflex for furry pet allergen components (cat/dog) because the risk for and the severity of respiratory disease increases with the number of furry allergen components to which a patient is sensitized.5,6,7

Educational resources:

 

Did you know?

Up to 90% of children and 60% of adults living with asthma also have allergies.1,2
 

Asthma is the most common chronic illness among children and the leading cause of hospital visits among children ages 1-15 years.3

Asthma allergy information for patients

Many of the same substances that can cause an allergic reaction may also affect people with asthma. Common allergens that may trigger allergic asthma include animal dander, dust mites, insects, pollen and mold.

If your allergy contributes to asthma, you may experience:1,2

  • Shortness of breath
  • Chest tightness or pain
  • An audible whistling or wheezing sound when exhaling
  • Trouble sleeping caused by shortness of breath, coughing or wheezing
  • Bouts of coughing or wheezing worsened by a respiratory virus

What to expect with a respiratory allergy test

Available at your primary care provider’s office, a specialist’s office, through Labcorp OnDemand or at a Labcorp patient service center, you can get a blood-based specific IgE allergy test that:

  • Only requires a single blood draw
  • Is appropriate for children 3 months of age and older
  • Is not affected by prescription or over-the-counter medications

Along with a physical exam and your healthcare history, your provider can use information from your allergy test results to identify what may be triggering your asthma symptoms and create a plan to properly manage your condition and decrease your risk of asthma attacks.

References

  1. Allen-Ramney F, Schoenwetter W, Weiss T, et al. Sensitization to common allergens in adults with asthma. JABFP. 2005;(18)5:434-439.
  2. Host A, Halken S. Practical aspects of allergy-testing. Paediatr Respir Rev. 2003;4(4):312-318.
  3. Silber JH, Rosenbaum PR, Wang W, et al. Practice patterns in Medicaid and non-Medicaid asthma admissions. Pediatr. 2016;138(2):1-10.
  4. Murray CS, Foden P, Sumner H, et al. Preventing severe asthma exacerbations in children. A randomized trial of mite-impermeable bedcovers. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2017;196(2):150-158.
  5. Nordlund B, Konradsen JR, Kull I, et al. IgE antibodies to animal-derived lipocalin, kallikrein and secretoglobin are markers of bronchial inflammation in severe childhood asthma.  Allergy. 2012; 67(5):661-669.
  6. Davila I, Dominguez-Ortega J, Navarro-Pulido A, et al. Consensus document on dog and cat allergy. Allergy 2018; 1-17.
  7. Patelis A, Gunnbjornsdottir M, Alving K, et al. Allergen extract vs. component sensitization and airway inflammation, responsiveness and new-onset respiratory disease. Clinical & Experimental Allergy. 2016;46(5):730-740.