Tree pollen allergy testing in primary care: What to know today and where it’s going

Overview for primary care providers

Seasonal allergies and asthma flares related to tree pollen are common concerns in primary care. Because tree pollen exposure varies widely by geography, choosing the right allergy test can be crucial to diagnosing patients correctly.

New research from Labcorp scientists based on over 3 million patients and nearly 24 million test results confirms that geographic testing is the right approach.¹ It also shows how future allergy testing may become even more personalized. Importantly, this research strengthens confidence in Labcorp’s regional respiratory allergy profiles while pointing towards how testing may continue to evolve.

Why tree pollen testing matters in primary care

Tree pollen is a leading cause of seasonal allergic rhinitis and can worsen asthma symptoms.¹ 
Identifying relevant allergens helps:

• Confirm allergic triggers
• Guide environmental avoidance counseling
• Optimize medication choices
• Identify patients who may benefit from allergy referral or immunotherapy

What the new research found and why it matters

Labcorp scientists analyzed over 3,067,173 million unique patients with a total of 23,932,544 specific IgE tests¹ collected between 2014 and 2023, the largest U.S. study of tree pollen sensitization to date. This study was recently published in Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Global.

Key findings from the study:

Geography matters: There were differences in top sensitizers identified across geographic ecoregions.¹ Tree pollen sensitization rates differ significantly by geographic region, confirming that testing should be focused regionally rather than broad or one-size-fits-all.

Population factors associated with higher rates of tree pollen sensitization included¹:

• Being male
• Patients aged 10–19 years
• Patients with asthma or atopic dermatitis
• Being in an urban population

Related species matter: Many patients are sensitized to related tree species due to shared botanical families.

What this means for Labcorp allergy testing

Labcorp provides 20 geographic-specific respiratory allergy profiles with component reflex designed around U.S. regions. These profiles are well suited for primary care and are supported by extensive real-world testing data.

The findings strongly validate Labcorp’s existing regional respiratory profiles with component reflex.¹ These profiles already account for:

• Regional pollen exposure patterns
• Botanical relationships between tree species
• Avoidance of unnecessary redundancy in testing

Key benefits for primary care:

• Regional profiles that reflect what the trees, grasses, weeds, and mold that patients are exposed to in your specific geographic area
• ImmunoCAP^® blood-based testing means patients don't need to stop their antihistamines or other medications, as may be required with other types of testing
• Clear, actionable reports that help discuss trigger avoidance and management with patients
• Component-level insights that enhance clarity around cross-reactivity and enable more precise diagnosis

The study findings affirm that Labcorp’s regional respiratory allergen profiles are clinically appropriate and well-aligned with patients’ geographic exposures. This strong scientific foundation enables continued reliable use in practice while supporting ongoing refinement as new insights emerge.

The next generation of allergy profiles

Because Labcorp performs more allergy testing than any other U.S. laboratory, our scientists continuously analyze real-world data to identify ways that testing can be enhanced to further improve care. This research provides the foundation for:

• Enhanced customized regional profiles
• Smarter panel design using co-sensitization patterns
• A more personalized approach to evaluating allergic patients

Future enhancements will build on the robust diagnostic solutions currently available, incorporating emerging evidence to further advance personalized allergy evaluation.

What primary care providers can do in practice right now

Primary care providers can immediately apply these findings by:

• Choosing the Labcorp respiratory allergen profile that matches the practice region, to reflect patients’ actual environmental exposures
• Considering higher-risk patients including males aged 10-19, patients with atopic dermatitis or asthma, and urban residents, all of whom may have higher tree pollen sensitization rates
• Integrating results with clinical assessment: Combine testing results with patient symptom patterns, timing, and environmental exposures
• Guiding allergy testing and using interpretive reports to counsel patients on trigger avoidance and symptom timing
• Using objective data to support medication selection and specialist referral decisions when appropriate

These steps help improve symptom control while maintaining efficiency in primary care workflows.

Conclusion

Labcorp’s regional respiratory allergy profiles with component reflex are highly effective tools to help deliver more confident and personalized allergy care today. Backed by the largest allergy data analysis of its kind, these tests reflect real-world exposures and support evidence-based care.

Labcorp’s scientific leadership in allergy diagnostics allows us to offer the most appropriate testing now as we continue advancing testing toward an even more personalized future grounded in strong clinical science.