Clinical Biochemistry
Allergy Diagnosis
Reference Guide
Document Number:
BIO NO 116
Author:
Dr. J Sheldon/L.Miller
Approved by :
L.Miller
Page 1 of 10
Date of Issue: October 2014
Revision: 4
WARNING: This is a controlled document
Allergy Diagnosis
Reference Guide
Clinical Biochemistry
Allergy Diagnosis
Reference Guide
Document Number:
BIO NO 116
Author:
Dr. J.Sheldon / L.Miller
Approved by :
L.Miller
Page 2 of 10
Date of Issue: October 2014
Revision: 4
WARNING: This is a controlled document
Notes on Allergy
(Produced in consultation with Dr. Joanna Sheldon, Director, Protein Reference Unit, St
Georges Hospital, Tooting and visiting Consultant Immunologist, East Kent Hospitals
University NHS Foundation Trust)
It is estimated that approximately 20% of the population
1
have some sort of allergy and this
number appears to be increasing. The symptoms associated with allergic disease are
numerous and vary in their severity. These factors have led to an increase in the number of
referrals to allergy clinics and a consequent increase in their waiting lists.
This is a brief summary of important information about allergy, with some hints for General
Practitioners. We recommend that if you are referring blood for Specific IgE (RAST) tests –
you contact your local NHS Pathology Laboratory and clinicians to check for any guidelines
and protocols.
There are a number of very useful guidance documents relating to allergy that you can
access using the web addresses shown below:
• The BSACI Guideline for the diagnosis and management of cow's milk allergy
available at www.bsaci.org
• Food allergy in children and young people: Diagnosis and assessment of food allergy
in children and young people in primary care and community settings.
www.nice.org.uk/guidance/cg116
• Drug allergy: diagnosis and management of drug allergy in adults, children and
young people. www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG183
• Anaphylaxis: assessment to confirm an anaphylactic episode and the decision to
refer after emergency treatment for a suspected anaphylactic episode.
www.nice.org.uk/guidance/CG134
1. Jackson M A. Allergy: the making of a modern plague. Clinical and Experimental Allergy. 2001;31:1665-1671.
Clinical Biochemistry
Allergy Diagnosis
Reference Guide
Document Number:
BIO NO 116
Author:
Dr. J.Sheldon / L.Miller
Approved by :
L.Miller
Page 3 of 10
Date of Issue: October 2014
Revision: 4
WARNING: This is a controlled document
‘Allergic’ symptoms
Vary in severity: Can be potentially fatal, damaging to health or inconvenient
Include any or mixture of: Abdominal pain, anaphylaxis, asthma, atopic dermatitis,
conjunctivitis, diarrhoea, eczema, headache, malabsorption, pneumonitis, pruritis, rhinitis,
urticaria, vomiting.
Why Investigate?
• Avoidance: To be able to completely exclude or significantly reduce allergen
contact.
• Evidence Based Medicine: To have appropriate evidence for treatment and
management e.g. nut allergy requiring an Epipen.
• Patient Compliance and Peace of Mind: When patients ‘need’ a diagnosis.
Good reasons to Investigate
• If the patient has had a severe reaction e.g. anaphylaxis to latex or peanut
• If reactions are increasing in severity
• If exclusion will be difficult e.g. wheat is hidden in many foods and is very difficult to
exclude from the diet
• Is the source of the allergen an integral part of the patients life e.g. pets, occupational
allergens
How to Investigate
• History (see request form): Does the patient know (think) what causes the
symptoms, has exclusion been attempted. Many allergens can be identified
simply from the history.
• Skin testing:
A useful adjunct to a good clinical history
Clinical Biochemistry
Allergy Diagnosis
Reference Guide
Document Number:
BIO NO 116
Author:
Dr. J.Sheldon / L.Miller
Approved by :
L.Miller
Page 4 of 10
Date of Issue: October 2014
Revision: 4
WARNING: This is a controlled document
Allergic patients may have positive skin tests to several antigens - not all of
which cause symptoms
Can be difficult in young children
Impossible with severe skin symptoms
Must be done under medical supervision - (small) risk of anaphylaxis
Can be insensitive for diagnosis of food allergy
• Total IgE: Age related reference range (Adult normal < 81 kU/L). Raised IgE
concentrations are seen in allergic disease and in parasitic infections.
Indications: To distinguish IgE mediated from non-IgE mediated disorders.
• Specific IgE: Over 450 individual allergens and allergen mixes are available. Careful
history taking should be able to identify the most likely (about 5 is reasonable)
allergens.
Indications:
Severe dermatitis that excludes skin testing
Patient receiving symptomatic treatment (e.g. antihistamine)
Allergens that cannot be used for skin testing (e.g. toxic, insoluble)
Patients with suspected high sensitivity to the allergen where testing in vivo
could be dangerous
Food allergies
• Component resolved allergy testing: Testing for individual protein components of
allergens is now available. This may help in determining whether a patient is likely to
have a severe reaction to an allergen or whether it is more likely to be a mild reaction
and whether challenge testing is indicated. The requesting and interpretation of
these tests is complex and they are available for patients who are being investigated
by Consultant Allergists/Immunologists. If you do think your patient may benefit from
component resolved testing it would be most appropriate to refer to an allergy clinic
The Investigation of Allergy in Adults
In adults, a normal total IgE generally excludes significant allergy. HOWEVER in patients
who have had a severe reaction e.g. wasp/bee, latex, peanut, or if there are strong clinical
indications, further testing (referral to allergist, specific IgE or skin testing) should be done.
Clinical Biochemistry
Allergy Diagnosis
Reference Guide
Document Number:
BIO NO 116
Author:
Dr. J.Sheldon / L.Miller
Approved by :
L.Miller
Page 5 of 10
Date of Issue: October 2014
Revision: 4
WARNING: This is a controlled document
The Investigation of Allergy in Children
In children, a normal total IgE cannot exclude significant allergy so if clinically indicated,
irrespective of the total IgE, further Specific IgE investigations should be carried out.
• commonest food allergies in children: dairy products and egg - usually transient and
outgrown in early childhood
• Peanut, true nut and sesame allergies are increasing - usually life long
• Latex allergy - not commonly seen in children
• Aeroallergens include dust mites, pollens, pets and moulds - causing asthma and
rhinitis
These type 1 allergies, mediated through IgE, are usually “immediate”, and are by far
the most common to cause concern, with a small risk in some of anaphylaxis.
The investigation and management of children with allergies requires careful and detailed
history taking of the allergic episodes, of the personal and family history of atopy, and of the
child’s environment.
Unnecessary treatment of food exclusion in young, growing children is inconvenient and
potentially harmful and must be avoided. In the unusual situation where the cause of the
symptoms is not identified from the history, then further investigation is needed. Oral food
challenge is the gold standard test - generally these are performed in secondary care only.
Neither specific IgE (RAST) nor skin prick tests are sensitive or specific enough to make a
definitive diagnosis in all cases. Thus, results of these tests need to be interpreted with
caution, and always in combination with a detailed patient history. If non type 1 allergy is
presenting, for example in some children whose eczema seems to be associated with
certain foods, IgE measurements and Skin Prick testing are inappropriate investigations.
Blood samples for specific IgE (RAST) testing
For adults a 4 - 7 mL blood sample is required in a standard tube (no anticoagulant).
With children, consider that 1 mL blood will allow you to test for a maximum of 8 allergens.
Clinical Biochemistry
Allergy Diagnosis
Reference Guide
Document Number:
BIO NO 116
Author:
Dr. J.Sheldon / L.Miller
Approved by :
L.Miller
Page 6 of 10
Date of Issue: October 2014
Revision: 4
WARNING: This is a controlled document
Specific IgE - Interpretation
Specific IgE
concentration kUa/L
Specific IgE Grade Level of Allergen Specific IgE
Antibody
100+ 6 - strong positive Very high. Refer to patient history
52.5+ 5 - strong positive Very high. Refer to patient history
17.5+ 4 - strong positive Very high. Refer to patient history
3.5+ 3 - positive High
Grades 1-3 vary in significance
dependant on allergen. Consider
patient history and risk of severe
reaction/anaphylaxis
0.7+ 2 - positive Moderate
0.35+ 1 - low, weak positive Low
Grade 1 to inhaled allergens is of
doubtful significance. Grade 1 to
foods or moulds of greater
significance
<0.35 0 - negative Absent
Specific IgE – Significance
• We report specific IgE in units which can be used to decide whether an allergen
challenge is indicated in a patient. Previously this was reported in grades 0 to 6.
Conversion from units to grades is shown in the above table.
• Positive IgE (RAST) only indicates that the patient has the POTENTIAL to react
• Results should be interpreted in the light of the clinical history
• Some patients may show positive specific IgE results but no symptoms associated
with that ‘allergen’
Clinical Biochemistry
Allergy Diagnosis
Reference Guide
Document Number:
BIO NO 116
Author:
Dr. J.Sheldon / L.Miller
Approved by :
L.Miller
Page 7 of 10
Date of Issue: October 2014
Revision: 4
WARNING: This is a controlled document
Notes about some common allergens
Egg allergy:
• can be a reaction to either egg white or yolk
• avoid foods containing egg yolk, white or ovalbumin
• avoid products containing lecithin e.g. some ice creams and margarine
• take care with pastries where egg may be used as a glaze
• some vaccines are contraindicated - e.g. Flu vaccine
Dog/Cat allergy:
Mild allergy:
• keep animal out of bedroom
• brush dog (get someone else to) outside the house
• discourage pet from licking you
• use washable pet bedding and wash or hose it down frequently
• use vacuum cleaner with filter to remove allergens from furniture, carpets and
curtains
Severe allergy:
• total avoidance is necessary
• rigorous cleaning needed to remove all traces of allergen from floor, walls, furniture
(even if pet has not been in room for some time)
• beware of travelling in dog/cat owner’s car
• when visiting dog/cat owners house leave coats and jackets outside
• avoid moving to a house where dog/cat has lived
• check whether pets are allowed in hotel or holiday accommodation
• avoid keeping a pet if you have a baby or young child and have a strong family
tendency to develop allergy
• keep goldfish or tropical fish (they are allergy free)
Clinical Biochemistry
Allergy Diagnosis
Reference Guide
Document Number:
BIO NO 116
Author:
Dr. J.Sheldon / L.Miller
Approved by :
L.Miller
Page 8 of 10
Date of Issue: October 2014
Revision: 4
WARNING: This is a controlled document
Latex allergy:
• symptoms include contact dermatitis, urticaria, rhinoconjunctivitis, asthma,
anaphylaxis
• numerous products contain latex - gloves, shoes, elastic, condoms, balloons, car
tyres, feeding bottle teats etc. PLUS a number of medical products
• use gloves made of vinyl or polythene
• avoid condoms, caps or diaphragms made of pure latex
• cross-reactivities may make patient sensitive to banana, avocado, kiwi, spinach,
chestnut and melon
• inform doctors and dentists of sensitivity to rubber products - particularly before an
operation
Wheat allergy:
• commonly used as ‘filler’ in many foods
• avoid bread, cakes, pastries - anything that may contain wheat flour, use oat, corn or
rye instead.
• wheat is often used as a base material for beers, spirits and lagers
• wheat based glue is sometimes used on stamps and envelopes
• communion wafers are made of wheat
• wheat is used in tabletting some drugs
• don’t forget to consider coeliac disease if the allergy tests are negative
House dust mite:
• avoid household items that accumulate dust
• damp dust and use vacuum with filter
• avoid carpets, house plants, household clutter
• reduce humidity
• avoid tobacco smoke, aerosols, scented cosmetics, fumes from volatile substances
• concentrate on diminishing contact with HDM in bedroom - no soft toys
• air mattress and beat on dry sunny days
• use non-allergenic zip mattress and pillow covers
• hot wash cotton bedding
Clinical Biochemistry
Allergy Diagnosis
Reference Guide
Document Number:
BIO NO 116
Author:
Dr. J.Sheldon / L.Miller
Approved by :
L.Miller
Page 9 of 10
Date of Issue: October 2014
Revision: 4
WARNING: This is a controlled document
Peanut allergy:
• anaphylaxis is a possibility
• avoid chocolate, cakes, pastries, dressed salads - peanuts are easily concealed in
numerous processed foods
• sensitisation may be via formula milk
• allergens are heat stable - heating and roasting may enhance allergenicity
• there may be cross-reactivity with other nuts (peanuts is a legume) but cross-
reactivity with other legumes (peas, lentils, soybean) is rare
Fish and shellfish:
• symptoms may be dramatic and severe
• many patients react to all fish species because most fish share the common
M allergen seen in cod fish
Tree, grass and weed pollens:
• trees flower in March/April
• grasses flower from April to September
• weeds typically flower in late summer and autumn
• many allergies to pollens can be identified by knowing the time of year the symptoms
occur
Clinical Biochemistry
Allergy Diagnosis
Reference Guide
Document Number:
BIO NO 116
Author:
Dr. J.Sheldon / L.Miller
Approved by :
L.Miller
Page 10 of 10
Date of Issue: October 2014
Revision: 4
WARNING: This is a controlled document
ALLERGEN SPECIFIC IgE REQUEST FORM
Send completed form to the laboratory with blood sample.
If form is to be matched with a stored sample please fax to 01233 616200.
Enquiries: 01233 616716 - Immunology Laboratory, William Harvey Hospital, Ashford
SURNAME
WARD/CLINIC/GP
FORENAME
CONSULTANT
DATE OF BIRTH
M/F HOSPITAL NUMBER/
NHS NUMBER (Mandatory)
SAMPLE DATE
PATIENT ADDRESS
SAMPLE NUMBER
This must be completed by the requesting clinician following a full clinical history. Guidelines may be found in the
laboratory handbook on Trust Net.
Has the patient ever had a severe reaction (e.g. anaphylaxis) to the suggested
allergen/allergens?
YES/NO
Is there a family history of allergy? YES/NO
Is the patient on any treatment? (please give brief details)
YES/NO
Were the symptoms present at the time of blood collection? YES/NO
Symptoms (please tick as appropriate):
Asthma Bronchitis Catarrh Hay fever Nasal polyps
Abdominal pain Diarrhoea Headache Migraine
Angioedema Arthralgia Nettle rash Urticaria
When do the symptoms occur? (please tick as appropriate)
All year round, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, June, July, Aug, Sept, Oct, Nov, Dec
When are the symptoms most frequent? (please tick as appropriate)
Outdoors Day time At home On waking
Indoors Night time At work/school Other (please specify)
√
√√
√
SYMPTOMS
(For panels please tick
most appropriate
box/boxes)
SUGGESTED SPECIFIC IgE PANEL
(Panels will be done unless individual allergens are requested in the
bottom section)
Asthma, all year round House dust mite, cat, dog, moulds
Asthma, all year round,
worse at night
House dust mite, cat, dog, mixed feathers
Seasonal rhinitis
House dust mite, cat, dog, mixed grass
(mixed trees, mixed weeds)
Eczema House dust mite, milk in babies, mixed foods in children
Insect venom anaphylaxis Bee, wasp
Peanut allergy Peanut
Wheat intolerance Wheat
Food allergy screen Mixed foods (includes egg, milk, cod, wheat, peanut)
Also available individually – please specify below
Contact with animals: (Please specify)
Individual allergens: (Please specify)
MEDICAL OFFICERS NAME: SIGNATURE:
CONTACT NUMBER:
