Document Type

Article

Publication Date

11-2022

Identifier

DOI: 10.1016/j.jacig.2022.05.010

Abstract

Background

General recommendations for delaying allergy testing, especially skin testing, in the weeks following anaphylaxis have been proposed owing to concern for false-negative results. However, no specific guidelines exist to aid clinicians in the decision regarding when to perform postanaphylactic food allergy testing and which test to use. The current practices of allergists regarding a delay in testing for food allergy after anaphylaxis are unknown.

Objective

We aimed to quantify the use of different approaches to postanaphylactic food allergy testing among allergists across the United States.

Methods

A clinical scenario was presented to 82 allergy and immunology fellowship program directors via e-mail survey. They were asked whether they avoid skin prick and/or blood-specific IgE testing in a child in the 6 weeks following suspected food-induced anaphylaxis owing to concern for false-negative results.

Results

The survey response rate was 33%. Of the 27 respondents, 4 (14.8%) avoid both blood and skin testing, 7 (25.9%) avoid skin testing only, and 16 (59.3%) do not avoid any testing.

Conclusion

Given the paucity of published evidence, a spectrum of opinions exists regarding testing in the weeks following food-induced anaphylaxis. About 40% of the allergy and immunology fellowship program directors in the United States who responded to the survey in this study avoid some allergy testing in the first 6 weeks after food-induced anaphylaxis owing to concern for false-negative results.

Journal Title

Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: Global

Volume

1

Issue

4

First Page

312

Last Page

313

Keywords

Food hypersensitivity; anaphylaxis; skin tests; diagnosis

Comments

This is an open access article under the CC BY-NCND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).

Publisher's Link: https://www.jaci-global.org/article/S2772-8293(22)00053-4/fulltext

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