Allergy component testing

A more precise and detailed picture of a patient’s sensitisation pattern can be obtained by measuring IgE to potentially allergenic components of an allergen.

Allergens, such as a species of pollen, a mite or a food, are composed of a number of different ‘potential’ allergenic molecules that may cause sensitisation. Measuring IgE to the components can give more information for the management of an allergen-sensitised individual. It can indicate, for example, whether symptoms are likely to be severe.

Testing for allergen components has a wide variety of uses – from the diagnosis and management of allergic patients to the selection of patients suitable for specific immunotherapy. Use of Component Resolved Diagnostics (CRD) has become an interesting and probably essential part of allergy diagnostics.