RAST (serum-specific IgE measurements) testing in childhood allergy
How to use serum-specific IgE measurements in diagnosing and monitoring food allergy
Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed 2012;97:29-36
Gary Stiefel1, Graham Roberts Southampton University Hospital NHS Trust,
This is a very well laid out article on the value of RAST (serum-specific IgE measurements) testing in childhood allergy. The main learning points are listed below, but the full article is worth a read..It contains some very practical case scenarios and a self-assessment quiz
The article is available at: http://ep.bmj.com/content/97/1/29.extract?etoc
Clinical summary
· Serum-specific immunoglobulin E (sIgE) is a widely available test used to support a diagnosis of IgE-mediated food allergy and a method for monitoring resolution of allergy.
· The interpretation of sIgE must be taken within the context of the history.
· A positive sIgE indicates sensitisation to a specific food. This does not necessarily equate with clinical allergy.
· If there is clinical doubt after the history and sIgE, a supervised open food challenge (OFC) should be performed to make a definitive diagnosis.
· The result of the sIgE does not correlate with the severity of the clinical reaction. However, the higher the sIgE, the greater the likelihood of clinical allergy.
Mike
Prof Mike South,
Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria 3052, Australia
