Food-Seafood Panel, Serum
Use
The Food-Seafood Panel is useful for diagnosing allergies to mussel, codfish, salmon, shrimp, and tuna. It aids in identifying allergens responsible for allergic reactions, including anaphylactic episodes, and confirming sensitization before starting immunotherapy. The panel helps investigate the specificity of reactions to insect venom allergens, drugs, or chemicals. However, it is not suitable for patients previously treated with immunotherapy to check for residual sensitivity, or where management does not depend on allergen identification.
Special Instructions
This test uses a pooled allergen reagent and provides a single qualitative class result and concentration for the panel. The panel is the first-tier test for allergic diseases, requiring minimal specimen volume and cost. Testing results in one result per panel and follow-up is required if the test is positive to differentiate between individual allergens.
Limitations
The test cannot identify individual allergens within the panel; follow-up testing is needed for differentiation. Testing for IgE antibodies is not useful in all clinical scenarios, notably for patients already treated with immunotherapy. False positives may occur in patients with very high serum IgE due to nonspecific binding, and some detectable IgE antibodies may not correlate with clinical symptoms, leading to diagnostic confusion if not interpreted in context.
FDA ApprovedNew York Approved
Methodology
Immunoassay (FEIA)
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 46712-6
- 46712-6
Result Turnaround Time
1-3 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Serum
Volume
0.5 mL for every 5 allergens requested
Minimum Volume
0.3 mL
Container
Plastic vial
Collection Instructions
Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.
Causes for Rejection
Gross hemolysis and lipemia are acceptable.
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Refrigerated | 14 days |
| Frozen | 90 days |