Use

This test is useful for establishing the diagnosis of an allergy to mace and defining the allergen responsible for eliciting signs and symptoms. It helps identify allergens responsible for allergic response or anaphylactic episodes and confirms sensitization prior to beginning immunotherapy. It is also used to investigate the specificity of allergic reactions to insect venom allergens, drugs, or chemical allergens. Testing for IgE antibodies is not useful in patients previously treated with immunotherapy to determine if residual clinical sensitivity exists, or in patients in whom the medical management does not depend upon identification of allergen specificity.