Pediatric Allergy Screen 3 to 8 Years, Serum
Use
This test is useful for establishing a diagnosis of an allergy to common allergens such as egg whites, house dust mites, short ragweed, timothy grass, cat epithelium, or Alternaria tenuis. It helps define the specific allergen responsible for eliciting signs and symptoms in patients, which can be essential for confirming sensitization before starting immunotherapy or investigating allergic reactions to insect venom, drugs, or chemical allergens. However, it is not useful for patients previously treated with immunotherapy to assess residual clinical sensitivity or in cases where the management does not require identification of allergen specificity.
Special Instructions
Always centrifuge the sample and aliquot serum into a plastic vial for submission. Ensure that samples are handled according to specified conditions to maintain their integrity during transportation.
Limitations
This test may detect clinically insignificant levels of IgE antibodies, potentially leading to false positives in individuals with non-specific allergen binding. It is not designed to determine residual sensitivity in patients post-immunotherapy or for medical conditions where allergen identification is not clinically necessary. Results should be interpreted within the broader clinical context.
Methodology
Immunoassay (Fluorescence Enzyme Immunoassay (FEIA))
Biomarkers
LOINC Codes
- 94593-1
- 6020-2
- 6833-8
- 6095-4
- 6106-9
- 6085-5
- 6265-3
Result Turnaround Time
1-3 days
Related Documents
For more information, please review the documents below
Specimen
Serum
Volume
0.8 mL
Minimum Volume
0.55 mL
Container
Plastic vial
Collection Instructions
Centrifuge and aliquot serum into a plastic vial.
Storage Instructions
Refrigerated storage preferred; store serum for up to 14 days refrigerated or 90 days frozen.
Stability Requirements
| Temperature | Period |
|---|---|
| Refrigerated | 14 days |
| Frozen | 90 days |
