Allergen Profile, Cat, IgE With Component Reflex

Casandra

Casandra Test Code LC57314Version 1 (DRAFT)

Performing Lab

Lab LabcorpLab Test ID 606650CPT Code 86003

Allergen Profile, Cat, IgE With Component Reflex

Clinical Use

Use

Allergic rhinitis and asthma are chronic inflammatory diseases leading to restrictions in the patient's quality of life and high costs for health care systems. Both diseases are associated with the presence of specific IgE (sIgE) against aeroallergens.1 Cats are an important source of indoor allergens and are considered to be a major risk factor for the development of allergic rhinitis and asthma.2-7 A significant proportion of atopic subjects (about 20-40%) are sensitized to cat allergens.8,9 Cats are dominant sensitizers in young adults with asthma10 and IgE titers to cat proteins correlate with disease severity.3 Further, sensitization to these pets in childhood predicts persistence of asthma throughout the teen ages.11,12 Recent studies have shown that the majority of individuals who are sensitized to cats do not have a cat in their home.13,14

Special Instructions

If Cat IgE levels are ≥0.35 kU/L, testing for Fel d 1, Fel d 2, Fel d 4, and Fel d 7 IgE will be conducted. These tests utilize Thermo Fisher ImmunoCAP® technology for allergen-specific IgE detection.

Limitations

Allergen-specific IgE assays do not provide absolute diagnostic certainty for allergic disease. The patient's clinical history remains crucial in diagnostic conclusions. Component resolved IgE testing improves evaluation compared to whole extracts, but cannot replace clinical history or food challenge tests. Unidentified sensitizations might occur in rare instances beyond tested allergens.

Test Details