Use

This test is useful for establishing the diagnosis of an allergy to pigeon feathers and defining the allergen responsible for eliciting signs and symptoms. It helps identify allergens responsible for allergic responses and/or anaphylactic episodes. The test can confirm sensitization prior to beginning immunotherapy and investigate the specificity of allergic reactions to insect venom allergens, drugs, or chemical allergens. However, testing for IgE antibodies is not useful in patients previously treated with immunotherapy to determine if residual clinical sensitivity exists, or in patients whose medical management does not depend upon identification of allergen specificity.