title: [Dutch College of General Practitioners' practice guideline can be more firm--the food allergy test does not exist].
abstract: The diagnosis of food allergy begins with a detailed history. Food allergy causes reproducible symptoms with every exposure. If this pattern cannot be elicited from the history, food allergy is unlikely. Measurement of specific immunoglobulin E in serum is not useful in the diagnosis of food allergy because asymptomatic sensitisation is common. Oral food challenges are the gold standard of food allergy diagnosis; they should preferably be performed in a double-blind fashion.
authors.affiliation: Isala klinieken, Amalia kinderafdeling, Zwolle, the Netherlands. p.l.p.brand@isala.nl
authors.forename: Paul L P
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Brand
mesh_terms: D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000592:standards; D005194:Family Practice / Q000592:standards*; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods; D009426:Netherlands; D009751:Nutritional Requirements