title: Interpreting IgE sensitization tests in food allergy.
abstract: Food allergies are increasing in prevalence, and with it, IgE testing to foods is becoming more commonplace. Food-specific IgE tests, including serum assays and prick skin tests, are sensitive for detecting the presence of food-specific IgE (sensitization), but specificity for predicting clinical allergy is limited. Therefore, positive tests are generally not, in isolation, diagnostic of clinical disease. However, rationale test selection and interpretation, based on clinical history and understanding of food allergy epidemiology and pathophysiology, makes these tests invaluable. Additionally, there exist highly predictive test cutoff values for common allergens in atopic children. Newer testing methodologies, such as component resolved diagnostics, are promising for increasing the utility of testing. This review highlights the use of IgE serum tests in the diagnosis of food allergy.
authors.affiliation: a Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy Immunology , Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe Food Allergy Institute , New York , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Niti Y
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Chokshi
authors.affiliation: a Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Allergy Immunology , Elliot and Roslyn Jaffe Food Allergy Institute , New York , NY , USA.
authors.forename: Scott H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Sicherer
mesh_terms: D000485:Allergens / Q000276:immunology; D000818:Animals; D005512:Food Hypersensitivity / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D007114:Immunization; D007073:Immunoglobulin E / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012698:Serologic Tests; D012882:Skin Tests
chemical_list: D000485:Allergens; D007073:Immunoglobulin E
keywords: Food allergy; component-resolved diagnostics; diagnosis; egg allergy; food-specific IgE; milk allergy; peanut allergy; seafood allergy; soy allergy; wheat allergy