Food Allergy Panel (Qualitative)

Qualitative food allergy panel test

This is a simple blood test that helps to diagnose allergy to certain food items. It is also called food sensitivity blood test. Food allergy is a medical condition in which your body is allergic to certain foods. Whenever you eat those foods, your body develops various grades of immune response to them. This response can vary from mild reaction to severe life-threatening anaphylactic shock.

Food allergy is usually present in children. This allergy may resolve as the child grows older but sometimes it can be present throughout life. The various symptoms of food allergy can be categorised as follows:

• Symptoms related to skin-itching, tingling,  hives, skin rashes, swelling of lips and other parts of the body

• Symptoms related to digestive system-abdominal pain, loose motions, vomiting, metallic taste in mouth, swelling /itching on tongue 

• Symptoms related to respiratory system-coughing, wheezing, difficulty in breathing, chest tightness, nasal congestion.

• Anaphylactic shock-it is the most severe manifestation of food allergy and includes the following symptoms: dizziness, fainting, difficulty in breathing, airway tightness, rapid swelling of lips tongue and throat. It can even be fatal if not treated promptly.

This test determines allergy specific IgE is blood. The only treatment of food allergy is to avoid the allergy causing foods.

Why is qualitative food allergy panel test prescribed?

Your health care provider may ask you to undergo this test for diagnosing food allergies in certain conditions such as:

1. If there is a positive family history of food allergy

2. If you have other food allergies

3. Presence of Asthma

4. If you have other forms of allergy like eczemaor hay fever

What are the components of food allergy blood tests?

The test can detect allergy to 41 food items including cow’s milk, egg yolk, egg white, milk powder, yogurt, wheat flour, gluten, oat flour, rice, soyabean, peanut, orange, coconut, apple, grape (blue), pea, tomato, potato, spinach, garlic, onion, chickpea, white mushroom, cucumber, eggplant, pigeon pea, mung bean, yam, beef, chicken, lamb meat, mustard seed, coffee, chocolate, ginger, spice mix 3, codfish, crab, shrimp, prawn, rohu. 

Procedure and prerequisites

The sample for this test is blood, which is collected by inserting a small needle into vein of your arm. A small amount of blood is then collected in test tube or vial. You may feel some pain due to needle prick. No special preparations are required.