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Allergy & asthma

Identify the cause of patient symptoms for more effective treatment

Allergies, respiratory infections, and asthma often present with similar symptoms, making them difficult to differentiate. Being able to rule in or rule out allergies as the cause of your patients’ symptoms can help inform better treatment decisions and improve patient outcomes.

From individual allergen tests and component testing to regional environmental allergy test panels, Quest offers a comprehensive range of ImmunoCAP® IgE blood allergy tests to meet the full spectrum of patient needs.

Helping you target allergens to protect and improve lives

Allergies affect tens of millions of adults and children in the United States. According to the CDC, over 19 million adults and over 5 million children in the US suffer from seasonal allergies (hay fever), and over 4.5 million children have food allergies.1

Allergy testing can help your patient know what exposures to avoid, and just as important, what exposures are safe. The ImmunoCAP IgE blood test from Quest Diagnostics makes it possible to easily identify allergen-specific triggers, for improved patient management and outcomes.

For the patient in this video, a simple ImmunoCAP allergy test was the key to controlling his allergies without limiting his lifestyle.

Understanding the allergy-asthma connection

Research shows that allergy is a risk factor for asthma,2 as exposure to allergens can increase asthma symptoms and trigger attacks. The CDC recommends allergy testing for patients with asthma to help close gaps in care and mitigate risk for other respiratory illnesses.3

Identifying your patients’ allergy triggers with ImmunoCAP supports better asthma management and control for improved health outcomes and fewer office visits and hospitalizations for your patients.

A comprehensive range of testing

Get region-specific allergen insights

Upper respiratory disorders (URDs), including rhinitis, sinusitis, and allergic rhinitis may be due to viruses, bacteria, or environmental allergens. A definitive diagnosis is essential to determine appropriate treatment.

ImmunoCAP is an IgE blood test that helps identify likely allergens. Regional profiles combine the most common and significant environmental triggers based on geography, offering 19 allergy profiles that accommodate patients across the US. ImmunoCAP testing also offers the flexibility of adding or removing allergens based on your patient's needs.

Respiratory environmental/regional allergen tests:
  • Animals
  • Regional profiles
  • Insects
  • House dust and dust mites
     
  • Mold
  • Weed
  • Grass
  • Tree

Differentiate sensitization from a true food allergy

Allergen components—in conjunction with whole-allergen test results—help you better diagnose allergies, allowing you to prepare more comprehensive management plans.

Allergen Component Testing (ACT), which measures specific IgE by blood test, is the first step in discovering the likelihood of a systemic reaction, providing you the information you need to prescribe necessary precautions for your patients.

Food allergen tests:
  • Tree nuts and components: cashew, brazil, hazelnuts, walnuts
  • Peanuts and components
  • Milk and dairy allergens and components
  • Fish and shellfish
  • Egg and component
  • Fruits and vegetables
  • Grain allergens
  • Spice allergens
  • Meats
  • Soy

An accurate diagnosis can save a life

For some patients, a bite or sting from an insect is not only painful—it can be life-threatening. Individual tests are available to target specific allergens, as well as the Allergy Insect Venom Panel, which tests for IgE against honey bees, wasps, hornets, yellow jackets, and fire ants.

Know the cause to prevent the onset of allergic symptoms

Many different substances can trigger allergies in sensitive individuals, including latex, mold spores, and more. Individual tests are often the most accurate way to identify the allergen and make the right diagnosis.

Identify the source of symptoms to improve patient health

With animal sensitization increasing in the US and dog and cat allergies on the rise worldwide, it’s important to accurately diagnose and treat patients to help reduce symptoms and complications from exposure.4

ImmunoCAP offers a full range of animal allergen testing to help you diagnose pet or other animal allergies and allow you to prepare a more comprehensive management plan.

Animal allergen tests:
  • Cat
  • Chicken
  • Cow
  • Dog
  • Duck
  • Goat
  • Goose
  • Guinea pig
  • Hamster
  • Horse
  • Mouse
  • Parrot/parakeet
  • Pigeon
  • Rabbit
  • Rat
  • Sheep
  • Swine

Convenient allergen profiles

Quest offers a wide variety of allergy profiles including profiles that cover the most common and significant respiratory allergy triggers by region, profiles for children and adults, and food-only profiles to obtain more targeted allergen insights.

Allergen profiles:
  • Childhood allergy profile
  • Adult food allergy profile
  • Regional respiratory allergy profiles

The power of Quest

References

 

  1. CDC National Center for Health Statistics. Allergy and hay fever. Updated March 1, 2021. Accessed September 6, 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/fastats/allergies.htm
  2. Nelson HS, Allergen and irritant control: importance and implementation. Clin Cornerstone. 1998:1(2):57-68. doi:10.1016/s1098-3597(98)80006-9
  3. CDC. Allergy testing for persons with asthma: frequently asked questions. Accessed September 4, 2020. https://www.cdc.gov/asthma/pdfs/AA_Fact_Sheet.pdf doi: 10.4168/aair.2018.10.2.97  
  4. Chan SK, Leung DYM. Dog and cat allergies: current state of diagnostic approaches and challenges. Allergy Asthma Immunol Res. 2018;10(2):97-105. doi:10.4168/aair.2018.10.2.97