Molecular Allergy Diagnostics

Molecular Allergy Diagnostics

Accurate diagnosis is the key to successful treatment of allergic disease. Modern allergology offers three consecutive stages of diagnosis.

The Three Stages of Allergy Diagnosis

Stage one: screening tests. Their purpose is to confirm the allergic nature of the disease. Screening tests such as Phadiatop or Phadiatop Infant can be used for this, helping to determine whether an IgE-mediated allergy is present.

Stage two: identifying the allergen that causes symptoms. At this stage, the body's sensitivity to various allergens is determined with skin prick tests or blood tests for specific IgE to allergen extracts. This makes it possible to identify the causative allergens and give recommendations on limiting exposure to them.

Stage three: molecular allergy diagnostics. Unlike traditional methods, which measure sensitivity to an allergen as a whole, it detects IgE to individual allergen molecules (components). This makes it possible to distinguish true sensitization from cross-sensitization, clarify the risk of allergic reactions and assess whether allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is appropriate.

Key Objectives of Molecular Allergy Diagnostics

Over the past decades, scientists have isolated and characterized more than three thousand allergen molecules, many of which are available for laboratory testing. A blood test can reveal exactly which molecules the patient's immune system reacts to.

• determine exactly which allergen molecules (components) the patient is sensitized to;
• distinguish true sensitization from a cross-reactive allergic reaction;
• assess the risk of systemic allergic reactions in certain types of food allergy;
• determine whether allergen immunotherapy (AIT) is appropriate and predict its effectiveness;
• clarify the diagnosis in complex clinical cases.

When Molecular Diagnostics Is Needed

The decision to perform molecular allergy diagnostics is made by the allergist. The test is ordered when standard examination methods are insufficient to establish a diagnosis, clarify the causes of allergy or choose the optimal treatment strategy.

Test results are always evaluated by a physician in the context of the clinical picture and medical history.

KombiMED supplies equipment for molecular allergy diagnostics, including ImmunoCAP ISAC (allergy chip) systems from Thermo Fisher Scientific, to laboratories in Central Asia and Eastern Europe.