Abstract
The prevalence of food allergy is on the increase, but the reasons why are unclear. The increase may be genuine, or it may be that our awareness of the condition has improved or that diagnosis of the condition is facilitated by a larger variety of available diagnostic tests. The aim of the various methods used to diagnose immediate type allergy (which occurs within minutes) is to demonstrate the existence of specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) bound to mast cells in the skin (skin tests), in the mucosa (provocation tests) or circulating in the blood (serum tests). This article aims to review the available tests for diagnosis of food allergy and will critique their clinical efficiency.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 4-5 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Journal | MIMS Advances in Infant Nutrition |
| Volume | 3 |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Nov 2004 |