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26226 Allergen, Food-Grain Panel (FOOD4)

Allergen, Food-Grain Panel (FOOD4)
Test Code: ALFOOD4
Synonyms/Keywords

​Barley
IgE Antibodies, Multi-Allergen
Rice
Rye
Wheat

Test Components

​Includes testing for barley, rice, rye, and wheat allergen.

Useful For

Establishing a diagnosis of an allergy to barley, rice, rye, and wheat

Defining the allergen responsible for eliciting signs and symptoms

Identifying allergens:

-Responsible for allergic disease and/or anaphylactic episode

-To confirm sensitization prior to beginning immunotherapy

-To investigate the specificity of allergic reactions to insect venom allergens, drugs, or chemical allergens

Testing for IgE antibodies is not useful in patients previously treated with immunotherapy to determine if residual clinical sensitivity exists, or in patients in whom the medical management does not depend upon identification of allergen specificity.

Highlights:

This multi-allergen IgE antibody panel, combined with measurement of IgE in serum, is an appropriate first-order test for allergic disease.

It requires less specimen volume and less cost for ruling out allergic response; however, individual (single) allergen responses cannot be identified. In cases of a positive test, follow-up testing must be performed to differentiate between individual allergens in the panel.

Note: Only one result is generated for each panel.

Specimen Requirements
Specimen TypePreferred Container/TubeAcceptable Container/TubeSpecimen VolumeSpecimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)
Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​Serum​Serum Separator Tube (SST)Red Top Tube (RTT)​0.5 mL​0.3 mL
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen TypeTemperatureTime
​Serum ​​Refrigerated (preferred)​14 days
​Frozen​90 days
Interference

​Some individuals with clinically insignificant sensitivity to allergens may have measurable levels of IgE antibodies in serum, and results must be interpreted in the clinical context.

False-positive results for IgE antibodies may occur in patients with markedly elevated serum IgE (>2500 kU/L) due to nonspecific binding to allergen solid phases.

Since only one result is generated for this panel, individual (single) allergen responses cannot be identified. When this panel is positive, follow-up testing is required to differentiate between individual allergens in the panel.

Performing Laboratory Information
Performing LocationDay(s) Test PerformedReport AvailableMethodology/Instrumentation
​Mayo Clinic Laboratories​Monday through Friday​1 to 3 days​Fluorescence Enzyme Immunoassay (FEIA)
Reference Lab
Reference Range Information

Performing LocationReference Range












​Mayo Clinic Laboratories
ClassIgE kU/LInterpretation
0<0.10Negative
0/1 0.10-0.34Borderline/equivocal
10.35-0.69Equivocal
20.70-3.49Positive
33.50-17.4Positive
417.5-49.9Strongly positive
550.0-99.9Strongly positive
6> or =100Strongly positive

Reference values apply to all ages.


Interpretation

Positive results indicate the possibility of allergic disease induced by one or more allergens present in the multi-allergen cap.

Negative results may rule out allergy, except in rare cases of allergic disease induced by exposure to a single allergen.

Detection of IgE antibodies in serum (Class 1 or greater) indicates an increased likelihood of allergic disease as opposed to other etiologies and defines the allergens that may be responsible for eliciting signs and symptoms.

The level of IgE antibodies in serum varies directly with the concentration of IgE antibodies expressed as a class score or kU/L.

Outreach CPTs
CPTModifier
(if needed)
QuantityDescriptionComments
​86003​1
Synonyms/Keywords

​Barley
IgE Antibodies, Multi-Allergen
Rice
Rye
Wheat

Test Components

​Includes testing for barley, rice, rye, and wheat allergen.

Ordering Applications
Ordering ApplicationDescription
​COM​Allergen, FoodGrain Pnl (FOOD4)
​Cerner​Allergen, Grain Pnl (FOOD4)
If the ordering application you are looking for is not listed, contact your local laboratory for assistance.
Specimen Requirements
Specimen TypePreferred Container/TubeAcceptable Container/TubeSpecimen VolumeSpecimen Minimum Volume
(allows for 1 repeat)
Pediatric Minimum Volume
(no repeat)
​Serum​Serum Separator Tube (SST)Red Top Tube (RTT)​0.5 mL​0.3 mL
Specimen Stability Information
Specimen TypeTemperatureTime
​Serum ​​Refrigerated (preferred)​14 days
​Frozen​90 days
Interference

​Some individuals with clinically insignificant sensitivity to allergens may have measurable levels of IgE antibodies in serum, and results must be interpreted in the clinical context.

False-positive results for IgE antibodies may occur in patients with markedly elevated serum IgE (>2500 kU/L) due to nonspecific binding to allergen solid phases.

Since only one result is generated for this panel, individual (single) allergen responses cannot be identified. When this panel is positive, follow-up testing is required to differentiate between individual allergens in the panel.

Useful For

Establishing a diagnosis of an allergy to barley, rice, rye, and wheat

Defining the allergen responsible for eliciting signs and symptoms

Identifying allergens:

-Responsible for allergic disease and/or anaphylactic episode

-To confirm sensitization prior to beginning immunotherapy

-To investigate the specificity of allergic reactions to insect venom allergens, drugs, or chemical allergens

Testing for IgE antibodies is not useful in patients previously treated with immunotherapy to determine if residual clinical sensitivity exists, or in patients in whom the medical management does not depend upon identification of allergen specificity.

Highlights:

This multi-allergen IgE antibody panel, combined with measurement of IgE in serum, is an appropriate first-order test for allergic disease.

It requires less specimen volume and less cost for ruling out allergic response; however, individual (single) allergen responses cannot be identified. In cases of a positive test, follow-up testing must be performed to differentiate between individual allergens in the panel.

Note: Only one result is generated for each panel.

Test Components

​Includes testing for barley, rice, rye, and wheat allergen.

Reference Range Information

Performing LocationReference Range












​Mayo Clinic Laboratories
ClassIgE kU/LInterpretation
0<0.10Negative
0/1 0.10-0.34Borderline/equivocal
10.35-0.69Equivocal
20.70-3.49Positive
33.50-17.4Positive
417.5-49.9Strongly positive
550.0-99.9Strongly positive
6> or =100Strongly positive

Reference values apply to all ages.


Interpretation

Positive results indicate the possibility of allergic disease induced by one or more allergens present in the multi-allergen cap.

Negative results may rule out allergy, except in rare cases of allergic disease induced by exposure to a single allergen.

Detection of IgE antibodies in serum (Class 1 or greater) indicates an increased likelihood of allergic disease as opposed to other etiologies and defines the allergens that may be responsible for eliciting signs and symptoms.

The level of IgE antibodies in serum varies directly with the concentration of IgE antibodies expressed as a class score or kU/L.

For more information visit:
Performing Laboratory Information
Performing LocationDay(s) Test PerformedReport AvailableMethodology/Instrumentation
​Mayo Clinic Laboratories​Monday through Friday​1 to 3 days​Fluorescence Enzyme Immunoassay (FEIA)
Reference Lab
For billing questions, see Contacts
Outreach CPTs
CPTModifier
(if needed)
QuantityDescriptionComments
​86003​1
For most current information refer to the Marshfield Laboratory online reference manual.