The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy

Release date: 5 September 2006

EMBARGOED UNTIL 10 SEPTEMBER 2006

(coinciding with the 17th ASCIA Annual Scientific Meeting 7-10 September 2006)

Spring and summer is a time when we live and eat outside, tend our gardens and enjoy the longer leisure hours. Unfortunately, it is also the time that Spring allergies arise.

Discussing the issue of accurate allergy testing at this week's Allergy Diagnostic Symposium during the Primary Care Allergy and Immunology Update Day at the Australasian Society for Clinical Immunology and Allergy (ASCIA) Annual Scientific Meeting, ASCIA President Dr Karl Baumgart (Sydney) said that "allergy sufferers notice Spring about the same time that plants do, which release pollen that can blow long distances".

"But allergies can occur anytime of year, triggered by exposure to pets, dust mite and sometimes mould spores. Reactions to food can also occur, and these can be unpredictable".

"When the history suggests the possibility of allergy, accurate allergy testing is important to confirm the diagnosis, and help identification of avoidable triggers for symptoms" said Dr Raymond Mullins (Canberra). "Skin prick testing gives rapid results and is generally well tolerated, even by small children. Blood allergy testing is also available and can give valuable information, as long as the correct test is chosen".

"Allergy testing detects an immune response to substances that we eat, drink or inhale. Unfortunately, there are a number of dubious tests out there, of which Vega testing, hair analysis, IgG antibody allergy testing and cytotoxic food testing are only a few", said Dr Mullins. "Before undergoing some of these bizarre tests, people need to ask themselves why there is no published evidence that they are useful, no scientific basis for them and why they can't get a Medicare rebate for the tests".

"Only medical supervised skin prick tests or medical laboratory testing of the allergic response by measuring 'allergen specific IgE' provides this information" said Dr Baumgart. "This information provides a rational basis for management of allergies by helping us to advise patients what to avoid, and to prescribe appropriate immunotherapy (desensitization), to help switch off the allergic response".

"But allergy sufferers need to be especially careful not to fall victim to bizarre non-medical devices, tests and treatments for their symptoms" said Dr Baumgart. He went on to say that "The public also needs to be aware that unlike claims to "cure" cancer, unsubstantiated claims to be able to detect or ‘cure' allergic or immune disorders are only stringently regulated by government, medical boards or advertising regulators if the practitioner is a registered doctor. If you think you have allergies, then ask your doctor about allergy testing for 'specific IgE' "

For more information, refer to the ASCIA website www.allergy.org.au