Clinical immunology/allergy specialists

Clinical immunology/allergy specialists are medical specialists who have extensive postgraduate training in clinical immunology and allergy, fellowship of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians (FRACP) and Full ASCIA membership. If they have trained in Immunopathology they will also be fellows of the Royal College of Pathologists of Australasia (FRCPA). 

Clinical immunology/allergy specialists have been specifically trained to diagnose, treat and manage patients with allergy and other immune diseases. They work in hospitals and private practice, as listed on the ASCIA website www.allergy.org.au/patients/locate-a-specialist and a referral from a general practitioner (GP) is required.

Clinical immunology/allergy specialists diagnose, treat and manage patients with allergies, immunodeficiencies and other immune diseases:

• Allergic diseases are amongst the fastest growing chronic disease and public health issues in Australia and New Zealand, affecting around 20% of the population. They include food, insect and drug allergies, asthma, allergic rhinitis (hay fever) and eczema. Allergic diseases, particularly food allergy and drug allergy, are increasing in prevalence, complexity and severity.  The most severe type of allergic reaction is known as anaphylaxis, which is potentially life threatening. 
• Immunodeficiency diseases are serious, potentially life threatening conditions that are increasing in number and complexity. Delay in diagnosis of immunodeficiency disease leads to poor health outcomes and premature death.
• There are more than 100 different autoimmune diseases that affect around 5% of the population and if not appropriately managed, these can lead to significant disability. 

The Scope of Practice for clinical immunology/allergy specialists is available at: ASCIA Scope of Practice208.16 KB

Referral to a clinical immunology/allergy specialist

1. Complex allergic disease (e.g allergic rhinitis and asthma or eczema)
2. Severe allergies (e.g. to foods, drugs or insects)
3. A previous life threatening severe allergic reaction (anaphylaxis)
4. Confirmed or suspected IgE mediated allergy to foods, drugs or occupational allergens
5. Food or drug allergies, to undergo medically supervised allergen challenges
6. Insect or respiratory allergy, when allergen immunotherapy is contemplated
7. Continuing poor control of asthma, despite regular use of asthma medication
8. Confirmed or suspected chronic urticaria and/or angioedema
9. Confirmed or suspected immunodeficiencies (e.g with recurrent or unusual infections)
10. Confirmed or suspected autoimmune or autoinflammatory diseases (e.g. with unexplained fevers or weight loss)

Content updated August 2022