ALLERGY PROFILES/COMBINATIONS

What is an allergy?
An allergy is an unpleasant physical reaction that a person experiences when the body is exposed to a substance to which that person is hypersensitive. Such substances, which are harmless to many people, are called allergens. Allergy can affect a wide variety of organs in the body and manifests a range of symptoms.

 

Target Area	Common Symptoms
Nose	Nasal itching, congestion, sneezing, postnasal drip, watery discharge commonly associated with "hay fever", or allergic rhinitis
Eyes	Itching, redness, swelling, tearing and other conjunctivitis symptoms
Ears	Fluid in middle ear, recurrent infections
Lungs	Asthmatic symptoms such as shortness of breath, wheezing, tightness in the chest, coughing
Skin (including lips, inside of mouth/ears)	Itchy welts or "hives" (urticaria) of varying sizes
Skin (contact dermatitis)	Blistery rash, intense itching
Skin (eczema)	Dry, itchy rash
Digestive Tract	Stomach cramps, vomiting, diarrhea (associated with food allergy)
Other possible allergy symptoms include headaches, fatigue, hyperactivity, and depression.

How is allergy diagnosed?
The diagnosis of allergy begins with assessment of the patient's clinical history and symptoms. Allergy testing may then be used to identify the specific causes of the allergic reaction.

Traditionally, a patient was tested for allergy by applying a small quantity of allergen to a puncture in the skin and measuring the reaction that develops. Skin testing is qualitative and highly technique-dependent and may result in some discomfort for the patient.

Now, advanced technology is available that permits the physician to diagnose allergy from a blood sample. The test quantitatively measures immunoglobulin E (IgE) that is specific to the allergens being tested. A single blood sample can provide allergen-specific IgE test results to a variety of allergens, allowing primary care physicians the opportunity for early diagnosis and treatment of allergic patients.

Why is it important to test for allergies?
Diagnostic allergy testing can play an important role in assessing the potential of atopic disease in symptomatic patients. Accurate diagnosis of allergen sensitivity can allow health care providers to develop an optimal therapeutic approach.

Early diagnosis and treatment of the allergic patient has been shown to modify the course of the disease and prevent subsequent development of other conditions such as asthma.  As reported in the Expert Panel Report 2 funded by the National Institutes of Health, atopy, the genetic state of hyperresponsiveness to allergens, is the strongest identifiable predisposing factor for the development of asthma.  It has been hypothesized that allergic sensitization at a young age results in a state of chronic airway inflammation, which increases the child's susceptibility to nasal and ear infections.  Chronic allergy-mediated inflammation and associated infections can cause mucosal damage and lung remodeling that can ultimately lead to asthma.

A number of studies, including one published in the 1999 World Health Organization ARIA Workshop Report, indicate that early treatment of allergy can change the course of disease progression, with clinical intervention appearing the most effective if treatments are initiated before the age of six. This finding emphasizes the importance of early diagnostic testing.

Acid Anhydride Profile

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Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis Profile

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Isocyanates Profile

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Multiple Inhalant Allergen (MIA) Test

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Mini-Allergen Profile

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Food Profile

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Mold

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Seasonal Allergen Profiles

Spring - Tree

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Summer - Grass

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Fall - Weed

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Perennial Allergen Profile

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Regional Allergen Profiles (See Zone Map)

Zone 1

(States: CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, and VT)

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Zone 2

(States: DE, MD, NJ; Coastal FL, GA, NC, SC, and VA)

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Zone 3

(States: NC, PA, SC, VA, and WV)

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Zone 4

(States: Middle FL)

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Zone 5

(States: Southern FL)

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Zone 6

(States: Coastal AL, LA, TX, MS; Northwestern FL; and Southern GA)

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Zone 7

(States: AR, Eastern NM, Northern LA, OK, and TX)

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Zone 8

(States: IN, KY, Northern AL, Northern GA, Northern MS, OH, and TN)

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Zone 9

(States: MI, MN, and WI)

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Zone 10

(States: IL, IA, MO, and Southwestern MN)

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Zone 11

(States: Eastern CO, KS, NE, ND, and SD)

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Zone 12

(States: Eastern MT, Western CO, and WY)

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Zone 13

(States: Central OR, Eastern WA, Northeastern CA, Northeastern ID, and Western MT)

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Zone 14

(States: Coastal OR, WA; and Northern CA)

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Zone 15

(States: Eastern OR, NV, Southeastern WA, Southern ID, and UT)

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Zone 16

(States: AZ, Southeastern CA, Southwestern TX, and Western NM)

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Zone 17

(States: AK)

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Zone 18

(States: HI)

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Zone 19

(States: Coastal CA)

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