Dr. Audra Blažienė, allergist and clinical immunologist at the “Hila” Medical Diagnostics and Treatment Center, explains why accurate diagnostics is a crucial step in effectively managing allergies, according to a press release.
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False positive results – a more common problem than it seems
As explained by Associate Professor, medical doctor allergist and clinical immunologist A. Blažienė, it is important in allergy diagnostics to understand the difference between sensitization and allergic disease. Sensitization means that the body produces specific IgE antibodies against a certain allergen, but this does not necessarily cause disease symptoms. True allergy is confirmed only when contact with the allergen causes a clear reaction in the body.
“Standard tests measure IgE antibodies against the whole allergen, but not all proteins present in the source cause clinically significant reactions. Moreover, there are so-called CCDs – cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants, which can lead to false positive results. These are molecules found in plants and insects, against which the body may produce antibodies, although they do not cause allergy symptoms,” explains the doctor.
False positive results caused by CCDs can make up a significant portion of all positive responses, especially when testing sensitization to plant allergens. For example, patients allergic to grass pollen may show a positive result in a standard test against wheat, although there is no true allergy to wheat.
Unnecessary restrictions harm health and finances
According to A. Blažienė, false test results have serious consequences for patients’ daily lives. Upon receiving a positive result, people often start avoiding certain foods, even though it is not necessary.
“Unnecessary avoidance of food products can affect a balanced diet, especially in children. Additionally, it causes psychological discomfort. There are special dietary products that can be more expensive, and patients often spend a long time seeking answers by visiting different specialists and repeating tests,” notes the doctor.
Molecular diagnostics – more precise diagnostics
The doctor emphasizes that modern medicine offers more precise diagnostic methods that help avoid false results. One of them is molecular (component-resolved) allergy diagnostics, which examines sensitization to the main allergen components responsible for the disease manifestation.
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“Molecular diagnostics allows identifying which specific protein the patient is sensitized to. This is important because different proteins have different properties – some are heat-resistant and can cause severe reactions, others lose their allergenicity when heated. Knowing the exact sensitization profile allows providing much more accurate recommendations to the patient,” says A. Blažienė.
In Lithuania, the most comprehensive molecular allergy tests in the world are available. For example, “Allergy Xplorer 3”. During such tests, 300 allergens can be examined from a single blood sample. It includes 218 molecular allergen components and 82 allergens, and automatic CCD effect blocking helps ensure more accurate results.
Accurate results help make the right decisions
Such a test shows not only whether sensitization exists but also how strongly the body reacts to a specific allergen.
“This is especially useful for monitoring the course of allergy, for example, in children whose allergy profile may change as they grow. By observing quantitative changes, we can better predict whether the child will outgrow the allergy and accordingly adjust recommendations,” explains A. Blažienė.
The doctor also emphasizes that molecular testing helps recognize cross-reactive allergies – situations where similar proteins are found in different products or pollens. For example, a person allergic to birch pollen may experience symptoms when eating raw apples because the protein in them is similar to the birch allergen. Knowing this connection, it is possible to understand that such a patient will most likely tolerate cooked apples without any symptoms.
“Accurate diagnostics is an investment in the patient’s quality of life. It allows avoiding unnecessary restrictions, reducing anxiety, and making informed decisions about diet and further treatment,” says A. Blažienė.
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