The U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared Thermo Fisher Scientific’s ImmunoCAP Specific IgE (sIgE) Allergen Components for wheat and sesame * allergies for in vitro diagnostic use.

Soon to be available nationwide, these advanced blood tests can act as a diagnostic aid, helping specialists and other healthcare providers identify wheat and sesame allergies for patients at risk for a severe allergic reaction.1-3

ImmunoCAP Specific IgE Allergen Component Ses i 1 provides a quantitative measurement of sIgE antibodies through a simple blood draw to help improve the diagnosis of sesame seed allergy. The test offers higher clinical specificity than skin prick testing extracts and whole allergen in-vitro sIgE sesame tests.4-6 Results can help identify patients with sesame allergy at risk for severe anaphylactic reaction and ultimately achieve better outcomes and patient management.1,2

“Sesame was recently added to the top nine major food allergen list through the FASTER ACT because sesame reactions are often dangerous and unpredictable,” says Rebecca Rosenberger, MMSc, PA-C, allergy diagnostic & treatment center and associate director, Clinical Affairs & Education at Thermo Fisher Scientific. “Sesame is often a hidden allergen making the danger of accidental intake even greater. ImmunoCAP Specific IgE Allergen Component for sesame provides clinicians with a more complete assessment of the patient’s allergy. It also helps evaluate the risks associated with a severe systemic reaction (e.g., anaphylaxis) and to better qualify patients for an oral food challenge.”

ImmunoCAP Specific IgE Allergen Components for wheat measures IgE antibodies to Tri a 14 and Tri a 19 (omega-5-gliadin) components associated with severe reactions.3,7,10 Results help confirm IgE-mediated wheat allergy as a cause of symptoms, help identify clinically irrelevant sensitizations due to grass cross-reactivity and improve avoidance recommendations.3,7

“Wheat is the third most common food allergy, but it’s often misdiagnosed and confused with other digestive disorders like gluten intolerance and celiac disease,” says Rosenberger. “ImmunoCAP Specific IgE Allergen Components for wheat help clinicians pinpoint true allergies and distinguish between wheat sensitization and grass cross-reactivity. This can prevent unnecessary diet restrictions for many patients.

ImmunoCAP blood testing is the most widely used sIgE test, with reference in more than 6,000 peer-reviewed publications. The tests can identify allergic sensitization to common environmental allergens – seasonal and perennial, indoor and outdoor – as well as common food allergens such as peanuts, eggs, and milk. ImmunoCAP tests, which are available in most major U.S. laboratories and can be ordered for patients of any age regardless of skin condition, current medication, disease activity, or pregnancy status.8,9

*Official product names of allergen components mentioned within this document: ImmunoCAP Allergen f449, Allergen component rSes i 1, Sesame seed; ImmunoCAP Allergen f433, Allergen component rTri a 14 LTP, Wheat; ImmunoCAP Allergen f416, Allergen component rTri a 19 Omega-5 Gliadin, Wheat

References:

  1. Pastorello EA, et al. J Chromatogr B Biomed Sci Appl. 2001;756(1-2):85-93
  2. Nachshon L, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2019;7:2775-81
  3. Ito K et al. IgE antibodies to ω-5 gliadin associate with immediate symptoms on oral wheat challenge in Japanese children. Allergy 2008;63:1536-1542.
  4. Yanagida N, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2019;7(6):2084-86.
  5. Saf S, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol Pract. 2020;8(5):1681-88.
  6. Goldberg MR, et al. Pediatr Allergy Immunol. 2021 May 5.
  7. Matricardi PM et al. EAACI Molecular Allergology User’s Guide. Pediatric allergy and immunology: official publication of the European Society of Pediatric Allergy and Immunology. 2016;27 Suppl 23:1-250
  8. [Internet]. Dfu.phadia.com. 2020 [cited 2020 Jul 22]. Available from: https://dfu.phadia.com/Data/Pdf/5dae9e2489c23208b8036206.pdf
  9. Siles R, Hsieh F. Allergy blood testing: A practical guide for clinicians. Cleveland Clinic Journal of Medicine. 2011;78(9):585-592.
  10. Jakob T, Forstenlechner P, Matricardi P, Kleine-Tebbe J. Molecular allergy diagnostics using multiplex assays: methodological and practical considerations for use in research and clinical routine. Allergo Journal International. 2015;24(8):320-332.