What are the complete food allergen tests?

In fact, there is currently no unified standard for "all food allergens" in China. The coverage of "all items" in different institutions and different testing packages varies quite a bit. The full items for civilian use generally range from a dozen to dozens of items. The "100-item full inspection" promoted by a few institutions is an optional advanced model, and the popularity rate is not high.

Currently, the eight categories of highly allergenic foods defined by the WHO are bound to be covered in all tests, namely milk, eggs, wheat, peanuts, soybeans, nuts, fish, and crustaceans. These eight categories have covered more than 90% of food allergy cases. If the usual allergy symptoms are not particularly strange, just checking these basic items is actually enough.

Last year, when I accompanied my cousin who suffered from recurring eczema to a tertiary tertiary hospital for testing, I discovered that the "all-in-one" content of different hospitals was quite different. The tertiary-level dermatology department I frequented had a total of 24 categories. In addition to the basic 8 categories, it also added buckwheat and oats commonly eaten by northerners, as well as mango, peach, cashew nut, hazelnut, which has a high allergy rate in recent years, and common red meat seafood such as beef, mutton, shrimp and crab.； Later, I asked another hospital that has an allergy specialist. They found that there were 42 types of allergens, including relatively niche allergens such as garlic, mustard, kiwi, and sesame.

As for the "100-item comprehensive inspection" that is very popular on the Internet, there are actually different opinions in the industry. Some people think that the more comprehensive the investigation, the better. After all, there are indeed a few people who are allergic to very niche foods such as amaranth, cashew nut shells and even pistachios. Only by comprehensive investigation can they be accurately avoided. ； However, many clinicians think it is completely unnecessary. Firstly, the sensitization rate of niche allergens is very low. Secondly, the probability of false positives in the test itself is not low, which can easily create unnecessary anxiety. There is a mother next to me who spent more than 2,000 yuan to do 108 tests for her baby. The results showed that she is mildly sensitive to rice. However, her baby ate rice from eating rice until he was 3 years old and had no adverse reactions. Later, the doctor said it was a false positive, which made me nervous for less than half a month.

Oh, by the way, many people don’t know that the food allergen tests we often talk about are actually divided into two types: IgE and IgG. The “full test” mentioned by many institutions includes both categories. IgE corresponds to immediate allergy, which occurs shortly after eating. As for swollen mouth, rash, and shortness of breath, IgG corresponds to delayed-type allergy. It may take two or three days after eating to develop eczema, stomach upset, and inexplicable cough. If you only check all IgE items, you may miss delayed-type allergens.

If you really want to get tested, you don't need to blindly pursue "the number of items". First, explain your usual allergic scenarios to the doctor. For example, your face is itchy every time you eat tropical fruits, or your stomach hurts when you eat soba noodles. Just ask the doctor to add items in a targeted way. It is much more practical than the so-called "all items" that are much more expensive.