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Open Access 01-12-2024 | Food Allergy | Review

Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology position statement: panel testing for food allergies

Authors: Abdulrahman Al Ghamdi, Elissa M. Abrams, Stuart Carr, Mariam A. Hanna, Sari M. Herman, Elana Lavine, Harold Kim, Timothy K. Vander Leek, Douglas P. Mack

Published in: Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology | Issue 1/2024

Abstract

This position statement addresses the critical concerns and recommended practices surrounding the use of panel food testing for diagnosing food allergies. Food allergies are a significant public health concern, and the misdiagnosis of food allergies remains a prevalent concern, made worse by the ongoing use of panel food testing. The practice of screening patients for multiple food allergens, regardless of clinical relevance, is commonly referred to as “panel food testing.” Fundamentally, a panel food test is not simply a single test; a panel food test is a series of several distinct tests for multiple foods, each with its own variable predictive value. These tests have not been adequately validated as screening tests and carry a considerable false positive rate. The resulting false diagnoses lead to unnecessary dietary restrictions, increased healthcare costs, and significant psychosocial distress for patients and their families.

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Title: Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology position statement: panel testing for food allergies
Authors: Abdulrahman Al Ghamdi
Elissa M. Abrams
Stuart Carr
Mariam A. Hanna
Sari M. Herman
Elana Lavine
Harold Kim
Timothy K. Vander Leek
Douglas P. Mack
Publication date: 01-12-2024
Publisher: BioMed Central
Keyword: Food Allergy
Published in: Allergy, Asthma & Clinical Immunology / Issue 1/2024
Electronic ISSN: 1710-1492
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s13223-024-00937-0

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Focused allergic rhinitis practice parameter for Canada

A case of pediatric serum sickness like reaction (SSLR) after a 2-month re-exposure to amoxicillin

A real-world evaluation of the effectiveness and Sufficiency of Current Emergency Department Preventative Strategies for Reducing Emergency Department revisits in a Canadian children’s hospital: a retrospective cohort study

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