The discovery that allergen specific IgE(sIgE) identified individuals who were allergic to specific allergens,revolutionized allergy and immunology. Recently,component-resolved allergen testing(CRD) has shown promise in improving the field yet again. Prior to development of CRD immunoassays,whole allergen extracts were used to detect Ig E mediated allergic disease either by oral,cutaneous,or conjunctival provocation. The most widely used immunoassays detect s Ig E to either whole allergen sources or individual allergic components. The use of CRD micro-assay technology(not Food and Drug Administration approved in the United States) has been used to evaluate multiple allergens in parallel. This technique allows for determination of primary vs secondary sensitizations from either close sequence homology or cross-reactive carbohydrate determinants. Published studies have shown beneficial uses in hymenoptera venom immunotherapy,anaphylaxis,and food allergy. The use of component testing for aeroallergen immunotherapy has been studied,however clinical use is hampered by lack of allergen components approved for injection. Therefore,although promising in many respects,the frontier of CRD testing requires more data before it can be widely used in clinical practice.
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