Allergenex testing makes it easy

for clinicians to utilize

Fill out the form

Collect the blood sample

Drop into the nearest mailbox

Easy to use

  • Simple in office fingerstick blood collection
  • Patients do not need to stop medications
  • National respiratory profile test for 28 food allergens, 40 inhalant allergens or a combination of 68 food & inhalant allergens.

Rhinitis

Allergic or non-allergic?

Knowing makes a difference

Not all rhinitis is allergic

  • Symptoms overlap – but the underlying causes and therapy selection are entirely different
  • Allergic rhinitis is over-diagnosed: among patients diagnoses as having allergic rhinitis and prescribed non-sedating antihistamines (NSAs), approximately 65% are not allergic
  • Differentiation between allergic and non-allergic rhinitis requires evaluation for specific IgE antibodies

Results of 2 studies

Without specific IgE testing, allergic rhinitis is the presumptive diagnosis

The majority of patients presenting with rhinitis symptoms are not allergic

Upper Respiratory Disease

Patient Management

PATIENT PRESENTS WITH SYMPTOMS

Nasal Congestion, Rhinorrhea, Increased Secretions, Sneezing

HISTORY AND PHYSICAL EXAM

ALLERGENEX

“Rhinitis should be classified by etiology as allergic or non-allergic and differentiated from conditions that mimic symptoms of rhinitis.”

-AAAAI/ACAAI Joint Task Force on Practice Parameters
  • Identity specific allergens to reduce exposure
  • Formulate an appropriate therapy plan based on objective evidence indicating an allergic cause
  • Decide if and when referral is appropriate

The value of

a positive Allergic Result

  • Rule out allergies and get to the underlying cause
  • Formulate an appropriate treatment plan based on objective evidence indicating a non-allergic cause
  • Decide if and when referral is appropriate

The value of a

Negative Allergic Result

“When used in conjunction with patient history and physical exam, Allergenex results offer objective evidence to help:”

  • Rule in/out atopy as the cause of allergic symptoms
  • Select appropriate targeted treatments for allergic or non-allergic rhinitis
  • Identify specific allergic triggers
  • Implement targeted exposure reduction methods

The difference

testing makes

With the use of specific IgE testing, the diagnosis of non-allergic patients increased from 9.6% to 42.7%

“Diagnosing and controlling allergic rhinitis- through avoidance measures, pharmacotherapy or a combination of these, is an important part of an overall allergy management plan”

– American Academy of Family Physicians

The Allergenex

test results are in

What do I do now?

Make a plan

Positive specific IgE test results

  • Rule in/out atopy as the cause of allergic symptoms
  • Select appropriate targeted treatments for allergic or non-allergic rhinitis

Negative specific IgE test results

  • Explore other possible symptom causes
  • Use appropriate medications to address non-allergic etiologies

Educate the patient

Positive specific IgE test results

  • Stress the need to reduce exposure to the relevant allergens based on the patient’s documented sensitization
  • Encourage compliance with targeted medications to achieve symptom reliefn

Negative specific IgE test results

  • Point out to the patient that test results confirm antihistamines won’t work for his or her symptoms
  • Encourage compliance with targeted medications to achieve symptom relief

With specific IgE testing, differentiate the

diagnosis and target the treatment!

  • Differentiate allergic from non-allergic etiologies

  • Select a targeted treatment for allergic and non-allergic rhinitis

  • Reduce exposure to specific allergic triggers

  • Guide timely and appropriate referrals, if necessary

NSAs are not effective in non-allergic rhinitis

  • Non-sedating antihistamines and leukotriene receptor antagonists will only work if the symptoms are caused by histamines or leukotrienes
  • Non-sedating antihistamines and leukotriene antagonists do not work in non-allergic Rhinitis

Targeted treatment requires targeted diagnosis

  • Your patients with rhinitis symptoms have likely already failed on an over-the-counter NSA
  • Use normal test results to aid compliance with medications effective in non-allergic disease (decongestants, intranasal steroids)

Inhalant Allergic Triggers

  • Dust Mite

  • Cockroach

  • dog dander

  • cat dander

  • trees

  • weeds & grasses

  • molds

Food Allergic Triggers

  • eggs

  • fish

  • milk

  • peanut

  • shrimp

  • soy

  • wheat

Non-Allergic Triggers

  • Cigarette
    Smoke

  • Air Pollution

  • Perfume

  • Temperature
    Change

  • Alcohol

  • infection

References

  • Lau J, et al. Am Fam Physician. 2003;67:705-706.
  • Wheeler PW, et al. Am Fam Physician. 2005;72:1057-1062.
  • Wallace DV, et al. J Allergy Clin Immunol, 2008;122(2 suppl):S1-S84.
  • Szeinbach SL, et al. J Manag Care Pharm. 2004;10(3):234-238.
  • Welsh N, et al. J Am Pharm Assoc. 2006;46:627.
  • AHRQ. Evidence Report/Technology Assessment Number 54. 2002. AHRQ publication 02-E023.
  • Diagnostic Clinical Information: The Value of Allergen Identification.Kalamazoo, MI: Pharmacia & Upjohn Company; 1998. Publication 98006.01.
  • Elward KS, et al. Asthma & Allergy. American Academy of Family Physicians; 2004.
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