What's the gold standard for food allergy diagnosis?

What's the Gold Standard for Food Allergy Diagnosis?

In some cases, your allergist may conduct an oral food challenge. Under strict medical supervision you are fed tiny amounts of the suspected trigger food in increasing doses over a period of time, followed by a few hours of observation to see if a reaction occurs. This test is helpful when your history is unclear or if the skin or blood tests are inconclusive. It also can be used to determine if you have outgrown your allergy.

Because of the possibility of a severe reaction, an oral food challenge should be conducted only by experienced allergists in a doctor’s office or at a food challenge center, with emergency medication and equipment on hand.

For more about food allergies and accurate diagnosis, visit Who can accurately diagnose a food allergy? or the ACAAI website.