Food Allergy
The stomach and the digestive system are also frequent targets for allergic disease. Your symptoms are caused by allergy to foods, which can result in vomiting, stomach pains, diarrhea or constipation. Frequently, eczema and hives may be produced after ingesting food to which you are allergic. Food allergy may also trigger asthmatic attacks and, rarely, generalized anaphylaxis. Food anaphylaxis is most commonly seen with ingestion of nuts and iodinated shellfish (lobster, shrimp).
 

Insect Allergy
Severe allergic reactions to bee and wasp stings are not uncommon. More people die annually in the United States from insect sting allergy than die from snakebite. The local toxic reaction and discomfort that usually occurs following an insect sting is not generally considered to be allergic.
IgE mediated (allergic) reactions induce symptoms such as nettlerash (urticaria, hives), running nose and eyes, swelling of the throat, attacks of asthma and, in severe cases, fainting.
Swelling of an entire extremity is called a "large local reaction." Although indicative of hypersensitivity, this type of reaction does not, generally, proceed to anaphylaxis with future stings.
If you have had a severe insect sting or allergic reaction, your clinician may provide you with an adrenaline containing kit for use if you are stung. Should you be highly sensitive to bee or wasp stings, you may become unconscious within a short space of time. Immediate action should be taken to get you expert medical treatment, preferably at the nearest hospital.

Occupational Allergy
The term occupational allergy is generally used to describe episodes of allergic reactions occurring after working with industrial dusts, vapors, gases or fumes. Furthermore, substances like nickel (in coins), chromium (in cement), rubber, different dyes, formaldehyde and glues may result in eczema that occurs at the site of contact with the skin. Inhalants such as grain dust may affect farmers.
The degree of eczema depends on the length of exposure and sensitivity to the substance. Symptoms may show within some weeks - but it can often take months, years, sometimes decades, before an eczema develops. Any part of the skin may become affected, but the most frequent sites are the hands, arms and the face, because these tend to be the least protected parts of the body. Occupational allergy may also present with pulmonary or upper respiratory treatments. Workers will often get better over the weekend, on business trips, or vacation and symptoms will often recur after return to the same work environment.

ALLERGIC MECHANISMS
Allergy is an unusual reaction or sensitivity to substances that do not bother most people.

IgE Mediated Allergy
Following exposure to common environmental allergens, the allergic individual produces a special type of antibody, called Immunoglobulin E, or IgE. The healthy individual has a very low level of IgE in the blood, while those with certain allergic conditions such as hay fever, allergic asthma and some forms of eczema have high IgE levels. People with eczema have especially high blood levels of IgE.
In the human body, certain cells called mast cells and basophils are involved in allergic reactions. IgE, produced as a result of repeated allergenic stimulation, attaches to the surface of these cells and subsequent binding of the allergen punctures the cell wall, leading to the release of different substances.
These substances cause a build-up of fluid in the tissue, and contraction of the smooth muscles. Depending on the route of entry of the allergen and where the reaction takes place, different symptoms will occur. If the reaction takes place in the nose and eyes, hay fever will result - while asthma is the result if the chest is affected. Eczema appears when the skin is affected.

Who Becomes Allergic?
Anyone can develop an allergy, but the probability is increased if one or both parents suffer from some kind of allergic condition. Indeed, the presence of another allergic individual in the family is the strongest factor for predicting allergy in a child. It must be noted, though, that even when both parents are affected, a child may not be. Conversely, allergic children are born to normal parents and in such cases other factors, such as infection, may be responsible for the development of the allergy. Repeated exposure to a substance is required before the body can recognize it as foreign and mount an allergic response.
 

DIAGNOSIS
It is essential for successful treatment that the allergens responsible for the symptoms are accurately identified. There are different ways to arrive at a diagnosis. The case history is extremely important in all allergy investigations. Based on what the patient tells about his/her symptoms, the doctor decides what tests, if any, should be carried out.
Laboratory Tests
IgE plays an important role in allergic rhinitis, allergic asthma and in some forms of eczema. Detecting and accurately measuring the amount of IgE may be of great importance when diagnosing allergies.
Because of the limitations and disadvantages associated with skin and provocation tests, there has been a need for more convenient and reliable methods. Today, there are laboratory tests available that accurately measure IgE, and a small blood sample is sufficient for allergy testing. These tests measure either the total amount of IgE in the blood, which indicates if your symptoms are of allergic origin or specific IgE, which tells the doctor which allergens are causing the trouble. Another allergy blood test is called RAST (radioimmunoabsorbent test). These blood tests are significant primarily if the identified substances cause patient symptoms. RAST is especially helpful in very young children.
 

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ALLERGY - TOTAL  IgE SCREEN     

IgE Mediated Allergy
Following exposure to common environmental allergens, the allergic individual produces a special type of antibody, called Immunoglobulin E, or IgE. The healthy individual has a very low level of IgE in the blood, while those with certain allergic conditions such as hay fever, allergic asthma and some forms of eczema have high IgE levels. People with eczema have especially high blood levels of IgE.
In the human body, certain cells called mast cells and basophils are involved in allergic reactions. IgE, produced as a result of repeated allergenic stimulation, attaches to the surface of these cells and subsequent binding of the allergen punctures the cell wall, leading to the release of different substances.
These substances cause a build-up of fluid in the tissue, and contraction of the smooth muscles. Depending on the route of entry of the allergen and where the reaction takes place, different symptoms will occur. If the reaction takes place in the nose and eyes, hay fever will result - while asthma is the result if the chest is affected. Eczema appears when the skin is affected.

The Mechanism of an Allergic Reaction
There are three stages to the allergic response: In the first stage, the immune system encounters the foreign substance and identifies it as an invader. It then primes the immune system to recognize this invader as an enemy that needs to be destroyed in future encounters. This stage is known as sensitization. The subsequent stages are mast cell activation, and prolonged immune activation.

STAGE 1- SENSITIZATION
The first time an allergen meets the immune system, no allergic reaction occurs. Instead, the immune system prepares itself for future encounters with the allergen. Scavenger cells called macrophages surround and break up the invading allergen. The macrophages then display the allergen fragments on their cell walls to specialized white blood cells, called T lymphocytes, which are the main orchestraters of the body's immune reaction. The T cells secrete a signaling chemical called interleukin-4, which activates other white blood cells known as B lymphocytes. These cells secrete antibodies specific for that particular allergen. These antibodies, called immunoglobulin E (IgE) receptors, are attached to cells in the immune system, called mast cells and basophils. Individuals prone to allergies are known to have abnormally high levels of IgE antibodies.

STAGE 2- MAST CELL ACTIVATION
Stage 2, or mast cell activation, represents a later encounter between the allergen and the immune system and usually occurs within minutes after the second exposure to an allergen. IgE antibodies on mast cells, constructed during the sensitization phase, recognize the allergen and bind to the invader. Once the allergen is bound to the receptor, granules in the mast cells release their contents.
These contents, or mediators, are substances such as histamine, platelet-activating factor, prostaglandins, and leukotrienes. Mediators are what actually trigger the allergy attack. Histamine stimulates mucus production and causes redness, swelling, and inflammation. Prostaglandins constrict airways and enlarge blood vessels.
 

STAGE 3- LATE PHASE INFLAMMATORY RESPONSE
In Stage 3 tissue mast cells and neighboring cells produce chemical messengers that signal circulating basophils, eosinophils, and other cells to migrate into that tissue, to help fight the foreign material. These recruited immune cells secrete chemicals of their own that sustain inflammation, cause tissue damage, and recruit yet more immune cells. This phase occurs several hours after exposure and can last for hours and even days.

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Allergy Screen - Basic Molds
Allergy Screen - Basic Molds	$189.00

Multiple Inhalant - Standard & Mixed
Standard Multiple Inhalants IgE  Panel	$  75.00
Mixed Inhalants IgE  Panel	$  98.00
Elm,    Oak,    Bermuda,  June Grass,   Short Ragweed,   English Plantain,   Dust Mites,   Alternaria Tenuis, Cat Epithelia  Dog Epithelia     go back

Allergy - Mixed Inhalants Mini  Panel
	Allergy Profile -  Mixed Mini Panel	$ 189.00
	Allergy Profile - Perennial Environmental	$ 295.00
	Individual Inhalant Components - IgE   (Download List)	$   98.00

Mini Panel include   Dermatophagoide farinae Mite Cat Hair/Dander ,Standard Dog Epithelia Bermuda Grass Bluegrass, Kentucky Alternaria Tenuis Oak, White Elm, American (White) Ragweed, Short/Common Plantain, English

Dust mites are microscopic creatures, related to ticks and spiders, that live in house dust. The proteins in dust mite body parts and feces cause allergic reactions in people who have become sensitized to dust mite proteins. Dust mite allergen also triggers asthma attacks and is one of the most important causes of asthma attacks worldwide. Exposure to dust mites may also cause the onset of asthma. This is primarily because dust mites are found nearly everywhere, especially indoors. Therefore, exposure is constant.

All homes contain some amount of dust mites. The amount varies depending on the moisture and temperature in the home. Dust mites thrive in humid, warm environments. Because dust mites feed on dead human skin, the allergen tends to be concentrated in mattresses, bedding, upholstered furniture and carpets. They are very common in stuffed animals.

Additionally, pets that have fur or feathers contribute dander to the dust and increase the food source for mites.
 

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Allergy Profile -  Perennial Environmentals

The Panel includes the following quantitative allergen-specific IgE's     D pteronyssinus D farinae Mite Cat Hair/Dander,Standard Epithelia Epithelia/Dander Goose Feathers Chicken Feathers Duck Feathers Penicillium notatum Cladosporium herbarum Aspergillus fumigatus Mucor racemosus Candida albicans Alternaria tenuis Helminthosporium spp. Pullularia pullulans Phoma betae Stemphylium solani

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	Multiple Inhalant - Seasonal - Spring Trees
	Seasonal - Spring Trees	$ 165 .00
	Seasonal - Summer Grass	$ 165.00

The Panel includes the following trees:     Maple, Red Alder, Smooth Birch, White Beech (American) Cedar, Mountain Oak, White Elm, American (White) Walnut Sycamore, American Willow, Black Hickory, White White Poplar

Allergy -  Food Panel Standard
Single Food  Components - IgE   (Download List)  per component	$   98.00
Food Allergy Panel - Standard	$ 158.00
Food Allergy Panel - Advanced	$ 278.00
Immuno 1 Blood Print - IgG standard Food Sensitivity Assay	$ 498.00

This panel is an Allergen Specific IgE food antibodies  and includes this class of food Allergens::     Milk (Cow) Wheat Corn Peanut Soybean Pork Beef Fish/Shell Mix Egg, Whole Chocolate         go back                                                                       Allergy -  Food Panel Advanced This panel is an Allergen Specific IgE food antibodies  and includes not only the following class of food Allergens but also the total IgE count and a C.B.C. and differential  (in particular eosinophils and basophils count) which may be useful to confirm an allergy.   Allergens included   Milk (Cow) Wheat Corn Peanut Soybean Pork Beef Fish/Shell Mix Egg, Whole Chocolate   Additional tests included Complete Blood Count Total  IgE         go back                     Allergy Profile - Seasonal - Summer Grass The Panel includes the following: Grass Bahia Grass Bermuda Grass Fescue, Meadow Johnson Grass Bluegrass, Kentucky Rye, Perennial Timothy   Environmentals: Alternaria tenuis Cladosporium herbarum Mucor racemosus   go back