Peanut allergies often cause life-threatening allergic reactions, such as anaphylaxis; however, researchers from Murdoch Children’s Research Institute have identified a new cost-effective and convenient two-step test to accurately identify peanut allergies, according to a new study published in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology.
Currently, an oral food challenge is the standard for diagnosing peanut allergy, and while an oral food challenge is definitive in diagnosing patients, it's time-consuming, costly and risks a severe reaction in patients. The new test uses part of the peanut protein called “Arah2" and involves a two-step screening process—a blood test, followed by the Arah2 test, which was more accurate and highly predictive than using one of the tests alone.
The researchers said the two-step testing process reduced the need for oral food challenges by fourfold. They predict the new test will help minimize over-diagnosis and reduce the number of patients requiring referral to specialist services for confirmation of a food allergy by using oral food challenges.
"By reducing the number of oral food challenges, this helps prevent many peanut allergics undertaking the unnecessary risks involved with an oral food challenge," the researchers said.
They noted the “Arah2" two-step process can be used in children with high risk of food allergy, such as those with eczema and other food allergies, and for those who haven't eaten peanuts but have a strong family history of food allergy.
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