Allergy - Oil Panel Test

Many people are susceptible to food allergies and there are hundreds of food allergens that need to be tested. One more common thing in food allergy is cross-reactivity, which means that if a person is hypersensitive to one allergen, they may also be allergic to other allergens in its class. Therefore, food allergy testing is usually done in panels instead of testing for individual allergens. Common allergens included in the Oil Panel are mustard seed, rapeseed, peanut, soybean, coconut and olive among others. Specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) blood test is conducted to check if the person is allergic to the allergens included in the panel.

Although no prior preparation is required, it is advisable that the patient inform the practitioner about the following prior to the testing: Your medical history Known and existing allergies List of medications that have been consumed. History of the allergic reaction specific to the allergens, if known (duration of the onset, severity of the allergic reaction and type of reaction) Based on this history, the practitioner may advice you about any diet restrictions, and usage of medications that need to be followed. It is recommended that you wear comfortable clothing that will allow easy access to your forearm on the day of testing.

Oil Panel testing helps in both identifying specific allergens (in case of elevated IgE levels or deducting the allergens as safe (in case of normal IgE levels). Typically Oil Panel blood test is not affected by the medications taken by the person and is recommended for people with skin and heart conditions. Doing a panel test also helps in checking for cross reactivity, where a person can be susceptible to a class of allergens due to their similar properties. These tests will also indicate if further tests need to be conducted to gauge the severity of the reaction. Based on this the doctor may advise avoiding the allergens from the regular diet.

A blood sample is drawn from the vein from the forearm after the skin surface is cleaned with antiseptic. The blood sample collected is then used to measure specific IgE in the serum to the different allergens included in the Oil Panel. Elevated levels of specific IgE antibodies may mean an allergy is present, but do not predict the severity of the reaction. The doctor based on the symptoms, history and other tests interpret the results and advise further course of action.