Canadian Society of Allergy and Clinical Immunology position statement: panel testing for food allergies

Al Ghamdi, A., Abrams, E., Carr, S. et al. Allergy Asthma Clin Immunol 20, 61 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13223-024-00937-0

Abstract

Infographic for patient and clinician education
regarding the harms of panel food testing

This position statement addresses the critical concerns and recommended practices surrounding the use of panel food testing for diagnosing food allergies. Food allergies are a significant public health concern, and the misdiagnosis of food allergies remains a prevalent concern, made worse by the ongoing use of panel food testing. The practice of screening patients for multiple food allergens, regardless of clinical relevance, is commonly referred to as “panel food testing.” Fundamentally, a panel food test is not simply a single test; a panel food test is a series of several distinct tests for multiple foods, each with its own variable predictive value.

These tests have not been adequately validated as screening tests and carry a considerable false positive rate. The resulting false diagnoses lead to unnecessary dietary restrictions, increased healthcare costs, and significant psychosocial distress for patients and their families.

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