What allergens can be detected by a RadioAllergoSorbent Test (RAST) for food panel types?

From the Guidelines

The RAST (RadioAllergoSorbent Test) food panel can detect a wide range of food allergens, including milk, eggs, wheat, soy, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, sesame seeds, and various fruits and vegetables, as indicated by studies such as 1. This blood test measures the amount of specific IgE antibodies in your blood that your immune system produces in response to food allergens. The standard food panels typically include the most common food allergens, but specialized panels can test for additional foods based on patient history or regional dietary patterns. Some key points to consider when interpreting RAST results include:

• RAST testing is particularly useful for patients who cannot safely undergo skin prick testing due to severe allergies, skin conditions, or medication use that might interfere with results, as noted in 1.
• While RAST testing is valuable for identifying potential food allergies, it's essential to understand that positive results indicate sensitization but don't always correlate with clinical symptoms.
• The interpretation of results should be done by an allergist who can correlate the findings with your clinical history to determine true food allergies. Key food allergens that can be detected by RAST include:
• Milk
• Eggs
• Wheat
• Soy
• Peanuts
• Tree nuts (such as almonds, walnuts, and cashews)
• Fish
• Shellfish
• Sesame seeds
• Various fruits and vegetables It's crucial to note that the presence of specific IgE antibodies, as measured by RAST, reflects allergic sensitization and not necessarily clinical allergy, as highlighted in 1. Therefore, a comprehensive diagnosis and management plan should be developed in consultation with an allergist, taking into account the patient's clinical history, symptoms, and test results, as recommended in 1.

From the Research

Allergens Detected by RAST for Food Panel Types

The RadioAllergoSorbent Test (RAST) can detect various food allergens, including:

• Nuts, such as Brazil nut, almond, walnut, pecan, cashew, and peanut 2
• Legumes, such as peanut 2
• Wheat, egg, cow's milk, soya, peanut, and fish 3
• Cow's milk, egg, peanut, and fish 4
• Tree nuts, fish, and shellfish, which are associated with high rates of clinical cross-reactivity 5
• Seeds, which are considered a common food allergen 5

Food Panel Types and RAST

Different studies have used various food panel types to detect allergens using RAST, including:

• A panel of six food allergens: wheat, egg, cow's milk, soya, peanut, and fish 3
• A panel of four food allergens: cow's milk, egg, peanut, and fish 4
• Panel food testing for multiple food allergens, which is a concern due to the high false positive rate and lack of validation as a screening test 6