Transferring Allergen Immunotherapy to Another Patient
No, allergen immunotherapy should not be transferred to another patient. Each immunotherapy extract and treatment program must be specifically prepared for and administered to the individual patient for whom it was prescribed.
Key Safety Principles
Allergen immunotherapy is patient-specific and cannot be shared or transferred between patients. 1 The guidelines addressing "patient transfers" refer exclusively to situations where the same patient moves care from one physician to another—not transferring treatment materials between different patients.
Why This Is Critical
Individual Prescription Requirements
- Each allergen immunotherapy extract is formulated based on a specific patient's allergy testing results, showing their unique pattern of IgE antibodies to particular allergens 1
- The extract composition, concentrations, and dosing schedule are tailored to that individual patient's sensitivities and tolerance 1
- What is therapeutic for one patient could be dangerous for another patient with different sensitivities 1
Safety Risks of Using Another Patient's Extract
- There is increased risk of systemic reactions when extract composition varies from what a patient's immune system has been conditioned to receive 1
- Even minor changes in lot number, manufacturer, extract type, or allergen concentrations create clinically significant differences that increase reaction risk 1
- Anaphylaxis risk is particularly elevated with nonstandardized extracts and allergen mixtures when composition differs from expected 1
Common Pitfall to Avoid
Do not confuse the guideline language about "patient transfers" with transferring treatment between patients. The extensive documentation requirements described in the guidelines (detailed schedule, extract contents, previous reactions, compliance history) all pertain to maintaining continuity when the same patient changes physicians—never to using one patient's immunotherapy for a different patient 1