Allergy - Drugs, EIA

The Allergy - Drugs, EIA panel measures total IgE (antibodies produced by the immune system in response to allergens) as well as specific Immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies against medications (drugs) such as antibiotics, pain relievers, anti-inflammatory agents, local anesthetics etc., and vitamins in the blood to assess the overall allergic sensitivity using the Enzyme Immunoassay (EIA) technique. This panel helps identify potential drug allergies and avoid adverse reactions. 

The Allergy - Drugs, EIA panel offers a detailed assessment of the potential allergic reactions to a range of medications, vitamins and other components. It includes Antibiotics namely, Ofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Penicilloyl V, Penicilloyl G, Oxacillin, Cephalosporin, Ampicillin, Amoxicillin, Sulpha, Tetracycline, Azithromycin, Gentamycin and Chloramphenicol; Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory agents namely, Aspirin, Diclofenac, and ibuprofen; local anesthetics and antiseptics namely, Prilocaine and Benzocaine; Vitamins and other components like Cobalamin (Vitamin B12), Thiamine (Vitamin B1), Ascorbic Acid (VItamin C) and bromhexine.

The Allergy - Drugs, EIA panel is recommended for individuals who have experienced unexplained allergic reactions, especially after taking medications such as antibiotics, pain relievers, or vitamins. It is also advised for individuals with  a known history of drug allergy or those who are planning to undergo a treatment that involves drugs with a high potential for allergic reactions. Additionally, this panel is useful for individuals with a family history of drug allergies or other atopic conditions, as it helps identify specific allergens and helps in avoiding adverse drug reactions (ADRs) 

Generally, no special preparation, such as fasting, is required for the Allergy - Drugs, EIA. However, a detailed clinical history including history of previous allergic reactions, family history of allergies, etc, is needed before the sample collection. It helps correlate test results with clinical symptoms and rule out non-allergic causes. Additionally, inform the doctor about all the medications or supplements(e.g, biotin) that you may be taking, as these may interfere with the test results, potentially requiring adjustments or temporary discontinuation before the test.

While the detection of allergen specific IgE suggests sensitization, it does not confirm allergic disease. This can result from cross-reactivity, where proteins in different allergens share similar structures, causing a positive result that may not be clinically relevant. It is also noteworthy that a negative IgE test does not completely rule out an allergy. This can occur if the specific IgE antibodies are directed towards allergens altered during cooking or digestion, which might not be present in the test sample. Moreover, a negative result for drug allergies does not exclude the possibility of a hypersensitivity reaction, which may not be IgE-mediated or sometimes the drug specific IgE may not be detectable if the individual has not been exposed to the drug recently. The IgE developed in response to the drug is short lived  with a half-life of 2-3 days and the test may give false negative results if done after a long duration of time. A negative result against antibiotics (penicillin G, penicillin V, cephalosporin, ampicillin, and amoxicillin) or other drugs does not exclude the presence of a clinical hypersensitivity to these allergens.

Lab test results can vary depending on the specific test kit used, as different methods and the quality of allergens used can affect the quantification of IgE. Therefore, these results are intended to be interpreted in conjunction with clinical symptoms.