Oral Food Challenges (OFCs) explained
Your ORAL FOOD CHALLENGE questions answered
WHAT ARE THE MOST COMMON WAYS OF IDENTIFYING FOOD ALLERGIES?
So currently there are 2 well known modalities of testing for allergens from a diagnostic purpose. One is the skin prick test and the other is blood work – blood tests.
There’s no definitive quantitative test so they have to look at patient history.
A lot of people self diagnose, formal food allergy diagnosis is not straightforward. The process starts with a GP who may refer them to a hospital or allergy centre where they’ll go through a number of tests.
The most common way in which food allergy sufferers currently deal with their condition is through food avoidance which is far from practical.
WHAT IS AN ORAL FOOD CHALLENGE?
An oral food challenge (OFC), is a medical procedure in which a food is eaten slowly, in gradually increasing amounts, under medical supervision, to accurately diagnose or rule out a true food allergy. Therefore it helps determine whether a person can safely consume a specific food.
WHAT’S THE BENEFIT OF AN ORAL FOOD CHALLENGE?
While other allergy tests, like skin prick tests or blood tests that measure IgE levels, can suggest a potential allergy, they do not definitively determine if a patient will react to the food when consumed, whereas Oral Food Challenges can.
WHO CAN PERFORM AN ORAL FOOD CHALLENGE?
Oral food challenges are carried out in hospitals, allergy clinics or research settings.
ARE ORAL FOOD CHALLENGES SAFE?
Oral food challenges take place under clinical conditions, where the patient is fed very small amounts of the allergen to see whether they have a very mild reaction.
What is a Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Food Challenge?
A Double Blind, Placebo-Controlled Food Challenge (DBPCFC) is regarded as the “gold standard” for diagnosing food allergies.
During this test, the patient receives increasing doses of the suspected food allergen and a placebo (a harmless substance) separately, either hours apart or on different days.
Since the allergen and placebo look identical, neither you nor your doctor will know which one you are receiving—hence the term “double-blind.”
DISCLAIMER
The information provided on this website is for general informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice. For any health-related concerns or questions, please consult with a qualified healthcare professional. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding any medical condition.