Changes in infant food-specific serum IgE testing from 2015 to 2020

Abstract

Food allergy affects approximately 8% of children in the United States.1 Direct medical costs account for an estimated $4.3 billion annually2 and the economic impact of serum food-specific IgE (sIgE) testing is likely substantial. Beginning in 2012, the Choosing Wisely initiative highlighted subjects for patient–physician conversations with an emphasis on unnecessary tests. Two topics chosen by the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology included statements discouraging the use of indiscriminate IgE tests for allergy evaluation and recommending that food IgE testing not be performed in the absence of a history consistent with IgE-mediated food allergy.