Opinions please on allergy test results.

I now have 4 sets of food allergy testing. Done with 3 different sets of serum and 1 rast test.

Same food testing different doctors and different serum for testing.
Allergist #1. scratch = negative 0 response to peanut and shrimp.
Allergist #2  scratch = negative 0 response to peanut and shrimp.
Allergist #3  rast = negative 0 response to peanut and shrimp.
Allergist #4  intradermal = positive 4+ reaction to peanut and shrimp.
                  Allergist #4 repeated intradermal from same serum and had same 4+ reaction.

With odds 3 out of 4 being negative do you think that the 1 pos was a false positive and I reacted to the solution not the peanut and shrimp? I can eat a 1/4 lb of peanuts and 15 shrimps and feel fine. Yet when I touch a food that I have a reaction to my mouth swells up with in seconds. Nothing happens with peanut and shrimp.

Opinions please. Am I flirting with danger or do you think it was just a false pos?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi

I just have a question before I can really answer your question. Do you mean that when you just eat peanut and shrimp you have no reaction but when you eat a food containing these, a reaction sets in? OR is it a reaction to any food?

Please let me know this and I’ll answer you as soon as I get your post.

[crystalfresh]

Foods (mostly spices) that I am allergic to do not contain peanut or shrimp. These allergy food cause swelling in my mouth, tongue and throat quickly from contact only.

I used to eat peanut butter and jelly at least 5 times a week. Bags of peanuts for snacks, 20-30 shelled peanuts at a time.

And shrimp I'd eat about every other week for dinner until I was full which is about 8-12 medium shrimp. I'd end up with left overs and have them the next day.

I one time got really sick to my stomach from crawfish or tiny lobster (think it was crawfish) once and threw up then had terrible diarrhea / cramping for 3 days. But it really tasted mushy and funny so I thought it was old and probably should not have ate it. The taste was not good. I felt bad since my mom cooked it so I forced my self to eat it. I've had lobster (mom didn't cook) since then never had a problem with lobster other than that one time. Been scared to eat crawfish after that situation. But they might have been small lobster tails. Either way they tasted funky. Maybe they were not fully cooked. Every once and a while I get shrimp that is sort of soggy and taste funny like that too. I throw them out and get fresh. Sounds like it was just bad.

I do have problems with crab. Breathing problems every time. Don't touch crab at all. But shrimp, never... Love them!

The doc had me scared to touch shrimp and lobster and peanuts ever again saying that just because I don't have a reaction now it could just happen one day out of the blue if I kept eating them and wham a systemic reaction. I do have true food allergies to other foods, not many. No reaction that I know of for peanuts and shrimp.

Oh yea and allergic to most pollens and pets, anaphylitic to insect stings. I've been off peanuts and shrimp for about 2 months since this last test. I tried a teaspoon of peanut butter last night and no problems.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi

Thanks for the detailed post now. You do have allergy to some foods of animal origin. In which case, a positive intra dermal test has more value than scratch test. A negative scratch test alone is no indicator that the person is free from its allergy. It is equally true for peanut allergy.

Hence I think your doctor is right in cautioning you. You can develop allergy to shrimp or peanut at any time during your life. So it will be wise to avoid or consume small quantities of it.

I know this is not the answer you are looking at. You can also take an oral challenge provocation test to reconfirm.

Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted.

[crystalfresh]

Thank you. I only wanted an answer that would be the correct answer. I thought the test might have been a false pos since 3 other docs tests were neg. But this was the only intradermal test done out of all testing. I guess I would need other intradermal tests to compare, apples to apples. I will look in to the oral challenge provocation test.  For now no peanuts or shrimp until I know for sure it will be safe. Thank you very much for responding. :)

[crystalfresh]

Can you tell me a little bit how an oral challenge provocation test is done. Had a hard time finding info to explain exactly what is done on the web. Thanks.

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi

A food challenge tests, as the name suggests is done especially to test allergy to food. In this the food that is supposed to cause allergy, in your case peanut and shrimp, is concentrated into a high quantity in a capsule form, one for peanut and one for shrimp. The test is performed for one food at a time. It is done in a hospital setting or under physician care. The capsule is taken like a pill. Please refer: http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/food-challenge-test.html?pageNum=1#1
However before this test, which often gives false positive results, I would suggest you repeat the intra-dermal test at another center.

You can also get the RAST test done. This is a blood test which measures IgE antibodies in blood against suspected allergen (substance causing allergy). A repeat intra-dermal and RAST test for peanut and shrimp should be conclusive enough.

Hope this helps. Please let me know if there is any thing else and do keep me posted.

[crystalfresh]

Yes, RAST was done. Also a repeat of the intradermal.

RAST = Negative. Undetectable.
Intradermal was repeated but with the "same serum batch" = Positive again.

---> Should I have "another doctor repeat" intradermal with "a different manufactured serum brand"?

[Dr. Kokil Mathur]

Hi

Yes, that would be conclusive and we will know for sure if you have the said allergy.
Please let me know when the results come.