Based on the allergy-focused clinical history, if IgE-mediated allergy is suspected, offer the child or young person a skin prick test and/or blood tests for specific IgE antibodies to the suspected foods and likely co-allergens NICE CG116.
Tests should only be undertaken by healthcare professionals with the appropriate competencies to select, perform and interpret them NICE CG116.
Skin prick tests should only be undertaken where there are facilities to deal with an anaphylactic reaction NICE CG116.
Do not use serum-specific IgG testing in the diagnosis of food allergy NICE CG116.
Based on the results of the allergy-focused clinical history, if non-IgE-mediated food allergy is suspected, trial elimination of the suspected allergen (normally for between 2–6 weeks) and reintroduce after the trial. Seek advice from a dietitian with appropriate competencies, about nutritional adequacies, timings of elimination and reintroduction, and follow-up NICE CG116.