Childhood and Tree Nut Allergy Panel

The Childhood and Tree Nut Allergy Panel test contains 1 test with 22 biomarkers .

Brief Description: The Childhood and Tree Nut Allergy Panel is a comprehensive diagnostic test designed to evaluate potential allergic sensitivities in children, particularly to common allergens found in food, the environment, and household settings. This specialized panel focuses heavily on identifying allergic reactions to tree nuts, a group of allergens that can pose serious risks for children prone to severe allergic responses. However, it also screens for a broader range of allergens, including environmental triggers such as pet dander, molds, and dust mites, as well as common food allergens like milk, eggs, wheat, soy, and shellfish. The panel measures levels of allergen-specific immunoglobulin E (IgE), which are antibodies produced by the immune system in response to perceived threats from these substances. By testing for IgE antibodies associated with each allergen, this panel helps healthcare providers pinpoint sensitivities that could be contributing to allergic symptoms, ranging from mild skin irritation to severe anaphylactic reactions.

Collection Method: Blood Draw 

Specimen Type: Serum 

Test Preparation: No preparation required

When and Why the Childhood and Tree Nut Allergy Panel May Be Ordered

The Childhood and Tree Nut Allergy Panel may be ordered when a child exhibits symptoms suggestive of allergic reactions, particularly those involving food and environmental allergens. Symptoms that could prompt testing include skin rashes, eczema, respiratory distress, sneezing, runny nose, chronic coughing, wheezing, digestive issues, and, in severe cases, anaphylaxis. This panel is especially useful in children with a personal or family history of allergies, asthma, or atopic dermatitis, as they are at greater risk for developing allergic conditions.

Healthcare providers may recommend this panel when parents or caregivers notice that certain foods or environmental exposures trigger symptoms, but the exact cause is unclear. Identifying specific allergic triggers early in life can help families implement avoidance strategies, create personalized management plans, and reduce the risk of future severe allergic events. The Childhood and Tree Nut Allergy Panel is also valuable for monitoring children who have previously experienced allergic reactions, to better understand if their sensitivities are evolving or expanding to new allergens.

What the Childhood and Tree Nut Allergy Panel Checks For

The Childhood and Tree Nut Allergy Panel assesses a wide array of allergen-specific IgE antibodies, allowing for a thorough evaluation of both common childhood allergens and tree nuts, which are a frequent source of severe food allergies. Each component of the panel serves a distinct purpose in evaluating allergic responses.

Almond IgE
Almond allergies are a common subset of tree nut allergies, particularly in children. Almond allergy can cause symptoms ranging from mild itching and hives to severe anaphylaxis. The test detects IgE antibodies that indicate immune sensitization to almond proteins.

Alternaria alternata IgE
Alternaria alternata is a widespread mold species found indoors and outdoors. Sensitization to Alternaria is linked to respiratory conditions such as allergic asthma and allergic rhinitis, particularly in children living in damp environments.

Brazil Nut IgE
Brazil nuts are a potent allergen and a common trigger of anaphylaxis in nut-allergic individuals. This test detects the presence of IgE antibodies indicating sensitization to proteins found in Brazil nuts.

Cashew Nut IgE
Cashew allergy is often severe, with reactions including hives, vomiting, and anaphylaxis. Cashew allergy can also cross-react with pistachios due to similar protein structures.

Cat Dander IgE
Cat dander is a leading environmental allergen. Sensitization to cat dander is strongly associated with allergic asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema. Children exposed to cats at an early age may develop IgE antibodies that contribute to chronic respiratory symptoms.

Cladosporium herbarum IgE
Cladosporium herbarum is one of the most common airborne molds. Sensitization to this mold can worsen respiratory allergies, trigger asthma symptoms, and contribute to year-round allergic rhinitis.

Cockroach IgE
Cockroach allergens, found in saliva, droppings, and body parts, are a significant trigger for asthma, particularly in urban environments. Sensitization to cockroach allergens is linked to increased asthma severity and chronic respiratory symptoms in children.

Codfish IgE
Fish allergies, including to codfish, can develop early in life and persist into adulthood. Codfish allergy can trigger immediate allergic reactions, including hives, vomiting, and anaphylaxis. Cross-reactivity among different fish species is common.

Cow's Milk IgE
Cow’s milk allergy is one of the most common food allergies in early childhood. It can cause a range of symptoms, including digestive upset, skin rashes, respiratory distress, and anaphylaxis. This test detects IgE antibodies against milk proteins such as casein and whey.

Dermatophagoides farinae and Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus IgE
These two species of dust mites are common indoor allergens. Sensitization to dust mites can contribute to year-round allergic rhinitis, eczema, and asthma. Dust mite exposure is particularly concerning for children with pre-existing respiratory issues.

Dog Dander IgE
Dog dander is a common trigger for allergic symptoms, particularly respiratory issues such as sneezing, coughing, and wheezing. Sensitization to dog dander can worsen asthma symptoms in allergic children.

Egg White IgE
Egg allergy is one of the most common childhood food allergies, particularly to proteins found in egg whites. Symptoms can range from mild hives to severe anaphylaxis, and egg allergy often coexists with other food allergies.

Hazelnut IgE
Hazelnuts are a common trigger of severe tree nut allergies. Hazelnut allergy often persists into adulthood and can result in anaphylaxis, particularly in children with multiple nut allergies.

Macadamia Nut IgE
Although less common, macadamia nut allergy can cause severe reactions in allergic children. This test identifies IgE antibodies against macadamia nut proteins.

Mouse Urine Proteins IgE
Sensitization to mouse allergens, including urine proteins, can be a contributing factor to asthma in children living in environments with rodent infestations. This test helps identify allergic responses to mouse exposure.

Peanut IgE
Peanut allergy is one of the most severe and prevalent childhood food allergies. Even trace exposures can trigger life-threatening anaphylaxis in highly sensitive individuals. This test evaluates IgE antibodies to peanut proteins, helping confirm peanut allergy.

Shrimp IgE
Shellfish allergies, including shrimp allergy, can develop in childhood and trigger severe reactions such as anaphylaxis. Shrimp allergy is more common in older children and those with a family history of allergies.

Soybean IgE
Soy allergy is particularly common in infants and young children, often coexisting with cow’s milk allergy. Symptoms can range from mild digestive issues to severe allergic reactions.

Walnut IgE
Walnut allergy, a common and potentially severe tree nut allergy, can result in anaphylaxis. Sensitization to walnuts may also indicate cross-reactivity with other nuts, such as pecans.

Wheat IgE
Wheat allergy can cause both immediate allergic reactions and delayed conditions such as wheat-dependent exercise-induced anaphylaxis (WDEIA). Symptoms include skin rashes, breathing difficulty, and digestive issues.

How Healthcare Professionals Use the Results of the Childhood and Tree Nut Allergy Panel

Healthcare professionals use the results of the Childhood and Tree Nut Allergy Panel to develop individualized allergy management plans tailored to each child’s unique sensitivities. Positive results indicate sensitization to specific allergens, helping doctors identify which foods, environmental exposures, or household allergens may be triggering symptoms. This information guides dietary changes, environmental modifications (such as reducing dust mites or pet dander exposure), and targeted treatment strategies, including allergen avoidance, medications, or immunotherapy when appropriate.

For children with multiple allergies, the panel helps prioritize the most severe triggers and assess potential cross-reactivity between allergens, such as between cashews and pistachios or dust mites and shellfish. For children at risk of anaphylaxis, the results help confirm the need for emergency medications like epinephrine auto-injectors. Regular follow-up testing can also track changes in allergen sensitization over time, helping healthcare providers adjust management strategies as the child grows.

The Childhood and Tree Nut Allergy Panel is a powerful diagnostic text that provides comprehensive insight into a child’s allergic sensitivities. By evaluating both food and environmental allergens, the panel helps parents, caregivers, and healthcare providers work together to create a safer living environment, reduce allergen exposure, and manage allergic symptoms effectively. Early identification of allergies through this panel can significantly improve a child’s quality of life, reduce the risk of severe allergic reactions, and promote long-term health and well-being.