Allergy Flourdust Fluorescence Assay Blood

Flour dust allergy test is used to detect any allergies caused by flour dust. This test mainly helps in measuring the IgE antibodies in the blood to assess the sensitization to flour dust allergens. This test helps in knowing the immune response to flour dust.

What is flour dust allergy?

Flour dust is a hazardous substance. People who work in baking-related jobs may inhale flour dust from the environment. This may irritate the respiratory tract and may lead to occupational asthma. Flour dust allergy is the reaction to the flour dust in the food industry like grinding mills, commercial bakeries or packaging plants, and animal feed production industries. The main causes of flour dust in the air are loading flour and other ingredients into mixers, disposing of empty flour bags, dusting flour onto baking surfaces, dry sweeping flour dust from the floor, etc. This may lead to adverse health outcomes like baker’s asthma. People with flour dust allergy will experience symptoms soon after inhaling the dust particles of the flour. The symptoms of flour dust allergy include sneezing continuously, runny or stuffy nose, wheezing, itching, coughing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, watery eyes, irritation in the eyes, redness of the eyes, etc.

Sometimes the allergic reactions can be life-threatening causing narrowing of the airways, making it difficult to breathe. Very less often flour dust allergy may cause an anaphylactic reaction. Anaphylaxis is a medical emergency condition which leads to facial flushing, itching, shock, sudden fall in blood pressure, constriction of airways, swollen throat, difficulty to breathe, etc.

Why this test is performed?

This test may be recommended to you if you experience symptoms like sneezing continuously, watery eyes, irritation in the eyes, redness of the eyes, runny or stuffy nose, wheezing, itching, coughing, shortness of breath, tightness in the chest, etc. This may also be recommended to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment if you are diagnosed already.

The normal reference range may vary depending on gender, age, health history, etc.

If your test results show high levels of IgE antibodies than the given reference range, it may indicate that the person is most likely to have an allergy.

If your test results are lower than the reference range, it may indicate that the allergy is absent in the individual.

If you get abnormal test results, consult your doctor immediately. Your doctor may recommend other tests depending on your test results.