Service Updates

Discontinuation of specific IgE testing to food allergen mixes 31 March 2025 Testing for specific IgE (previously known as RAST testing) to individual food allergens can support a diagnosis of food allergy in patients with clinical history suggestive of an immediate (IgE-mediated) allergic reaction. Specific IgE testing to food allergens is not recommended as a screening test for food allergies in the absence of a history of allergic reactions to those foods, or in patients with symptoms not suggestive of IgE-mediated food allergy, due to high rates of false positives. Allergen-specific IgE tests to multiple food allergens in a single test (food allergen mixes) are no longer recommended by the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy as positive tests cannot identify the relevant food allergen and may be less sensitive than specific IgE tests to single food allergens. Testing should only be performed when there is a history that suggests an immedia...

Sendaway Testing for Neuronal Antibodies 14 March 2025 PathWest wishes to advise that the process for send away testing for neuronal antibodies require discussion with, and approval by, an immunopathologist. If the testing is thought to be clinically appropriate, and where relevant first tier testing is negative, testing will be organised and the costs covered by PathWest laboratory. For testing that is deemed to be required, but is discorda...