News Archive

6/22/2000
New Blood Allergy Test Now Available Nationally
NEW YORK, N.Y. (June 22, 2000) - A new, simple and accurate allergy blood test is now available in the United States. Millions of Americans suffering from allergy-like symptoms find themselves in their doctors' offices seeking relief from such symptoms. Primary care physicians and pediatricians can now offer a simple test - the ImmunoCAP Allergy Blood Test - to determine if the symptoms are being caused by allergies, and if so, what the causal allergens are.

Because allergy symptoms can be very similar to other conditions, accurate diagnosis can be very difficult. These symptoms can be caused by many different things like "colds," infections and allergies, but one key that is often overlooked is the importance of accurate diagnosis. Proper treatment always depends on an accurate diagnosis, and the ImmunoCAP Allergy Blood Test helps physicians determine the cause of the symptoms through a simple and accurate process.

"The ImmunoCAP Allergy Blood Test is a safe, effective and reliable alternative to traditional testing methods," states Ivor Emanuel, M.D., an allergist and ear, nose and throat specialist affiliated with the California Pacific Medical Center. "It is also as efficient, and certainly requires much less endurance from the patient than other tests."

The test is useful for both adults and children. "Early detection of allergies in youngsters will help parents know what allergic substances their children may be able to avoid, such as specific foods, and how to treat them when they are exposed to allergens that may be less avoidable, like pollen and dust," Dr. Emanuel says.

Some common allergies are:

• Allergic rhinitis, commonly known as hay fever;

• Atopic dermatitis, commonly known as eczema, a chronic skin disorder affecting 15 million adults and children; and

• Food allergies, suffered by more than five million people in the United States - six percent of whom are children under age six. The most common food allergies are to milk, eggs, peanuts and shellfish, and symptoms can range from mild swelling and itching to anaphylactic shock.

In addition, doctors are increasingly finding a link between asthma and allergens, particularly dust mites and pet (dog and cat) dander.

"The ImmunoCAP allergy test was a lifesaver for me and my family," says Wendy Robinson, allergy sufferer and mother of a child with an allergic disorder. "Had it not been available, I would still not know what my son is allergic to. Now that I know what Joel is allergic to, with the cooperation of friends and family, I can devise ways to reduce the exposure to the things that were causing my son's problems, and how to treat him when necessary."

The ImmunoCAP Allergy Blood Test is conducted in a laboratory, using a small sample of the patient's blood, to determine if the patient's symptoms are being caused by allergens, and if so, what specific allergens the patient is sensitive to. If the test shows that the patient is allergic to specific allergens, he or she may be treated with allergy medicines. Because the test can determine exactly what it is that the patient is allergic to, he or she can be instructed about what allergy triggers - like specific foods, pollens or pets - need to be avoided.

If the test determines no allergy cause for the symptoms, the patient may be treated differently, based on the cause. The treatment will most likely be different from those used for true allergies.

"ImmunoCAP offers physicians a safe, effective and reliable alternative to other testing," said Michael Land, vice president and general manager, Pharmacia & Upjohn Diagnostics, U.S. Operations.

"The test may be used by primary care physicians to improve allergy diagnostic accuracy and overall patient management for patients with allergy-like symptoms."

"Early, accurate diagnosis of patients with allergy-like symptoms will help patients get on the right treatment path sooner," Land adds. "And the right treatment is critical to leading a fuller and more active life."

For more information about allergies and diagnosis with the ImmunoCAP Allergy Blood Test, you may call 1-877-862-4948 or visit the ImmunoCAP web site at www.DoIHaveAllergies.com.

Pharmacia & Upjohn Diagnostics, a division of Pharmacia Corporation, is headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden, and is a world leader in in vitro diagnostic research and product innovation. The U.S. headquarters for Pharmacia & Upjohn Diagnostics is in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

Pharmacia Corporation (NYSE:PHA) is a leading global pharmaceutical company created through the merger of Pharmacia & Upjohn with Monsanto Company and its G.D. Searle unit. Pharmacia has a broad product portfolio, a robust pipeline of new medicines, and an annual investment of more than $2 billion in pharmaceutical research and development.

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