Episode 039

From Clinic to Lab: The Allergy Diagnostic Journey

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Episode summary

Did you know that IgE, the antibody responsible for allergic reactions, is 30,000 times less abundant than other immunoglobulins in the body? This staggering fact underscores the importance of highly sensitive allergy diagnostics. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on what happens to allergy diagnostic blood samples after they leave your clinic. Clinical laboratory expert Jessica Murphy, MLS (ASCP), guides us through the intricate process of specific IgE testing, from sample processing to result interpretation. Learn about the advanced technology behind ImmunoCAP™ allergy diagnostics, the role of Phadia™ Laboratory Systems in ensuring accurate results, and the meticulous quality control measures employed by Thermo Fisher Scientific. Discover how regional respiratory profiles are curated, the significance of binding capacity in IgE detection, and the collaborative effort between clinicians and lab experts in reaching accurate diagnoses. Gain insights into interpreting allergy diagnostic results and their impact on patient management, illustrated through a real-world case study of a young patient with respiratory symptoms.

Guest spotlight

Jessica Murphy, MSCLS, MLS(ASCP)^CM

Jessica Murphy, MSCLS, MLS(ASCP)^CM, is a Product Marketing Manager for Systems and Reagents at Thermo Fisher Scientifc, bringing nearly 8 years of experience working on the Phadia™ Laboratory Systems. She has a Master's in Clinical Laboratory Science with a strong background in allergy and autoimmune diagnostics and laboratory science.

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Episode transcript

Time stamps

0:00 - Introduction and guest introduction

2:24 - Case study: Sarah's respiratory symptoms

4:47 - Blood sample journey begins

6:24 - Introduction to Phadia Laboratory Systems

8:34 - Detailed explanation of ImmunoCAP allergy diagnostic assay

10:37 - History of allergy diagnostics

16:08 - Sarah's sample processing begins

18:52 - Laboratory technician's role and quality control measures

22:28 - Explanation of fluorescence enzyme immunoassay technology

24:39 - Result reporting and quality checks

27:16 - Interpretation of Sarah's test results

29:23 - Importance of clinician-laboratory collaboration

31:19 - Closing remarks

References used in this episode

Perdue, Samuel Scott, Humphrey, John H.. "immune system". Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Aug. 2025, https://www.britannica.com/science/immune-system. Accessed 13 August 2025.
Johansson SG. ImmunoCAP Specific IgE test: an objective tool for research and routine allergy diagnosis. Expert Rev Mol Diagn. 2004 May;4(3):273-9. doi: 10.1586/14737159.4.3.273. PMID: 15137895.
Phadia® 250 User Manual 12-3904-01/EN Edition 2.2. published 2017 Sep. pg 12
Ito, K., Tagami, K. Distinct differences in analytical performance of two commercially available assays for specific IgE to egg white and house dust mite allergens. Clin Mol Allergy 19, 13 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12948-021-00151-y
ImmunoCAP™ Specific IgE Conjugate 100 and 400. Directions for Use 52-5256-US/32 published 2025 April.
Falcetano, Gary. (2023). Allergy and Asthma from the Beginning. Physician Assistant Clinics. 8. 10.1016/j.cpha.2023.06.001.