Published: August 2025
Medically reviewed by:
Gary Falcetano, PA-C, AE-C
A sizeable majority of patients with asthma are also sensitized to allergens — 60% of adults with asthma experience allergies, and in children, that number rises to 90%.1,2 These patients may not realize they have allergies, or they may not be aware that allergies can trigger asthma symptoms.3
That’s why it’s important to test for allergic triggers when developing asthma treatment plans. If patients understand the individual triggers that can worsen their asthma symptoms, they’ll be better equipped to avoid those triggers and improve asthma control. Specific IgE blood testing can help provide the clarity needed to pinpoint allergic triggers, potentially resulting in better outcomes for your patients.
Why assessing allergic sensitizations matters in asthma treatment
Asthma, a chronic lung disease, is affected by factors ranging from genetics to viral infections to inhaled irritants like secondhand smoke.2 Studies also show that patients with allergic sensitizations are more likely to develop persistent asthma.3
Allergic asthma is asthma that is triggered or made worse by allergies.
It’s therefore critical to understand what factors could cause airway inflammation and exacerbate a patient’s symptoms — is it a true allergy, or are their symptoms being aggravated by environmental pollution? Is it a seasonal allergen sensitization that could cause them to pass the symptom threshold at certain times of year,4 or are they allergic to a year-round allergen like dust mites or pet dander? The answers to these questions are key components of an asthma action plan, and they’re the reason why the CDC recommends testing for allergic triggers as part of asthma management.5
For example, studies have shown that dust mite exposure in early childhood is connected to the development of asthma. In fact, the risk of asthma was found to be five times higher in children exposed to dust mites.3 If your pediatric patients are struggling to control their asthma symptoms or are making frequent trips to the ER, testing them for sensitization to dust mite could reveal why their symptoms are so severe. With this knowledge, parents can take action such as using bedding covers to reduce exposure to dust mites.3 These insights can allow them to minimize asthma triggers, get control of their child’s symptoms, and improve their respiratory health.
If your patients with asthma have any seasonal allergies (allergic rhinitis), identifying which allergens they’re sensitized to can make a significant difference in their management strategies, including potential asthma medications. Those with a birch allergy can take steps in spring, when birch trees produce pollen, to limit their exposure outdoors or add air filters to their indoor environment. Patients with a ragweed allergy, on the other hand, need to be more cautious in late summer and fall when these weeds are producing pollen.
These strategies can help patients be proactive and keep their allergic asthma symptoms under control before an ER visit or medical intervention becomes necessary. And mitigation strategies don't always require major lifestyle changes, like receiving allergen immunotherapy. Often they can be fairly simple and cost-effective.
Better diagnosis can mean better allergic asthma outcomes
The key to identifying potential allergic triggers is to use specific IgE blood tests, like ImmunoCAP™ Specific IgE blood testing for a more thorough evaluation. Studies have found that including specific IgE testing in asthma management can guide personalized treatment plans and help predict asthma exacerbations.1
Once patients know their allergic triggers and how to manage their exposure, they are better equipped to avoid costly ER visits or even repeated clinical visits. This is particularly important in allergy and flu seasons, since the combination of asthma with these triggers increases the risk of hospitalization.6 In fact, one study found a 20-fold increase in hospital visits when childhood patients with allergic sensitizations and asthma experienced allergen exposure and viral infection.6 For adult patients, the rate of hospital admissions was six times higher when exposed to allergens and viruses.6
The information provided by specific IgE blood tests can help with management of asthma medications, potentially avoiding the risk and expense associated with the need to increase medication dosages to achieve adequate symptom control. Better symptom management also means fewer missed days of school, which benefits children who have asthma as well as their caregivers.7
Perhaps just as important is the peace of mind you can give your patients by helping them more fully understand their respiratory health. Asthma symptoms are frightening, particularly for children who may not fully grasp why such symptoms occur.
Something as simple as a patient getting an air filter during a certain pollen season to address allergic rhinitis or explaining to a child that a special pillowcase can help them breathe better (to address dust mites), can help with allergen avoidance, gives patients more control over their well-being, and can reduce the anxiety that comes with allergic asthma symptoms. These proactive measures are made possible by including laboratory testing of allergic triggers in your overall asthma management strategies and getting to the root cause of airway inflammation and respiratory triggers.
Incorporate specific IgE blood testing
Adding specific IgE blood tests to your diagnostic process is easier than you may think. From resources to better understand allergic rhinitis, allergic reactions, asthma action plans, practice parameters and how allergen immunotherapy and asthma medications (liked inhaled corticosteroids) can be part of the management plans — we have the allergic asthma resources you are looking for. As noted, the CDC recommends testing for allergic triggers for patients with persistent asthma, and specific IgE testing adds important insights to exam and medical history data.1,5
Give your patients the proactive strategies they need to minimize their asthma triggers and manage their asthma symptoms and enjoy a better quality of life. With specific IgE blood testing for allergic sensitizations, you can get a more complete picture of your patients’ respiratory condition and empower them to improve their health.
Where can I find test codes for my local laboratory?
You can order ImmunoCAP Specific IgE blood testing from national or local laboratories. The Lab Ordering Guide (LOG) helps you search for allergy profile test codes with confidence.
