Diagnosis
Oral Food Challenge
The diagnostic gold standard — a supervised, graded feeding of the suspected allergen to confirm or exclude a true allergy and define safe thresholds, with full resuscitation facilities on hand.
Why it is the gold standard
Skin and blood tests - unless negative or strongly positive - show a state of IgE sensitisation, not whether a reaction will always occur. A supervised oral food challenge gradually introduces the food under close monitoring, giving a definitive answer — and often the reassurance that a food can be safely eaten.
When we recommend it
To confirm or exclude an allergy where tests are equivocal, to check whether a child has outgrown an allergy, and to define safe thresholds before or during oral immunotherapy.
Safety
Challenges are conducted by clinicians experienced in food allergy and anaphylaxis management, with immediate access to resuscitation. You will leave with a clear written plan.
Logistics
The challenges can be done as supervised feeds (single, or 2-3 doses, in clinic) with Dr's Du Toit and Foong, or as higher risk procedures in the Allergy Centre of Excellence (incrimental slower dosing).
We also undertake clinical research trails where challenges are undertaken in ACE which are doublebinded and done over two days.