Pistachio Allergy Test

Pistachios are edible seeds of the Pistacia vera tree. They are laden with healthy fats, proteins, fibres, and anti-oxidants. They are also associated with specific nutrients believed to aid in weight loss and promote heart health. These are usually present in edible items like baked goods, barbeque and pesto sauces, cereals, chocolates, and flavoured coffee, among others.

However, certain individuals do not react to pistachio favourably, resulting in a pistachio allergy. The most common consequence of this allergy is anaphylaxis, a life-threatening condition that usually impairs breathing and sends the body into a state of shock. In fact, this condition occurs within a few seconds or minutes of ingesting pistachio.

Anaphylaxis occurs when the immune system has an over-the-top response to pistachios and releases chemicals that lead to pistachio allergy symptoms. Initially, these symptoms are localized to a single part, but if the condition turns severe, it might affect multiple body parts at once.

A pistachio allergy test can help determine if a patient is allergic to pistachio. It also serves other purposes, such as:

• To recognize the allergen responsible for the signs and symptoms associated with the allergy.   
• To confirm the allergen sensitizations before starting immunotherapy
• To detect the specificity of allergic reactions to certain allergens or drugs

The procedure is that of a standard blood test, where the clinical lab technician draws blood from the vein in the arm. This blood is then carefully stored and sent for analysis to test the immune system’s response to pistachio-rich food items. This is done by checking the presence and amount of immunoglobulin E (IgG) antibodies in the bloodstream.

If the IgG antibodies in the blood belong to class 1 or higher, it might indicate pistachio allergy in the patient. It would rule out the presence of additional food allergies or conditions like pollen food syndrome (PFS) and pollen food allergy syndrome (PFAS).

Usually, a value of less than 0.35 kU/L is interpreted as negative, indicating the absence of pistachio allergy in the patient. A range of 0.35-0.69 kU/L is often read as normal. However, any value upwards of 0.70 kU/L might be a strong indicator of pistachio allergy.

Apollo 24|7 offers a comprehensive pistachio allergy test that can help prevent severe anaphylaxis by detecting the presence of pistachio-triggered allergens in the body. Some of the symptoms that indicate this are:

• Abdominal pain, cramps, and nausea
• Difficulty swallowing
• Diarrhoea
• Nasal congestion
• Shortness of breath
• Persistent itching, usually in the mouth, throat, eyes or skin

The presence of one or more of these symptoms after pistachio ingestion or contact may indicate pistachio allergy.

Hence, it is better to visit a doctor to address these symptoms immediately. Based on the initial check-up, the doctor may recommend the pistachio allergy test to rule out or confirm the diagnosis. 

Medically reviewed by Dr Jatin Ahuja, Infectious Diseases, Apollo Hospitals Indraprastha, South Delhi.