Interpretation framework
A molecular result is most useful when it is interpreted as a pattern. The same positive component can mean different things depending on the patient history, exposure, age, geography, total sensitisation pattern, and the clinical question being asked.
Questions to ask before reading the report
- What clinical problem is this test trying to solve?
- Which allergen sources are plausible from the history?
- Are symptoms immediate, delayed, local, systemic, seasonal, occupational, or food-related?
- Is the patient mono-sensitised, oligo-sensitised, or broadly polysensitised?
- Could a panallergen, CCD, or cross-reactive family explain the pattern?
Is the clinician investigating diagnosis, risk, cross-reactivity, dietary advice, immunotherapy suitability, or unexplained symptoms?
Consider whether the patient has meaningful exposure to the allergen source and whether symptoms occur with that exposure.
Look for patterns that suggest storage proteins, PR-10 proteins, profilins, LTPs, tropomyosins, CCDs, or other cross-reactive families.
A molecular result can support reasoning, but it should not be read in isolation from history and specialist judgement.