With this service you will receive a home finger prick test. Some of the common conditions caused by occupational allergies include occupational asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, latex rubber allergy, and allergic contact dermatitis. The greatest challenge is to be able to distinguish occupational allergy from non-work-related allergic conditions.
While latex allergy is rare, affecting 1 to 6 percent of the general population, it is much more common in employees who work in the medical or dental health field.
In fact, 10-17 percent of healthcare workers and 33.8 percent of dental care workers have been diagnosed with latex allergy. In addition, 17 percent of restaurant workers have been diagnosed with latex allergy.
There are three types of reactions to natural rubber products.
IgE-mediated allergic reactions (Type I)
An IgE-mediated allergic reaction to latex can be life threatening. IgE-mediated reactions are serious and what people are most concerned about preventing. This reaction is caused by an allergic antibody, IgE, directed against retained proteins in latex products.
This reaction is triggered by:
Cell-mediated contact dermatitis (Type IV)
Cell-mediated contact dermatitis is an allergic contact dermatitis. A Type IV cell-mediated reaction is not life-threatening but it is still a major concern. A cell-mediated reaction is usually limited to the skin where contact occurs with rubber products. The rubber products contain numerous chemicals used in its production that can cause a reaction in some people.
This type of contact dermatitis is a delayed type immune reaction. Symptoms may take 24-48 hours to develop from the time of exposure to reaction.
Symptoms of Type IV allergic contact dermatitis reactions are confined to the skin:
If someone is repeatedly exposed with a Type IV reaction, the rash may develop into a chronic problem and may even extend beyond the site of contact.
People can have both a delayed contact allergy to chemicals in latex along with an IgE-mediated allergic latex allergy.
We send you an easy-to-use kit to collect your blood sample.
Post your sample to our lab in the prepaid envelope provided.
View results securely in your own personal dashboard.
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