Can Oral Food Challenge Testing Confirm Food Allergies?
Yes, Oral Food Challenge testing can effectively confirm food allergies by directly assessing the body's response to a suspected allergen. Unlike other allergy tests that detect sensitization without proving clinical reactivity, OFC testing involves consuming the actual food in measured doses to observe any allergic symptoms. This direct exposure makes it one of the most accurate methods for diagnosing food allergies and determining whether a patient truly needs to avoid a specific food.
The test is also valuable for confirming the resolution of a past food allergy. If a patient has previously been diagnosed with an allergy but shows no reaction during the challenge, it may indicate that the immune system no longer reacts to that food. However, because reactions can be unpredictable, OFC testing should always be conducted in a controlled medical environment with emergency care available if needed. This careful approach ensures both accuracy and patient safety during the diagnostic process.
