Allergy Testing - Cytotoxic Food Tests
DESCRIPTION
Cytotoxic food tests involve observation of the response of specific allergens on collected white blood cells. The response is due to the presence of food extracts to which an individual is allergic.
POLICY
Cytotoxic food tests for the diagnosis of an allergy is considered investigational.
See also: General Policy for Allergy Testing and Treatment
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
No randomized controlled trials have established the efficacy for cytotoxic food testing in the diagnosis of food allergies.
SOURCES
American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. (2007). Tips to remember: What is allergy testing? Retrieved February 2, 2009 from http://www.aaaai.org/patients/publicedmat/tips/whatisallergytesting.stm.
American College of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. (2006). Food allergy: A practice parameter. Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology, 96 (3 Suppl. 2), S1-S68.
BlueCross BlueShield Association. Medical Policy Reference Manual. (5:2006). Leukocyte histamine release test (2.04.42). Retrieved February 3, 2009 from BlueWeb. (7 articles and/or guidelines reviewed)
BlueCross BlueShield Association. Medical Policy Reference Manual. (4:2006). Serial endpoint testing for the diagnosis and treatment of allergic disorders (2.01.23). Retrieved February 2, 2009 from BlueWeb. (0 articles and/or guidelines reviewed)
Complete Guide to Medicare Coverage Issues [Computer software]. (2008, November). Cytotoxic food tests - not covered (NCD 110.13, p. 2-54). The Ingenix Complete Guide to Medicare Coverage Issues.
Hayes. Medical Technology Directory. (2006, August). Allergy testing, in vivo. Retrieved February 2, 2009 from www.Hayesinc.com/subsribers. (55 articles and/or guidelines reviewed)
National Guideline Clearinghouse. (2006, March). Food allergy: A practice parameter. Retrieved February 2, 2009 from http://www.guidelines.gov.
U. S. Food and Drug Administration. (2004, December). Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. Food allergies rare but risky. Retrieved February 3, 2009 from http://www.cfsan.fda.gov.
U. S. Food and Drug Administration. (1995, March). Office of Regulatory Affairs. Sec.370.100 Cytotoxic testing for allergic diseases (CPG 7124.27). Retrieved February 2, 2009 from http://www.fda.gov/ora/compliance_ref/cpg/cpgdev/cpg370-100.html.
Wuthrich, B. (2005). Unproven techniques in allergy diagnosis. Journal of Investigational Allergology & Clinical Immunology, 15 (2), 86-90.
ORIGINAL EFFECTIVE DATE: 10/12/1998
MOST RECENT REVIEW DATE: 3/12/2009
ID_BT
Policies included in the Medical Policy Manual are not intended to certify coverage availability. They are medical determinations about a particular technology, service, drug, etc. While a policy or technology may be medically necessary, it could be excluded in a member's benefit plan. Please check with the appropriate claims department to determine if the service in question is a covered service under a particular benefit plan. Use of the Medical Policy Manual is not intended to replace independent medical judgment for treatment of individuals. The content on this Web site is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice in any way. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care provider if you have questions regarding a medical condition or treatment.
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