home or point-of-care allergy testing

Abstract

An allergy testing method based on a highly sensitive testing of a small blood sample is provided. The method includes collecting a blood sample from a subject, the blood sample being limited to a volume taken from a skin-prick; and, testing serum from the blood sample without dilution for an allergic response of the subject to one or more allergens, the testing having a high detection sensitivity ranging from about 10 ̂ -9 g/ml to about 10 ̂ -12 g/ml.

1 . An allergy testing method based on a highly sensitive testing of a small blood sample, the method comprising:
 collecting a blood sample from a subject, the blood sample limited to a volume taken from a skin-prick; and,   testing serum from the blood sample without dilution for an allergic response of the subject to one or more allergens, the testing having a high detection sensitivity ranging from about 10 −9  g/ml to about 10 −12  g/ml.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the small blood sample is collected through a finger prick by the subject, or a care provider of the subject, that provides a serum volume ranging from about 0.5 μL to about 25 μL. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the undiluted serum ranges in volume from about 1.0 μL to about 10 μL. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method enables identification of subsets of allergens, and the subsets compose a panel of allergens having from about 2 specific allergens to about 100 specific allergens. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the method comprises providing the subject with a kit having a device for puncturing the skin and obtaining the blood sample, and a container for holding the blood sample for the testing. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the providing comprises a computer network component having testing results for the subject on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium accessible by the subject to obtain the testing results. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the testing includes detecting allergen-specific antibodies. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the testing includes detecting allergen-specific IgE antibodies. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the testing includes detecting allergen-specific IgG antibodies. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the testing detects a total antibody, a specific antibody, multiple of antibodies, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the testing detects a total IgE antibody, a specific IgE antibody, multiple IgE antibodies, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the testing detects a total IgG antibody, a specific IgG antibody, multiple IgG antibodies, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         13 . An allergy testing system based on a highly sensitive testing of a small blood volume, the system comprising:
 a blood collection device for collection of a blood sample from a subject, the blood sample limited to a volume taken from a skin-prick; and,   an antibody detection assay for testing serum from the blood sample without dilution for an allergic response of the subject to one or more allergens, the testing having a high detection sensitivity ranging from about 10 −9  g/ml to about 10 −12  g/ml.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the small blood sample is collected through a finger prick by the subject, or a care provider for the subject, that provides a serum volume ranging from about 0.5 μL to about 25 μL. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the undiluted serum sample ranges in volume from about 1.0 μL to about 10 μL. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the system enables identification of subsets of allergens, and the subsets compose a panel of allergens having from about 2 specific allergens to about 100 specific allergens. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the system comprises providing the subject with a kit having a device for puncturing the skin and obtaining a blood sample, and a container for holding the blood sample for testing. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the system further comprises a computer network component having testing results for the subject on a non-transitory computer readable storage medium accessible by the subject to obtain the testing results. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the testing includes detecting allergen-specific antibodies. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the testing includes detecting allergen-specific IgE antibodies. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the testing includes detecting allergen-specific IgG antibodies. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the testing detects a total antibody, a specific antibody, multiple of antibodies, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the testing detects a total IgE antibody, a specific IgE antibody, multiple IgE antibodies, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the testing detects a total IgG antibody, a specific IgG antibody, multiple IgG antibodies, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         25 . A internet method of facilitating a home or point-of-care allergy testing, the method comprising:
 providing a blood collection kit for the collection of a blood sample, the blood sample limited to a volume taken from a skin prick, the kit having (i) a device for puncturing the skin and (ii) a container for holding the blood sample;   obtaining the blood sample and testing serum from the blood sample without dilution for an allergic response of the subject to one or more allergens, the testing having a high detection sensitivity ranging from about 10 −9  g/ml to about 10 −12  g/ml;   hosting the testing results on a database having a non-transitory computer readable storage medium, the database operably linked to a website for access to the testing results.   
     
     
         26 . The internet method of  claim 25 , wherein the subject uses the internet to obtain the kit, collect the blood sample and obtain the testing results without visiting a laboratory or physician's office. 
     
     
         27 . The internet method of  claim 25 , wherein the small blood sample is collected through a finger prick by the subject, or a care provider of the subject, that provides a serum volume ranging from about 0.5 μL to about 25 μL. 
     
     
         28 . The internet method of  claim 25 , wherein the undiluted serum ranges in volume from about 1.0 μL to about 10 μL. 
     
     
         29 . The internet method of  claim 25 , wherein the method enables identification of subsets of allergens, and the subsets compose a panel of allergens having from about 2 specific allergens to about 100 specific allergens. 
     
     
         30 . The internet method of  claim 25 , wherein the testing includes detecting allergen-specific antibodies. 
     
     
         31 . The internet method of  claim 25 , wherein the testing includes detecting allergen-specific IgE antibodies. 
     
     
         32 . The internet method of  claim 25 , wherein the testing includes detecting allergen-specific IgG antibodies. 
     
     
         33 . The internet method of  claim 25 , wherein the testing detects a total antibody, a specific antibody, multiple of antibodies, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         34 . The internet method of  claim 25 , wherein the testing detects a total IgE antibody, a specific IgE antibody, multiple IgE antibodies, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         35 . The internet method of  claim 25 , wherein the testing detects a total IgG antibody, a specific IgG antibody, multiple IgG antibodies, or a combination thereof.