Food Allergies Referral Guidelines

Initial evaluation and management should include patient education regarding avoidance of culprit food. If there is concern for IgE mediated allergy, then provision of epinephrine autoinjector prescription and education on its proper use would be recommended.

Consider referral when there is need for confirmed diagnosis and patient education. For example, infants who have experienced their initial food allergy reaction and need additional testing and guidance regarding food introductions should be referred. Also consider referring patients who have experienced severe food-allergic reactions and those with multiple food allergies.

To refer a patient to allergy clinic, you can submit an appointment request via Cerner and a scheduler will contact the patient family to coordinate the appointment.  You can also provide the patient, family or your practice’s scheduler our appointment line: (202) 476-3016. Select the appropriate option to schedule an allergy appointment.

• No prior testing is needed before referral. 
• If the patient has had prior allergen testing, a copy of those results should be brought to the appointment or forwarded to our clinic in advance.
• Patient should bring the list of the their current medications.
• The initial visit might include allergy skin prick testing and/or blood testing for foods as clinically indicated.  Patient will need to be off oral antihistamines for 5-7 days prior to skin testing.
• The duration of the initial visit in the allergy clinic is between 60-90 minutes.