What labs to request from immunologist/allergist?

[MMWG]

If I do see these people, what tests to I request them to run, on what specific grounds?

Edited February 29, 2012 by MMWG

[browneyesmom]

Not a doc, but have seen a good bit of labs over the last few years that we and others have run. Immunology labs that are often run are Quantitative Immunoglobulins with subclasses and Pneumococcal Serotypes.

Have you also ruled out known potential infectious triggers?

 

Labs I've seen run include:

 

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• Strep throat swab - rapid and/or culture
  
• ASO & Anti-DNase B titers (these are strep titers), but keep in mind that not all kids elevate titers - for example, mine never has elevated titers, even with a raging strep infection.
  
• Streptozyme
  
• Mycoplasma Pneumoniae titers IgG and IgM
  
• Tick-borne infection titers, including Lyme, Babesia, Ehrlichiosis, Bartonella...
  
• Quantitative Immunoglobulins (including IgA, IgE, IgG & IgM) with subclasses on IgG
  
• Pneumococcal antibodies - 14 serotypes
  
• Vitamin D - many of our kids are deficient
  
• Ferritin
  
• Ceruloplasmin
  
• CBC with differential and platelets
  
• BMP is sometimes run as well as urine porphyrins
   
  

Often, we see docs running these as well - to rule out other conditions:

 

• 
   
  
• EEG
  
• MRI
  
• Testing for metals