image: MyAllergyTest® is distributed by ImmuneTech, Inc., a developer and innovator in at-home health and wellness diagnostics. view more
Credit: ImmuneTech, Inc. <a href="http://www.myallergytest.net" target="_blank">www.myallergytest.net</a>
Foster City, CA, April 5, 2013– According to the American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology (ACAAI), more than 60 million Americans suffer from allergies. However, most people don't get tested for allergies, so they often do not know for certain what causes their allergies. Irrespective of the cause, medical experts agree that determining what triggers those allergies is a key first step in their management. Enter MyAllergyTest®, the first FDA-cleared at-home test that allows allergy sufferers to test themselves against 10 key allergens, ranging from food and environmental, to inhalants and animal.
The MyAllergyTest package comes with everything required to allow an individual to collect a small blood sample (just a few drops) from a quick finger prick. The kit also comes with a postage-paid and pre-addressed envelope for mailing the blood sample to ImmuneTech lab for testing. Within just days of receiving the sample, the lab tests the blood sample and makes the confidential test results available to the individual via the secure MyAllergyTest website or U.S. mail. The results also include a personalized allergy management plan – MyAllergyPlanTM – based on the individual's test results.
"MyAllergyTest is the first lab-based quantitative IgE test and allergy diagnostic of its kind to use just a few drops of blood to test for 10 separate allergens," explains Lisa Elkins, CEO of ImmuneTech, Inc., which developed and now manufactures and distributes MyAllergyTest. "The lab test results first provide the cause of the allergy or allergies*, while the personalized MyAllergyPlan report provides the guidance to help manage those allergies."
MyAllergyTest is clinically proven to be as accurate as those used by physician offices and diagnostic laboratories.
Once people can accurately determine what triggers allergies for them, they can deal with them in a more effective way, either through prevention or treatment. The customized MyAllergyPlan provides links to useful allergy management products, access to the MyAllergyTest blog for helpful hints, and a physician finder to locate an allergist in the person's area for additional follow up or allergy care.
This information enables the person, if needed, to pursue appropriate treatment under the care of a proper medical professional, avoid or reduce exposure to the identified allergens, and manage symptoms effectively. While most allergic responses are more of a nuisance, in some cases the reaction can be serious and avoiding triggers can minimize the risk of developing serious chronic illnesses, such as asthma, and improve overall health, productivity, and quality of life.
MyAllergyTest is currently available at Walmart, Walgreens, and Meijer, at a suggested retail price of $49.95. It can be found in the pharmacy's diagnostic test section. The test is covered under Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) and Health Savings Accounts (HSA). The cost of the lab analysis and report along with a personalized allergy management plan are included in the product purchase price.
The MyAllergyTest® Wellness Program provides allergy testing supplies for use as a health risk assessment tool for on-site screenings at corporate and community health fairs, mobile health/wellness clinics and schools. Most recently, MyAllergyTest was successfully used at participating Sam's Club and Rite Aid locations nationwide to provide free allergy tests for their shoppers.
For more information about MyAllergyTest, visit http://www.myallergytest.net. You can also join the brand's social communities on Facebook and Twitter.
* MyAllergyTest tests for 10 of the most common allergens. While a completely negative test result is strong evidence that you are not allergic to any of the most common allergens, it is possible you may be allergic to a less common, or even rare, allergen. See a physician or allergist for further evaluation.