Phadia Highlights Benefits of ImmunoCAP Allergy-Specific Blood Testing with New Consumer-Focused Website.

PORTAGE, Mich. -- Phadia US Inc, the world leader in in vitro allergy diagnostics and manufacturer of ImmunoCAP([R]) Specific IgE blood testing, today unveiled a new consumer-focused website designed to educate consumers about allergies and the benefits of allergen-specific blood testing.

Allergies are underdiagnosed in this country, especially in children with eczema or recurrent ear infections, and in asthma sufferers. The goal of the new website, www.IsItAllergy.com, is to help educate consumers about the importance of getting allergies diagnosed. The website provides parents and patients with information on common symptoms linked to allergies including runny nose, ear infections, and skin rash; tips and tools to help reduce or overcome symptoms; advice on how ImmunoCAP blood testing can help determine the presence of allergies; and links to other helpful resources.

"Fully 60% of adult asthma patients, and up to 90% of asthmatic children, have an allergic component to their asthma which, if detected through specific IgE blood testing and managed properly, can help them to take preventive action to alleviate their symptoms and possibly reduce their reliance on expensive prescription and over-the-counter medicines," said Dr. Rob Reinhardt, Chief Medical Officer of Phadia US. "At the same time, 50% of rhinitis patients are taking prescription and over-the-counter meds that cannot work - because they have no allergic component to their disease," he said. "With ImmunoCAP blood testing, Phadia is helping patients and their primary care physicians better determine the presence or absence of underlying allergies so they can make better decisions about reducing exposure to specific allergens and decrease the severity of their symptoms. Using diagnostic testing for allergy is supported by national guidelines for the management of allergies and asthma. People need to know if allergic inflammation is contributing to their disease," said Dr. Reinhardt.

The website also provides valuable information that helps patients and their parents to better understand allergies, their triggers, their potential long-term impact on health, and the connections between common childhood diseases such as eczema and recurrent ear infections and asthma. In addition, the website describes the concept of the allergic symptom threshold, in which most patients are allergic to more than one trigger and develop symptoms when they are exposed to one or more allergy triggers. Often patients may only be aware of one allergen if they're not tested.

David Esposito, Senior Vice President, Sales and Marketing for Phadia, added, "Phadia continues to support the need for better diagnosis and management in allergic diseases as we face a growing allergy epidemic worldwide. Our efforts to educate physicians about the role of additional laboratory evidence are a key step in improving the management of asthma, rhinitis and other allergic diseases. Our new website will connect with allergy and asthma patients and the primary care physicians who serve them, communicating the long-term health benefits associated with knowing specific allergic triggers and severity of allergies. This is directly aligned with current healthcare trends in which personalized medicine and objective evidence drive improved return on patient healthcare expenditures."

About Phadia

Phadia AB, headquartered in Uppsala, Sweden, is the world leader in in vitro IgE diagnostic research and product development. Its US affiliate, Phadia US is in Portage, Michigan. For more information, contact their Customer Service at 800.346.4364.

For more information on Phadia or ImmunoCAP, please visit http://www.isitallergy.com/.