Following negative specific IgE tests for crustaceans, what is the only definitive method to confirm safety before eating a mollusk like an oyster?
Answer
A formal food challenge conducted under strict medical supervision.
While skin prick tests and specific IgE blood tests are valuable tools for differentiating between crustacean and mollusk allergies, they do not completely rule out a reaction in every single case. The only method considered definitive for confirming safety and reintroducing a previously avoided food group is undergoing a formal food challenge. This process must be executed under strict medical supervision, usually in an allergist's office, where a minuscule, controlled amount of the suspect food (the mollusk) is consumed while medical staff are prepared to immediately treat any adverse reaction that may occur.
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