Oral Food Challenge Defined

An OFC is used as a medical test when a food allergy is in question, and will either confirm or rule out the presence of the allergy. Under the supervision of an allergist, food is eaten slowly, in gradually increasing amounts. OFCs are usually done when a careful medical history and allergy tests, such as skin and blood tests, are inconclusive. The OFC is a more definitive test because it will show whether the food ingested produces no symptoms or triggers a reaction. An OFC is not the same procedure as oral immunotherapy (OIT), although OFC’s may occasionally be administered to patients who are being treated with OIT to determine if the therapy is successful.

Learn more about OFC here.

Click here for more information on OIT.