TY - JOUR T1 - How to interpret mast cell tests JF - Archives of disease in childhood - Education & practice edition JO - Arch Dis Child Educ Pract Ed SP - 246 LP - 251 DO - 10.1136/archdischild-2015-309887 VL - 101 IS - 5 AU - Thomas Waterfield AU - Emma Dyer AU - Kathryn Wilson AU - Robert J Boyle Y1 - 2016/10/01 UR - http://ep.bmj.com/content/101/5/246.abstract N2 - Mast cell tryptase (tryptase) is an enzyme produced almost exclusively by mast cells that is easy to measure using a widely available test. In this article we discuss the physiology of the mast cell and how that relates to IgE-mediated anaphylaxis and mastocytosis. We also describe the technical aspects of testing tryptase and the reported normal ranges in health. Finally we explore the diagnostic performance of serum mast cell tryptase measurements, when used to confirm anaphylaxis, estimate future anaphylaxis risk and in diagnosing/monitoring leukaemia. ER -