a) Tryptase testing is a blood test that helps confirm the diagnosis of anaphylaxis retrospectively by demonstrating mast cell activation; its result should never be awaited to start emergency treatment with epinephrine | b) Tryptase is not a rapid test available immediately; it does not identify the causative allergen; it is not used for immediate monitoring during treatment; it does not reliably predict biphasic reaction | c) Request consultation from an allergy specialist to interpret tryptase results and determine need for additional testing to identify the allergen | d) If the clinical diagnosis is clear, immediate treatment is more important than any laboratory test | e) Consultant Pearl: Drawing tryptase sample within 1-2 hours of symptom onset (peak level) then after 24 hours (baseline level) helps in diagnostic confirmation later | f) Sources (EN only): CUMMINGS OTOLARYNGOLOGY–HEAD AND NECK 7th Ed p1.pdf — pp. 30-31; Scott Browns Otorhinolaryngology 8th edition volume 1.pdf — p. 511