For Public Health Officials

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  • At the 2021 annual meeting, the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE) approved a position statement standardizing a case definition for alpha-gal syndrome (AGS).
  • The case definition is for surveillance purposes only and does not replace a clinical diagnosis by a healthcare provider.
  • A standard surveillance case definition provides consistent laboratory and clinical criteria to ensure that data captured across multiple jurisdictions are comparable.
  • AGS is not a nationally notifiable condition.
  • States and local jurisdictions are encouraged, but not required to share information on AGS with members of CDC’s Rickettsial Zoonoses Branch to better understand national trends.

Surveillance case definition [PDF – 12 pages]

Alpha-gal Syndrome Case Report Form [PDF – 2 pages]

Alpha-gal testing

  • The main diagnostic test for AGS is a blood test looking for immunoglobulin-E antibodies specific to alpha-gal (alpha-gal sIgE).
    • Tests for alpha-gal sIgE antibodies are available at several large commercial laboratories and may be available at certain academic institutions.
    • LOINC Code: 73837-7 Galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (Alpha-Gal) IgE Ab [Units/volume] in Serum.
  • Skin tests documenting reaction to certain allergens (such as pork or beef) may also be used to diagnose AGS.