Clinical Trials

Food Challenge at Home or in Medical Practice - the FoodCHOMP Study

Study Purpose

This is a pilot, multi-centre, randomised clinical trial evaluating the safety and feasibility of a home-based oral food challenge in adults with low-risk food allergy labels. Eligible participants are aged 18 years or older and have a self-reported food allergy with negative skin prick testing to the implicated food. Participants will be randomised to either a home-based or standard in-clinic food challenge. The primary aim is to determine the safety of home challenges, measured by the rate of immune-mediated adverse events. Secondary aims include feasibility of recruitment and delivery, protocol adherence, quality of life, and food reintroduction outcomes.

Recruitment Criteria

Accepts Healthy Volunteers Healthy volunteers are participants who do not have a disease or condition, or related conditions or symptoms	No
Study Type An interventional clinical study is where participants are assigned to receive one or more interventions (or no intervention) so that researchers can evaluate the effects of the interventions on biomedical or health-related outcomes. An observational clinical study is where participants identified as belonging to study groups are assessed for biomedical or health outcomes. Searching Both is inclusive of interventional and observational studies.	Interventional
Eligible Ages	18 Years and Over
Gender	All

More Inclusion & Exclusion Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Negative (<3mm) fresh or extract skin testing to the food implicated within their allergy label. 2. Aged greater than 18 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

- Evidence of prior sensitisation to challenge food 0 Defined as previously positive skin testing or allergen specific IgEs if available.

- Pregnancy.

- Patients with poorly controlled asthma - defined as an ACQ5 scores >1 at the time of enrolment.

- Patients with a history of food reactions that is not-consistent with an IgE mediated process; i.e. exclusively gastrointestinal symptoms, FPIES.

- Patients with a clear history of food-dependent exercise induced anaphylaxis.

- Patients on a concurrent medication which may influence the outcome of the challenge; - Antihistamine therapy; Patients receiving more than stress dose steroids (i.e. > 50mg QID hydrocortisone [or steroid equivalent]); Omalizumab.

- Any other illness that, in the investigator's judgement, will substantially increase the risk associated with subject's participation in this study

Trial Details

Trial ID: This trial id was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a service of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, providing information on publicly and privately supported clinical studies of human participants with locations in all 50 States and in 196 countries.	NCT06916819
Phase Phase 1: Studies that emphasize safety and how the drug is metabolized and excreted in humans. Phase 2: Studies that gather preliminary data on effectiveness (whether the drug works in people who have a certain disease or condition) and additional safety data. Phase 3: Studies that gather more information about safety and effectiveness by studying different populations and different dosages and by using the drug in combination with other drugs. Phase 4: Studies occurring after FDA has approved a drug for marketing, efficacy, or optimal use.	N/A
Lead Sponsor The sponsor is the organization or person who oversees the clinical study and is responsible for analyzing the study data.	Austin Health
Principal Investigator The person who is responsible for the scientific and technical direction of the entire clinical study.	N/A
Principal Investigator Affiliation	N/A
Agency Class Category of organization(s) involved as sponsor (and collaborator) supporting the trial.	Other
Overall Status	Recruiting
Countries	Australia
Conditions The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied.	Food Allergies

Additional Details

Food allergies are highly prevalent and contribute to significant patient anxiety and healthcare utilisation. Many individuals carry food allergy labels without confirmation through diagnostic food challenge, resulting in unnecessary food avoidance. In-clinic food challenges are the current standard for confirming tolerance but are resource-intensive and often delayed. This study evaluates whether selected low-risk adults can safely complete a structured oral food challenge at home. This is a pilot, multi-centre, randomised controlled trial conducted at two tertiary allergy centres in Victoria, Australia (Austin Health and Royal Melbourne Hospital). Adults referred with a reported food allergy will undergo clinical assessment and skin prick testing. Those with negative skin testing (<3mm wheal) to the implicated food and meeting other eligibility criteria will be randomised 1:1 to either:

- Intervention: Home-based oral food challenge over five days, beginning with a single supervised dose in-clinic and followed by four incremental doses at home with daily clinical follow-up.

- Control: Standard in-clinic oral food challenge using a protocol derived from PRACTALL and ASCIA guidelines.

The primary outcome is the proportion of participants experiencing an immune-mediated adverse event during food challenge. Secondary outcomes include feasibility metrics (eligibility, recruitment, delivery), non-immune mediated adverse events, protocol adherence, quality of life (measured by FAQLQ-12), time to challenge, and real-world food reintroduction. The study will enrol 120 participants (60 per arm). Outcomes will inform the design of a future non-inferiority trial and may support integration of home challenges into routine practice for selected patients.

Arms & Interventions

Arms

Other: In-Clinic Food Challenge (Control Arm)

Participants randomised to the control arm will undergo a standard in-clinic oral food challenge conducted under direct medical supervision. The protocol used is derived from the PRACTALL consensus and ASCIA position statements and involves administration of increasing doses of the implicated food at 20-30 minute intervals over a 2-3 hour period. Observation continues for 1-2 hours post final dose. The challenge is performed in a hospital outpatient clinic equipped for anaphylaxis management. The food challenged is selected by the participant from their eligible food allergy labels.

Experimental: Home-Based Food Challenge (Intervention Arm)

Participants randomised to the intervention arm will undertake a structured home-based oral food challenge over five consecutive days. This begins with an initial supervised dose administered in clinic under medical observation (60-minute monitoring period). Participants will then self-administer increasing doses of the implicated food at home each subsequent day using a standardised protocol adapted from PRACTALL and ASCIA guidelines. Dose intervals are 24 hours to reduce risk of cumulative reactions. Participants are provided with written instructions, emergency action plans, and have daily phone follow-up with allergy nursing staff during the challenge. The challenge food is selected by the participant from their eligible food allergy labels.

Interventions

Diagnostic Test: - Home-Based Food Challenge

Diagnostic Test: - In-Clinic Food Challenge

Standard of care - Participants randomised to the control arm will undergo a standard in-clinic oral food challenge conducted under direct medical supervision. The protocol used is derived from the PRACTALL consensus and ASCIA position statements and involves administration of increasing doses of the implicated food at 20-30 minute intervals over a 2-3 hour period. Observation continues for 1-2 hours post final dose. The challenge is performed in a hospital outpatient clinic equipped for anaphylaxis management. The food challenged is selected by the participant from their eligible food allergy labels.

Contact a Trial Team

If you are interested in learning more about this trial, find the trial site nearest to your location and contact the site coordinator via email or phone. We also strongly recommend that you consult with your healthcare provider about the trials that may interest you and refer to our terms of service below.

International Sites

Austin Health, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Status

Recruiting

Address

Austin Health

Melbourne, Victoria,

Site Contact

Jack Godsell

[email protected]

+613 9496 5000

Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia