Identification of B Regulatory Cells by Flow Cytometry

The goal of this laboratory and observational study is to develop a test to quantify B-regulatory cells in blood. This will be used to detect changes in B-regulatory cell populations in pollen and insect venom allergic patients who are receiving routine allergen immunotherapy treatment. The primary question this study aims to answer is; 1). Are changes in blood B-regulatory cells associated with successful allergen immunotherapy treatment, and therefore do these changes suggest patients have developed a suitable level of allergen tolerance and reduction in their allergic symptoms upon re-exposure to the causal allergen. Patients will also be asked to complete quality of life questionnaire periodically throughout the study to determine if there are associations between variation in B-regulatory cell populations in blood and allergic symptoms experienced.

Control cohort - Participants with: * No clinical and laboratory findings of IgE-mediated hypersensitivity (i.e. no clinical history of specific allergies to pollens, house dust mite or insect venoms * Negative serological testing for specific IgE to pollens, house dust mite and insect venoms * Patients aged 18 years or older Test cohort: * Participants over the age of 18 years * Participants with physician-diagnosed IgE-mediated allergic disease to pollens, house dust mite or insect venoms Exclusion Criteria: * Patients under the age of 18 years * Samples from patients with IgE-mediated allergic disease, treated or untreated, specific to allergens other than pollens, house dust mite and insect venom * Participants who are pregnant * Participants who cannot adequately understand verbal and / or written explanations given in English