From allergy uncertainty to football's biggest stage

Article summary: Not all positive peanut allergy test results mean the same thing. Learn how a specific IgE blood test with allergen components can provide additional information beyond skin prick testing and whole allergen specific IgE testing, helping healthcare providers guide patient care. See how this approach helped NFL player Landon Robinson receive the answers that changed his future.

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A dream nearly sidelined

Every football player dreams of hearing their name called on draft day. For Landon Robinson, that moment finally arrived in the seventh round of the 2026 NFL Draft when the Cincinnati Bengals called with life-changing news.

It was the culmination of a journey that began with a standout high school football career, continued through four successful years at the U.S. Naval Academy, and ultimately brought him back home to Ohio to play professional football.

But that journey almost ended before it truly began. Years earlier, a peanut allergy diagnosis nearly changed the course of his future.

The peanut allergy diagnosis that changed everything

To understand Landon's journey, we need to rewind four years.

Fresh out of high school, Landon earned a scholarship to play football at the Naval Academy. It was everything he had worked toward—a chance to compete at the highest collegiate level while preparing to serve his country.

Then came devastating news. Landon's scholarship was rescinded because of a peanut allergy diagnosis he had carried since childhood.

Because service members may deploy to environments where emergency medical care isn't immediately available and strict allergen avoidance cannot always be guaranteed, individuals at risk of food-induced anaphylaxis generally do not meet medical requirements for military service.

In an instant, years of training and a lifelong dream seemed to disappear.

Like many families with a history of food allergy, Landon's parents had him skin-prick tested at a young age because his father lives with a severe peanut allergy. Landon’s results showed peanut sensitization, and for years everyone assumed that meant he had a true peanut allergy.

It wasn't until his Naval Academy opportunity disappeared that his mother, Patrice Robinson, began asking questions. “That moment put fire in me to change the outcome, one way or another. We had him tested at 6. Let’s see if anything changed,” said Patrice. 

Breaking down the different types of allergy diagnostics

Healthcare providers use various types of tests to help evaluate a suspected food allergy, and each offers a different level of detail.

Whole allergen testing—including skin prick testing and whole peanut-specific IgE blood testing—shows whether the immune system has produced IgE antibodies to peanut. This is known as sensitization. However, sensitization alone does not always mean someone will experience an allergic reaction after eating peanuts.¹

For some patients, additional information can help their healthcare provider better understand what a positive test result may mean for them. That's where testing with allergen components comes in.

Instead of measuring IgE antibodies to whole peanut extract alone, testing with allergen components measures IgE antibodies to specific peanut proteins, or allergen components. Different peanut proteins can provide clues about how likely someone is to have a true peanut allergy and how severe their symptoms might be.²

This more detailed picture can help clinicians determine whether a patient may have a higher likelihood of true peanut allergy—or whether their positive peanut test may be driven by sensitizations that are sometimes linked with milder reactions or no symptoms at all.

Understanding peanut allergen components 

Think of peanuts as a team made up of different players. Each allergenic protein plays a different role and impacts the immune system in different ways.²

Among the best studied are:²

• Ara h 1, Ara h 2, Ara h 3, and Ara h 6 — proteins that are more often linked with a true peanut allergy and a higher chance of severe allergic reactions, including anaphylaxis.
• Bet v 2 and Ara h 8 — proteins closely related to tree pollen allergens. Sensitization to these is often a sign of cross-reactivity with pollen rather than a true peanut allergy and may be associated with milder symptoms or being able to tolerate eating peanuts.
• Ara h 9 — a protein that may be linked to different types of allergic reactions depending on geographic region and individual clinical history.

Healthcare providers consider testing with allergen components alongside a patient's medical history, symptoms, whole peanut IgE results, and other diagnostic information to determine the next appropriate step.¹

For some patients, that may still mean strict peanut avoidance. For others, additional testing—such as a physician-supervised oral food challenge—may be appropriate. Talk with your healthcare provider to determine which testing approach is right for you. 

A different game plan thanks to testing with allergen components 

Landon's mother, Patrice, wasn't ready to accept that his childhood test results would determine the rest of his future. She reached out to his healthcare provider and advocated for a more complete evaluation, asking whether a specific IgE blood test with allergen components could provide additional information.

When Landon underwent testing with peanut allergen components, the results told an unexpected story. Rather than showing sensitization to the peanut storage proteins most commonly associated with clinically significant peanut allergy, Landon tested negative for Ara h 1, Ara h 2, Ara h 3, and Ara h 6. Instead, his results showed sensitization primarily to Ara h 8, along with Bet v 2 (profilin)—proteins that are more commonly associated with pollen-related cross-reactivity and are often linked to milder reactions or no adverse reaction at all to peanut.

This additional information gave his doctor greater confidence that an oral food challenge could be performed safely.

Under close medical supervision, Landon ate a full tablespoon of peanut butter and had no reaction. The oral food challenge confirmed that he could safely eat peanuts, consistent with what the results of his blood test with allergen components had suggested.

With updated medical documentation, the Naval Academy reinstated his scholarship.

How understanding his allergy changed Landon's life

Landon made the most of his second chance. At Navy, he developed into one of college football's top defensive players while balancing the demands of military education, athletics, and leadership. With his newfound peace of mind, he was able to travel and eat with confidence. Instead of worrying about avoiding peanuts, he could focus on the game he loved.

“To win the Commander-in-Chief’s Trophy, be the defensive player of the year, get that Army–Navy win for my team and the entire Naval Academy meant a lot. That’s one of my proudest moments. I was able to be an All American and that status helped propelled me into being competitive for the NFL draft,” said Landon.

Those accomplishments led to one of his most meaningful opportunities: using his platform to support others. Through The Landon Robinson Foundation, he is raising awareness of youth mental health and helping build support systems that make a lasting difference for young people and the communities around them.

What greater clarity about your allergies could mean for you

Landon's story is extraordinary because he reached football's biggest stage. But the lesson extends far beyond sports.

Every year, people make important decisions about school, careers, military service, travel, and everyday life based on allergy diagnoses. Some avoid foods for years. Others live with uncertainty, wondering whether their diagnosis tells the whole story.

Testing with allergen components can provide additional information that helps you and your healthcare provider better understand your allergy and how to manage it.

Looking beyond a peanut allergy diagnosis helped Landon and his healthcare team gain the clarity they needed to make a more informed clinical decision. That clarity helped keep one door from closing—and opened countless others.

When reflecting on what he would tell others who feel like their allergy is holding them back, Landon said, “Don’t let your limitations define you. Exploit every opportunity that’s given to you. Do the best that you can to make the most of it.”